On this day in Labor History the year was 1989.
That was the day thousands of people marched on Washington to protest against homelessness.
They gathered to protest against massive cuts in federal housing funding.
President Reagan had cut the budget of the Department of Housing and Urban Development in half.
The protesters hoped President George H. W. Bush would change this course.
They called their protest, “Housing Now!".
Estimates of the crowd ranged from 40,000 to more than 200,000.
The New York Times described those who participated writing, “They came from far away as Miami and Beverly Hills, Memphis and Portland, Ore. Some had walked from New York City. They included homeless men and women, families who rent but can’t afford to buy homes, state and local officials and prominent figures…”
A delegation of 500 homeless people and allies came on buses from Chicago.
They were joined by famous participants that included Coretta Scott King, Susan Sarandon and a performance by Stevie Wonder.
Union members joined the protest.
One of the participants interviewed by the New York Times was a 24-year old apprentice with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Cassandra Benton told the paper, “Hopefully, now they will see everyone is unified. They’ll stop spending so much on weapons and other countries.”
During the protest musician Tracy Chapman played her “Revolution,” a fitting song for the event.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in January 2015, more than half a million people were homeless in the US.
May 12 - Of ICE Raids & Union Busting
May 11 - Organizing in the Fields
May 10 - Bankruptcy Bonanza for Big Bankers
May 9 - The Historic ‘34 West Coast Maritime Strike Begins
May 8 - Mary Marcy is Born
May 7 - Popeye The Union Man
May 6 - FDR Rolls Out the WPA
May 5 - The Bay View Massacre
May 4 - UE Beats Back HUAC in Dayton
May 3 - First Workers Compensation Law is Passed
May 2 - Our Thing is DRUM!
May 1 - Mayday Marchers Attacked in Cleveland
April 30 - Refinery Workers Walk Off the Job
April 29 - Allis-Chalmers and the Road to Taft-Hartley
April 28 - OSHA Goes Into Effect
April 27 - Disaster in West Virginia
April 26 - National Guard Ousts Montgomery Ward CEO
April 25 - UAW Mobilizes Against Taft-Hartley
April 24 - The California Spinach Riot
April 23 - Sitting Down for Dignity at Ford
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