Bloomington cancels Labor Day Parade

Posted on July 7, 2020
The Trades & Labor is exploring social media and other options to mark the holiday and give voice to workers’ concerns. (Photo courtesy: Bloomington-Normal Trades and Labor Assembly/Facebook)

By AJ Harris and Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Bloomington Labor Day Parade has been canceled.

“The parade has always been the highlight of our year’s labor activities, an opportunity to salute the everyday working men and women who keep our community vibrant,” Ronn Morehead, Bloomington-Normal Trades & Labor Assembly (AFL-CIO) President said in a news release.

Morehead adds it was not an easy decision, but the last thing they want in the current health situation is to have large crowds gathering.

Since 1977 it only missed one year because of a severe thunderstorm.

The Trades & Labor is exploring social media and other options to mark the holiday and voice workers’ concerns.

AJ Harris can be reached at [email protected].

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected]. 

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…