Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike, and the death of Echol Cole and Robert Walker, a thread: 0/

On February 1, 1968, Echol Cole and Robert Walker, two Memphis sanitation workers, were crushed to death by a garbage compactor while one the job. Four years earlier, two other men died the same way. The city didn’t fix the defective equipment. 1/

100s of sani workers part of Local 1733, Union of sani workers fighting for safe working conditions/fair wages formed in the early 60s, struggled with multiple strike attempts; city officials didn’t recognize the Union. Most of the sani workers were Black men. 2/

Many sanitation workers in the Union were fired and threatened with jail time during the time of the scattered and disorganized strikes. City officials wanted to prevent further organizing. 3/

Despite their efforts to convince Mayor Loeb, former head of the city’s sanitation department who was well aware of the dangerous working conditions, to meet their demands, Loeb claimed that the striking workers were abusing him. No changes were made. 4/

On February 12, 1968, over 1,300 striking sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee took to the streets. Well over half of the city’s sanitation workers didn’t show up for work that day. But they still needed the support of other residents in the city. 5/

Three days after the strike, thousands of tons of garbage were piled high in the streets so Loeb hired white strikebreakers to clean up while escorted by police. 6/

By the end of the week the NAACP passes a resolution supporting the strike. After a sit-in organized to demand higher wages, the City Council voted to raise wages and recognize the Union. Loeb rejected the city council vote. 7/

The next day, protestors and strikers were tear gassed at City Hall. Local ministers organized and planned to use civil disobedience tactics in the city. 100+ local students/activists participated in marches and raised awareness about the conditions sanitation workers faced. 8/

On March 18th, MLK went to Memphis to preach to a crowd of 25,000. It was the largest indoor gathering during the Civil Rights Movement. He encouraged everyone to join the striking sanitation workers and pledged to return to march with them. A snowstorm delayed his plans. 9/

After multiple demonstrations with 10K+ Memphis residents, and the killing of a 16 year protestor are the hands of police, Loeb called in the National Guard. 4,000 troops arrived. The next day, sanitation workers still protested with signs that read “I Am a Man.” 10/

King was committed to preaching about nonviolence, economic justice, and he sought to unify the residents of Memphis while also expressing heartache over the violence that took over the town. This is when he gave his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” Speech on April 3rd. 11/

King was assassinated the next day.

Sanitation workers still have one of the most dangerous jobs and are constantly disrespected by city officials and underpaid. Our lives depend on their important work. MLK's last fight was in support of them. You should support them. /12