Washington, D.C. – January 18, 2017 – UFCW International President Marc Perrone was recently honoured by the AFL-CIO at the 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil and Human Rights Awards Luncheon, held in Washington, D.C. on January 15.

At the luncheon, Brother Perrone received the “At the River I Stand” Award – the highest honour given by the AFL-CIO Civil and Human Rights Executive Council Committee – for his work in advancing civil and labour rights. The name of the award comes from the historic words used to capture the spirit of the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers during their courageous struggle for workers’ and human rights. The award was presented to Perrone by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

Alongside his fellow award recipient, USW Vice President Fred Redmond, President Perrone has served as a fearless leader of the AFL-CIO’s Labor Commission on Racial and Economic Justice, taking action to serve the needs and concerns of members, and shepherding the Labor Commission report to help union leaders have a better understanding of how racism and racial politics has impacted and continues to shape the U.S. labour movement.

Upon accepting his award, President Perrone addressed the luncheon attendees, emphasizing that workers “must stand together stronger than ever” in our quest for justice.