LA CROSSE, Wis. (WEAU) – La Crosse is celebrating their annual Laborfest with a ten block parade though the north side of the city followed by food, games, and other events at Copeland Park.
Event organizers say it is important for the community to come together and celebrate the hard work that workers do.
“They do all kinds of hard work. You’ve got everything from firefighters to people who work at the brewery, all walks of life down here. You name it. Every kind of worker down here,” says Western Wisconsin AFL CIO President Mike Davis.
President of the La Crosse Education Association Jill Schams says celebrating Labor Day and Laborfest is all about solidarity.
“Right now, we really need the public to know that workers are what supports our society all of these unions, labor unions, and teachers unions are doing the work to keep our country moving along. Labor day is a day that we can take to celebrate what we do every day to keep America running,” says Schams.
Meanwhile, on the northside of Copeland Park, a demonstration was being held in what organizers say is a way to support local workers and unions. Demonstrates say under the current administration, breaks, fair minimum wages, and other protections may be at risk.
“We really believe that workers deserve to have everything that they need and to be supported. Right now, what we’re seeing is that there’s a lot of money being spent that’s actually harming workers. Today is all about making sure workers can get what they need,” says Madison Jones.
Other demonstrators say they are participating to defend democracy and the constitution for all workers.
“We have been under the thumb of billionaires and corporations. The people are what makes this community strong. They’re the people that make country run. We want to make sure that everybody knows that they are welcomed, and that they are important to this community,” says Tasha Lewis.
Laborfest has been celebrated in La Crosse for more than 130 years.
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