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.
March 20 - Another Deadly Explosion
March 19 - Wartime President Pushes for Labor Peace
March 18 - Wartime Workers Betrayed
March 17 - The Hoggs Hollow Tragedy
March 16 - Big Bill Haywood Talks General Strike
March 15 - The Grapes of Wrath Opens in Theaters
March 14 - Remembering Walter Crane
March 13 - Ending Jim Crow on the Job
March 12 - OSHA Safety Incentives
March 11 - Raising Conditions for an Industry
March 10 - Radium Girls
March 9 - Striking the Mines
March 8 - IBEW Strikes to Win
March 7 - Work Faster! Work Faster!
March 6 - International Unemployed Day
March 5 -Lordstown Syndrome
March 4 - Mismanagement Kills an Airline
March 3 - Wildcat Strikes Hit Chrysler and Briggs
March 2 - Greyhound Bus Strike Begins
March 1 - The Hoover Dam Goes Public
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