New York Celebrates the Worker at Labor Day Parade

On Sept. 10, SAG-AFTRA members marched up 5th Avenue at the New York City Central Labor Council’s annual New York City Labor Day Parade and March. It was the first time the parade took place since September of 2019. The theme of the parade was “Workers Leading, Workers Rising,” and according to the NYC-CLC, the event included 80,000 marchers representing more than 200 unions, and 26,000 spectators cheering on from the sidewalks. The SAG-AFTRA contingent was led by New York Local President Ezra Knight along with New York Local Vice President Linda Powell; Vice President, Recording Artists/Singers Janice Pendarvis; and New York Local Executive Director Rebecca Damon. New York Local Board members Marc Baron, Janette Gautier, Verania Kenton and Avis Boone proudly marched with a full contingent of SAG-AFTRA members.

This year, SAG-AFTRA was joined by the Hip-Hop Alliance, which seeks to educate hip-hop and R&B artists about fair labor practices. Representing the Hip-Hop Alliance were founder Scot Esdaile; HHA member, Board of Directors Grand Wizzard Theodore; and HHA Operations Manager Tara L. Martin.

“It was an exciting honor to walk hand in hand with the Hip-Hop Alliance in my first Labor Day Parade as SAG-AFTRA New York Local President,” said Knight. “Aligning the pillars of music, culture, social justice and solidarity with our SAG-AFTRA mission has made this an epic day for SAG-AFTRA members to remember.”

“We are thrilled to join our labor union brothers and sisters today as we march down New York City’s iconic Fifth Avenue celebrating solidarity and pride,” said legendary hip-hop pioneer and HHA President Chuck D. “Workers and creatives are standing together to fight for fair wages, fair benefits, and dignity in the workplace and beyond … and hip-hop is no different! The strategic partnership between the HHA and SAG-AFTRA will protect hip-hop and R&B artists and creators from signing pernicious contracts seeking to take unfair advantage of the artists’ talents.”

SAG-AFTRA members were greeted throughout the day’s festivities and along the parade route by U.S. Sen. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer; U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, who served as the parade’s grand marshal; New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli; NYS Department of Labor Commissioner and former SAG-AFTRA Co-President Roberta Reardon and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, who served as parade co-chairs; New York City Central Labor Council President Vincent Alvarez; New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento; New York state Sen. and Labor Chair Jessica Ramos; and New York State Sen. Diane Savino.

“Every year, SAG-AFTRA eagerly looks forward to marching proudly alongside fellow New York City workers and unions at the New York City Labor Day Parade,” said Damon. “But to be joined this year by our remarkable strategic partners, the Hip-Hop Alliance, as well as former SAG-AFTRA Co-President and Parade Co-Chair Roberta Reardon, makes our voice and presence here today feel all the more electrifying; we look forward to many more years of walking shoulder to shoulder together at the New York City Labor Day Parade.”

At the conclusion of the parade, Knight addressed the members and took a moment to remember late SAG-AFTRA New York Local President Mike Hodge, saying, “This is a very, very special day, obviously, for the interest and power of labor. On Sept. 9, 2017, we lost Mike Hodge, who was, as many of you know, historically a father to us all, a rock to us all, and a source of inspiration to myself and many, many others. We always are walking on the shoulders of those who came before.”

Top photo: New York Local Board member Verania Kenton, New York VP Linda Powell, N.Y. Local President Ezra Knight, Hip-Hop Alliance Founder Scot Esdaile, and Hip-Hop Alliance Member, Board of Directors Grand Wizzard Theodore show their union pride.