Departments

Keeping The Dream Alive
UAW Member Helps Lead Way In Annual Civil Rights March

On Jan. 19, as they did one year ago, they marched with pride through the streets of Atlanta. They followed the same path their brothers and sisters marched in an earlier generation to honor the same man and the same dream.

They marched through the area known as “Sweet Auburn,” past the house where Martin Luther King, Jr. was born in an upstairs bedroom, past the Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King and his father were co-pastors, past where this great man was buried.

Leading this procession both years was the UAW’s own Kathy Fowler.

A third generation UAW member, Fowler is the first woman elected as financial secretary of Local 10, a local that represents some 3,300 workers at the General Motors Assembly plant in Doraville, Ga.
Fowler is a true-to-the-bone union member. “Kathy was chosen because she is one person who is always there,” said Charlie Flemming, president of the Atlanta Labor Council of the AFL-CIO. “And she does work hard for all working people, whether it’s pulling a bus trip together to help a local in need or to rescue a sick employee with a health care dispute.”

Sister Fowler is humbled by her experience as Honorary Grand Marshal of the Martin Luther King Jr. March, but the honor only serves to strengthen her dedication and commitment to human rights.
“It’s not a black and white issue,” she insists. “It could be the elderly, the children. We need to speak up and become more of a voice for all as far as fairness is concerned.”

The annual march is held the third Monday every year to celebrate the birthday of the martyred leader of America’s civil rights movement.

Next year’s march will follow the same historical route in Atlanta. You can be sure that Kathy Fowler will be there proudly marching arm-in-arm with her brothers and sisters. I hope next year even more UAW members will be marching with her.

Debbie Goddard
Local 10