San Diego Education Association President Lindsay Burningham on the Day of Action held on Feb. 24 in San Diego.

San Diego Education Association President Lindsay Burningham, right, joined other union leaders Friday to finalize their plans for the Working People’s Day of Action, held on Saturday in downtown San Diego at Convention Center Park. Volunteers were on hand to make signs and complete last-minute tasks to ensure an effective rally.

Working people gathered to send the message that they intend to dismantle the system that has benefited the 1 percent at the expense of other Americans. Speakers at the rally were working class unionists from throughout Southern California, who are fighting to reverse the impact of that broken system – one that discourages workers from organizing to ensure a better quality of life for themselves and their families.

The Day of Action had historical context, highlighting the efforts of Martin Luther King. King gave his full measure of devotion to Memphis sanitation workers who were attempting to organize for a living wage and safer working conditions. It would be King’s last campaign – he was assassinated while speaking on behalf of decency and humane treatment for those workers 50 years ago this month.

Main photo caption: Worker volunteers prepare for the afternoon rally.