Labor Journalist Brings Message of International Solidarity (Video)

Carl Finamore, delegate to the San Francisco Labor Council (AFL-CIO) and former president of the Air Transport Employees Local 1781, visited Bloomington-Normal and shared his experiences as a witness to the Egyptian uprising. Carl visited Egypt in 2011 in solidarity with the revolution, and returned in 2012 to witness its unfolding.

During his stay, Finamore spoke as a labor leader at the May Day immigrant rights march organized by Latinos United for Change, and was interviewed by WGLT’s Charlie Schlenker on his social analysis of the Egyptian uprising.

Egypt: One Year On

In a talk attended by 30 people, Mr. Finamore analyzed the social forces in play in Egypt during and after the uprising. He described the army’s immense wealth and its current alliance with the Muslim Brotherhood, which currently jockeys to maintain some semblance of the status quo. The courageous popular movement – an alliance of independent unionists and students – lacks the organization of the moneyed interests but is supported by the majority. Exhausted by constant protest and extreme repression, it continues fighting and could be strengthened by advancing specific working-class demands.

Carl’s presentation was sponsored by Bloomington-Normal Coalition for Peace and Justice, Common Action Free School, and Latinos United for Change.

Part 1

Click below for each part of the talk.

May Day Speech

Prior to his talk on May 2nd, Carl Finamore spoke May 1st at the May Day Immigrant and Workers Rights rally, organized by Latinos United for Change and Illinois People’s Action.