Phila. celebrates Labor Day with parade
While Republican presidential candidate John McCain was in Philadelphia yesterday meeting with Cardinal Justin Rigali, the annual labor parade of more than 5,000 union members and their families and supporters was a walking T-shirt rainbow of support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
While Republican presidential candidate John McCain was in Philadelphia yesterday meeting with Cardinal Justin Rigali, the annual labor parade of more than 5,000 union members and their families and supporters was a walking T-shirt rainbow of support for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.
"It kicks off the political campaign," Diane Topakian, a political worker for the Service Employees International Union, said of the parade. She wore her union's purple shirt with an Obama-for-president slogan on the front.
"It just pumps people up," she said of the parade.
Yesterday's Labor Day event began with speeches outside the Sheet Metal Workers Local 19 union hall on Columbus Boulevard. Thousands of workers marched from the hall to Penn's Landing to enjoy music, free food and the weather.
More than 40 locals representing 30 unions participated.
"This isn't really about politics," said Liz McElroy, who coordinates political activities for the Philadelphia Central Council of the AFL-CIO.
Well, not officially - the holiday, established in 1882 in New York, is meant to celebrate the accomplishments of America's working people and their labor organizations.
But yesterday, speakers and union members promoted Obama and labor initiatives, including the proposed national Employee Free Choice Act, which they say will make it easier to unionize workers. Business interests oppose the act.
McElroy pointed out that the election is two months away. "It kind of gives people that energy," she said. "It's exciting."
Nationally, the AFL-CIO is kicking in more than $53 million to help Obama - and that's in addition to efforts by individual unions.
The SEIU, one of the largest, has appropriated $85 million to boost Obama, as well as to contribute to Senate, House and gubernatorial campaigns.
All the national efforts, the unions say, will focus on Pennsylvania and a handful of other pivotal states.
"Everyone knows that Philadelphia is part of the key to the Keystone State vote," said Mayor Nutter, who spoke at a rally before the parade.
Nutter led the crowd in a quick Obama chant, and thanked them for support in his mayoral candidacy.
Nutter was the only politician to speak, though plenty worked the crowd.
U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy led a delegation of marchers. Murphy, an Iraq war veteran, will face Republican Tom Manion, the father of a Marine killed in Iraq.
Two Democratic competitors for retiring Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne M. Abraham's spot, Daniel McCaffery and Seth Williams, showed up to shake hands, as did John Lindner, running for state Senate in Chester.
While McCain will campaign in Philadelphia today, following his private meeting with Rigali yesterday, a few Republicans - a very few - attended yesterday's parade.
Republican Adam Lang, 30, a computer network engineer from Brewerytown, handed out leaflets. He is challenging U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah for Congress.
"It's definitely an uphill battle," said Lang, who grew up in a union household.
For all the talk of politics and labor issues, the festival was for many a time to be with family, eat hot dogs, and listen to music at Penn's Landing. Drill teams marched, and a convoy of trucks driven by members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters led the parade.
The curbside crowd was thin, but Tracey Ellenborgen, a social worker from Bala Cynwyd, and son Liam, 5, sat waiting for the drill teams and bands to pass by. Liam showed off his collection of candy tossed his way by the marchers.
"We wanted to see a parade," she said.
