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A collage of voting symbols and Black voters.
Blog October 25, 2024

Bill Lucy, Civil Rights, and the Labor Movement

A collage of voting symbols and Black voters.

This fall, the labor movement lost a legend. For more than 40 years, Lucy dedicated himself to uplifting workers' rights, becoming a trusted leader in American labor and civil rights.

As the International Secretary-Treasurer of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) for nearly 40 years, Lucy played a pivotal role in transforming the union. His commitment to inclusivity and equity was exemplified when he co-founded the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) in 1972, redefining the role of African Americans in labor unions.

As we prepare to cast our ballots this November, labor leaders reflect on what they learned from Lucy and how we should all honor his memory with our votes this election.

Fedrick Ingram - AFT

Bill Lucy's Lifelong Marathon

But I have some words here for all Black folks, and specifically for Black male voters in this moment when the whole country has their gaze fixed on what boxes we tick on our ballots: Your vote is a direct tie to your dignity, your humanity and the long race for equality.

Claude Cummings - NAACP Board of Directors

To Honor Bill Lucy, Vote

To honor this man's legacy doesn't take a lifelong commitment to racial and labor justice. It simply requires that we each make the most of the opportunities that he, and others like him, fought, bled, and died for. The greatest of these is our ability to vote.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders Headshot

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Bill Lucy

Even in his final months, Bill understood the urgency and high stakes of the 2024 elections. And if he were still with us, he would encourage us to make our involvement the highest priority.