Rev. Kiley denounces attacks on working people, unions
At the 2011 Building and Construction Trades Department legislative conference earlier this year, Reverend Cletus Kiley gave a stirring invocation to union leaders, demanding a new social contract in America that respects working people and the unions that represent them. A transcript of his words is presented below. The video of his invocation was widely publicized on the Internet.
OH GOD, YOUR prophet Isaiah spoke your word, “For Zion’s sake, I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet.” Like Isaiah, this morning we will not be silent. We will not be quiet. Something has gone awry in this land, and guided by You we must speak, we must act.
There was a time in this country when a man worked hard and could count on a fair day’s pay, but not today. There was a time in this country when after a lifetime of hard work a man could look forward to retirement, but not today. There was a time in this country when we respected the women and men who worked in our schools, protected our cities, made our levels of government work — but not today. Somebody has changed the rules, and we will not be silent about it.
First came the Wall Street gamblers who crippled our economy, gave themselves obscene bonuses, and began the Great Lie — that those to blame are the labor unions and the middle class. This is a lie, and we will not be silent about it. When they couldn’t fool us on that one, Lord, they blamed the immigrants and pitted working people against each other, trying to wreak havoc on a level playing-field for workers. And when we saw that for what it is, they demonized our public sector unions, and we can only wonder: Aren’t our unions [the building and construction trades] next?
Today they balance the budget, Lord, on the backs of the working class. Tax breaks go to the ultra-wealthy. General Electric doesn’t even pay a dime. They say our unions have too much of a voice in political life but pretend that we don’t see the hand of the Koch brothers and other billionaires underwriting their efforts.
Oh yes, Lord, something has gone terribly awry in the American house, but today we will not be silent about it. As You gave the prophets the courage to speak out, so give us that same courage. For the working people of this country, the stakes have never been higher. As You gave the prophets a righteous anger, so let righteous anger pour down upon this house. We have had enough. We are labor. We are the building trades. We are America’s working people, and we are one. We will not go quietly, Lord, into that dark night, and we will not be silent.
Today, guided by your vision, we say it is time for a new social contract for this country, and we are going to make it happen. So bless us now with courage, bless us with righteous anger, for today we will not be quiet, today we are one, and in Your name we will act. Amen.
