Page 5 - Work Force October 2025

March on Wall Street: March on Wall Street:
‘We are not going to sit down’ ‘We are not going to sit down’
MANHATTAN — On the anniversary of the 1963
March on Washington, CSEA Metropolitan Region
members joined thousands of people for the
National Action Network’s March on Wall Street.
CSEA members joined other members of our
international union, AFSCME, and other march
attendees from across the country in demanding
economic justice, protection of diversity, equity,
and inclusion (DEI) and accountability from
corporate and political leaders.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who led the march, told
the crowd gathered near Wall Street that the
choice of location was intentional.
“We are here to say we will not be silenced; we
will not be marginalized,” said Sharpton. “When
we stand together—union and non-union, Black,
white, Latino, Asian—we cannot be defeated. You
can try to turn back the clock, but you can’t turn
back time. We are not going back.”
Union voices were central to the march,
reflecting its theme that justice for working people
is inseparable from racial and economic justice.
“This administration sides with corporations
and the wealthy over working families,” said
AFSCME International President Lee Saunders.
“But our message is clear: working people will
not be ignored. We are here to fight for dignity
on the job, fair wages, and a fair shot for every
family. And we’re going to hold Wall Street and
Washington accountable.”
CSEA’s Metropolitan Region members who
attended the march linked the fight to both
workplace struggles and personal identity.
“We need to show this administration we
are not going to sit down and take what they’re
doing,” said CSEA New York Metropolitan State
Above, from left, Brooklyn Developmental Center Local activist Renee Dargan, New York
Metropolitan State Employees Local President Lanielle Roach, Metropolitan Region President Lester
Crockett and CSEA Statewide Organizer Ursula Howard lead our union’s delegation during the
March on Wall Street.
Employees Local President Lanielle Roach, an
attorney with the Mental Hygiene Legal Service.
“As a union member, it’s powerful to see us
uniting for positive change. And as an African
American woman, it’s even more important to
raise our voices—we’re not going anywhere, and
we will fight back.”
Brooklyn Developmental Center Local activist
Renee Dargan said she came out for future
generations.
“This is for our future, our children, our world,”
said Dargan. “When we fight together, we usually
win. America is for everybody, not just the rich
and Trump. America, keep hope alive—we got
this.”
Marchers also spoke out against efforts to
dismantle DEI programs, denouncing them as a
direct attack on civil rights, while calling for a
fairer tax system that requires the wealthy and
Wall Street to pay their share.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” said
Sharpton. “We will keep marching, keep organizing
and keep demanding change.”
— David Galarza
October 2025 5 5
The Work Force