A proposal being entertained for a “workers’ rights commission” by the Durham City Council has a vocal communist supporting the measure.
The News and Observer reported that “activist Takiyah Thompson” stood in support of the measure:
Activist Takiyah Thompson told the council it is no mistake that union membership in North Carolina and South Carolina is so low, given the states’ history of slavery.
“Durham is a chocolate city,” Thompson said, meaning it has a large African-American population. “In the absence of strong unions, workers must have access to a body who will defend them to the constant attacks leveled to them from their bosses, and in a city with such a large black population.”
The News and Observer did not mention that Thompson is more than just an activist, but in fact is a communist and a member of the communist labor organization, the Workers World Party.
In 2017, Thompson gained national attention for her prominent role and subsequent arrest for the toppling of a Confederate statue in Durham. Thompson scaled a ladder, fastened a noose around the statue’s neck and then protesters pulled until the monument came crashing down.
Durham law enforcement later arrested Thompson and charged her with two misdemeanors; disorderly conduct by injury to a statue and damage to real property.
Thompson was also charged with felony participation in a riot with property damage in excess of $1,500, and felony inciting others to riot where there is property damage in excess of $1,500.
The charges were later dismissed District Court Judge Frederick S. Battaglia Jr. Durham District Attorney Roger Echols dropped the charges for the remainder of the protesters involved, which included Elena Everett, Jessica Nicole Jude, Qasima Wideman, and Joseph Karlik.
The toppling of the statue was organized and coordinated by members of the Workers World Party and the Southern Vision Alliance.
Everett, one of those arrested for toppling the Durham statue, is the current executive director of the organization.
Durham Mayor Pro Tem and City Council Member Jillian Johnson founded the Southern Vision Alliance, maintains its website and sits on the board of directors. The Durham City Council’s proposal indicates that the commission would be made up of 13 members, all of whom would be appointed by the city council.
The main functions would be to hold public hearings on labor and worker complaints, aid workers to “form unions,” and push local legislation to “restore public employee collective bargaining.”
The proposal calls for all businesses in Durham to provide a $15 per hour minimum wage and require paid sick leave.
These proposals for unionization are at odds with North Carolina state law, which bans collective bargaining for public employees. State law also bars cities from setting their own wage limits.
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A.P. Dillon is the North Carolina Bureau Chief for The Tennesee Star and a reporter at Battleground State News. Follow A.P. Dillon on Twitter. Email Tips to [email protected].
Photos “Takiyah Thompson” by The Daily Sheeple and Durham County Sheriffs Department.
