TAG Field Rep Leslie Simmons shares her view of this year’s May Day March:
Animation Guild members joined with other IATSE Locals in the annual May Day March in downtown Los Angeles on May 1. Thousands of participants from unions, community groups, workers’ rights organizations, and more came together under the theme of the march: “Solidarity is Power.” TAG was once again a sponsor of the march and a member of the May Day Coalition.
Speakers touched on the importance of workers’ and immigrant rights and the right to form unions. The march started at Olympic and Broadway and ended at Los Angeles City Hall and was peppered through the route with featured speakers from various organizations.
At City Hall, TAG member Lauren Clinton Clark, a Design Coordinator and new Shop Steward on Rick and Morty, spoke of organizing production workers on the show and across TAG, and the similarity between their workplace issues with all workers, regardless of what they do or where they work. Lauren’s impassioned speech touching also on employee rights and supporting each other. President Jeanette Moreno King stood with Lauren during her speech, which was at the steps of City Hall.
“What we’re seeing here today is a group of activists refusing to let the few make demands of the many,” Lauren told the crowd. “And with union efforts popping up all around the country, we must keep the momentum going. We need to fight for our rights and the rights of our fellow laborers. Because as unions have proven, there is power in numbers.”
Special thanks to the members who turned out on a Monday evening for the march and to TAG member Mo McMasters who also participated with the May Day Coalition in the planning and preparation of the march.
Listen to President Moreno King’s remarks about May Day on NBC L.A.
