A Commemoration of the Jefferson Bank Action
Friday, Aug. 26
4 – 6 p.m.
Harris-Stowe
End Economic Violence! Fight for Economic Justice!
On August 26, 2016 the Organization for Black Struggle will commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the Jefferson Bank action. Join us in remembering this important piece of Saint Louis’ Black Radical History!
Leaders from the Jefferson Bank action will come together with organizers from today’s Fight for 15 to highlight our wins and the way toward economic justice. We will discuss the status of Black workers today, the up and coming Black Worker’s Center, Black Co-Ops, PayDay Loans and more.
Featured Panelists are: Ashli Bolden, Percy Green, Teresa Glover, Johnson Lancaster, Skillet aka Justin Johnson, and Norman Seay.
The struggle against the under/unpaid labor of Black people continues!
About the Jefferson Bank Action: The first protest against unequal hiring practices in Saint Louis took place at Jefferson Bank and Trust on August 30, 1963. The protests (led by workers, students and revolutionaries) continued until March 31, 1964. Many local civil rights activists were involved, such as William “Bill” Clay, Ivory Perry, Norman R. Seay, Charles and Marian Oldham, and Robert Curtis.
The action was initially conceived by members of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), who chose to target Jefferson Bank and Trust for their racist hiring practices as an example of the conditions of Black workers throughout Saint Louis. This was a historical action that resulted in the hiring of Black employees at the bank and served as a catalyst for other businesses throughout the region to take action in changing their racist employment practices.
Free child care services will be available at this event.
