Today’s press conference: “ESPN, Meet Face to Face with Workers!”
In front of Baltimore’s shuttered ESPN Zone, former ESPN Zone workers, harbor workers, and allies gathered to call on ESPN Zone to meet face to face with workers to resolve human rights abuses, including violation of the WARN Act, failing to give workers 60 days notice prior to closing.
One of those allies who came to stand in solidarity with ESPN Zone workers was Rev. Roger Scott Powers, Pastor of Light St. Presbyterian Church. As Rev. Powers opened us in reflection and prayer, a guard for the Cordish property ran up and attempted to grab the mic from him. But he continued praying for justice and dignity as the guard continued to disrupt the press conference by standing directly in front of him and telling him repeatedly that he was not allowed to be there, “We pray too for the executives that made this decision to close this ESPN Zone without giving fair notice to their employees. Stir their consciousness oh God. Instill in them a sense of justice and fairness. Help them to see the error of their ways. Bring them to the table to meet with these workers face to face. Open their hearts and minds…”
Watch the video of the guard attempting to shut-down the prayer.
As we know all too well, poverty-zone development can only be made tolerable by making workers and their conditions invisible. With cameras and reporters present, the attempts on the part of those who control the Inner Harbor to silence the calls for justice was exposed in plain view. ESPN workers, Debra Harris, Winston Gupton, and Leonard Gray, who had been told not to talk to the media by ESPN Zone management, spoke on behalf of the Human Rights Committee that has formed to demand justice in this shut-down. Leonard Gray announced, “Until the day that developers are held accountable for poverty-zone development and ensure basic human rights for all harbor workers, we are calling on ESPN Zone to right their wrong by responding within 7 days and meeting face to face with us to resolve these abuses.”
Check out the video of workers’ testimony.
Also there to speak in solidarity with the ESPN Human Rights Committee was Peter Sabonis of the Legal Aid Bureau, legal counsel to the United Workers. Sabonis spoke to the WARN Act and how ESPN Zone has clearly violated this worker protection.
After the press conference, workers and allies took their message directly to harbor consumers. With stacks of fliers in hand, we told consumers about the human rights zone campaign and this most recent and blatant example of worker disrespect.
More coverage of today’s press conference at the ESPN Zone:
“Recently let go ESPN Zone workers are protesting the decision to close the Inner Harbor restaurant,” ABC 2, June 30, 2009
“Former ESPN Zone workers protest sudden layoffs,” Baltimore Sun, June 30, 2009
