Legacy T and Activision Members Meet With CWA President Cummings in Minneapolis

Last week, CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. and CWA Local 7250 President Kieran Knutson, along with CWA members from several Minneapolis-area Locals, joined tens of thousands of Minnesotans demanding federal agents with the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency leave Minneapolis. The city has been under siege with masked ICE agents targeting civilians, abducting adults and children, and at least three fatal incidents, including the slayings of Keith Porter Jr., Renee Nicole Good, and union ICU nurse Alex Pretti.

During his visit, President Cummings met with CWA Legacy T members from Locals 7200 and 7250 to discuss ongoing bargaining with AT&T. He also spent time with Activision/Blizzard members who are fighting for a first contract. Despite concerns for negotiations, the topic of the ICE Out mobilization dominated members’ comments and concerns. Members expressed a range of emotions, including excitement and pride at seeing CWA taking a leading role in the peaceful protests, anger and horror at the violence brought to their neighborhoods, and defiance despite federal orders to comply.

President Cummings took the stage at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis after a march in sub-zero temperatures. His fiery speech galvanized the crowd, saying, “Political scientists and historians tell us when countries have successfully prevented or reversed authoritarian control, unions have played a critically important role. We do that when we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our union siblings and with allies across the country. We do that when we join together and focus our attention directly on those corporations that enable fascism. Our unity across communities, organizations, and unions is our power. Whatever we do, we must do it together.” Businesses across the city shut their doors in solidarity with strikers and protesters.

Since the ICE Out day of action, Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino has been ordered out of Minneapolis, and acting Director of ICE Todd Lyons has been ordered by Chief Federal Judge Patrick J. Schiltz to appear in court over questions of why ICE has denied due process to detainees, the process by which the legality of their residency is determined.

 
CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. (center) met with members and leadership of CWA Locals 7200 and 7250, including CWA Local 7250 President Kieran Knutson (left) and CWA Local 7250 Vice President Michelle Richardson (right).

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.