Labor_Day_parade_Buffalo_NY

 

Monday September 6th is Labor Day

The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City.  In the aftermath of the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the 1894 Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with Labor as a top political priority. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congress unanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.  Cleveland was also concerned that aligning an American labor holiday with existing international May Day celebrations would stir up negative emotions linked to the Haymarket Affair.  All 50 U.S. states have made Labor Day a state holiday.  Pictured at right is a photo of a Labor Day parade on Main St. in Buffalo NY in 1900.

 


Recent Allegations by Councilman Sal DiCiccio

Pictured above left is District 6 City Council candidate Dana Marie Kennedy.  Pictured at right is DIstrict 6 incumbent Councilman Sal DiCiccio.

PLEA is a member of the Arizona Police Association, a state-wide group of police associations that represent over 9000 law enforcement, detention, and correction officers.  On Friday September 11, 2009 the APA chose to endorse Dana Kennedy in her run for the District 6 seat on the Phoenix City Council.  PLEA refrained from voting on this endorsement.

Per the Arizona Republic, Councilman Sal DiCiccio reported that during the weekend after this APA endorsement "a third party, whom he declined to identify, had reached out to him on behalf of the association, asking him to either oppose or take a neutral position on the police chief.  If he did that, DiCiccio was told, he would win the backing of the association….”  In no way is PLEA's reporting the facts and media coverage of this allegation to PLEA members to be construed as an endorsement of any type for any candidate.

CLICK HERE to read the Sept. 15, 2009 AZ Republic article where Councilman DiCiccio alleges The Arizona Police Association (APA) offered political support in exchange for the removal of Jack Harris.

CLICK HERE to read the Sept. 16, 2009 AZ Republic editorial response to the Sept. 15 article.

CLICK HERE to read the Sept. 18, 2009 AZ Republic editorial response authored by Dana Kennedy.