News

A Deeply Sad Loss for ROC-NY

On Tuesday, Senator Edward M. Kennedy lost his battle with cancer and our nation lost the best, most vocal and clear-minded champion for a just minimum wage and healthcare reform.  Senator Kennedy was unique in his understanding of the struggles of families in the United States to make ends meet with the meager wages at the low-wage jobs that have become the staple of our economy. He was the most dedicated and effective advocate for workers in the nation. Today ROC United lost a dear and passionate friend.

We are hopeful that the partisanship and divisiveness that has become the standard in the U.S. Congress will be put aside to move forward legislation that will fulfill Senator Kennedy’s legacy, minimum wage and health care reform.  Let’s remember the sacrifices he and millions of Americans have made to make this country a just and more livable country for all of us.   

The greatest tribute we can pay him now is to single-mindedly focus on his dream of a nation in which every person has access to quality affordable health care, and a wage that affords every American a dignified life.

To our friend and hero we bid farewell.

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In addition, we have a beautifully written tribute from Shailesh Shrestha, a ROC-NY Board Member and Nepali Community Leader:

"We must not undermine the legacy and accomplishments of our dear leader (a rare very left-leaning politician!), a true friend of immigrants known as the "Liberal Lion," our man TEDDY, Edward M. Kennedy. He was the maestro, a champion legislator who worked tirelessly emphasizing not just worker rights, but four issues which are near and dear to the ROC mission: Civil Rights, Education, Immigration and Health Care.

As an Immigrant worker and activist I may have different priorities and interests among these four areas, but I dare not separate his targeted issues and accomplishments from one another, for that would disrespect Teddy’s entire life's work and legacy. He championed the Immigration and Nationality Act 1965, The Civil Rights Bill of 1963, The American Dream Act of 2003 and the New Version in 2009, The Comprehensive Immigration Bill of 2006, and the Voting Rights Act of 1970, just to name a few. Through his work on these pieces of legislation, and his knack for interweaving these “big four” issues, he established himself as a leading legislator of working class Americans for almost half century.

Let us not forgot our immigration and civil rights related issues and the reform he fought for throughout his entire life. We must show our utmost inner gratitude and respect towards Teddy for exerting these efforts, as he did it just for us.

I wish for our farewell to reflect our core values, written principles and philosophy as an organization, especially considering that 97% of ROC-NY’s membership is comprised of immigrants and people of color, and the staff and leadership reflect this population.

I would like to take this time to bid farewell in this final and heartfelt tribute to our liberal lion by his own phrase: "The dream will never die.”

Viva Kennedy: You were and you will be always a winner in our minds and hearts."