USW Applauds Selection of Bayard Rustin for Presidential Medal of Freedom

Contact: Jess Kamm, 412-562-2446, jkamm@usw.org

(Pittsburgh) – The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that it commended President Obama’s decision to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Bayard Rustin, one of the pioneers of the civil rights movement and an historic labor leader.

“Bayard Rustin dedicated his life to the struggle for equality and economic justice for all Americans,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “His vision and leadership paved the way for those of us who continue to fight for workers’ rights and an end to discrimination.” 

Rustin believed that labor unions were crucial to ending segregation, and throughout his career, he built alliances between the civil rights movement and the labor movement. 

Together with A. Philip Randolph, Rustin founded the A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) in 1965 to promote minority participation in labor unions and advocate on behalf of all working people. Today, the APRI continues these missions as a constituency group of the AFL-CIO.

A staunch advocate of non-violent tactics, Rustin served as an advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  He was also one of the key organizers of the landmark March on Washington in 1963, where King delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.

The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian award in the United States.  It recognizes individuals who have made a particularly significant political, social or cultural contribution to the interests of the country.  Rustin, who died in 1987, received the award posthumously earlier this month. 

“We’ve come a long way since Bayard Rustin began his fight for civil rights in the 1940’s,” said USW International Vice President Fred Redmond. “As Steelworkers, we’re proud to carry forth his legacy of good  jobs, fair treatment and genuine equality for all Americans.” 

The USW represents about 850,000 workers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glassmaking to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber to the public sector, service and health care industries.

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