Rep. Ellison Statement on Labor Day

Statement

Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement in honor of Labor Day.

"In 1934, Minneapolis police opened fire on a picket line of striking truck drivers. 67 picketers were injured. Two men, John Belor and Henry Ness, were killed. Minnesota now remembers that day as Bloody Sunday.

"More than 80 years after Bloody Sunday, the future John and Henry died for is being threatened. Millions of Americans are working longer hours for smaller paychecks. They're struggling to save for retirement and finding it harder and harder to make ends meet.

"People like John and Henry gave their lives so workers today could go to a safe workplace, earn a fair wage for their work, and go home to their families at a reasonable hour. We owe it to them and to all working Americans to continue this fight. We can follow their lead by standing together and getting organized. We can do it by working for a minimum wage that's enough to live on. We can do it by protecting the right to join a union. We can do it by fighting against bad trade deals that lower wages and ship jobs overseas. We can do it by remembering people like John Belor and Henry Ness.

"Labor Day isn't just an opportunity to thank the people who pave our roads and teach our kids. It's a remembrance for the workers of the Labor Movement who fought for a better future for us, and for those on the front lines still fighting. The rights that American workers won are the cornerstone of our country's prosperity and success.

"The United States of America bears a union label. Happy Labor Day."

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