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GUESTS: John Wilson, Security Officer, Reverend Lewis Logan, Stand for Security Coalition

Today, on the 39th anniversary of the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr, security guards and their supporters will rally in Los Angeles for their labor rights. Last November, a four year campaign by the Sevice Employees International Union, SEIU, and community leaders from South Los Angeles, resulted in 5000 security officers winning the right to organize in Downtown Los Angeles. These officers will be bargaining for their first county-wide contract in the next year. And nationwide, nearly 50,000 predominantly black private security officers will be bargaining contracts this year to win family health care and higher pay. Security officers typically receive low wages and very few benefits. As a result there are high turnover rates, understaffing, and a lack of experienced and trained personnel.

The march will begin this morning at 11 am at 8101 S. Vermont Avenue. There will be a press conference at noon at Florence and Normandie. For more information, visit www.standforsecuritycoalition.com.

Special thanks to Quan Vu.