FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Activists Hope For Progress Soon

Philadelphia, PA, September 8, 2008- On Sunday, September 7, hundreds of art lovers browsed the galleries at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. They came to see the art and also to make a statement. The message that they wanted to deliver to the museum managers and security guards was printed on stickers that they wore, “My Security Guard Deserves Paid Sick Days.”

“I am sure Gerry Lenfest has heard our demands. More than 2,000 supporters in the last two weeks have stood up for living wages, paid-sick leave and affordable health care for the guards by signing petitions and visiting the museum,” states Fabricio Rodriguez, Executive Director of Jobs with Justice the community organization that is coordinating the effort. Lenfest is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and millionaire philanthropist.

“We will win these things because we need them, justice is on our side. It won’t harm the museum to make sure that all the guards on the property are treated right. That’s why we join the POWR campaign” says a security guard at the museum who wished to remain anonymous.

“We have found overwhelming support for our campaign” says Bishop Dwayne Royster the Chairman of the Interfaith Committee of the campaign. “On Labor Day weekend, twenty churches prayed for these guards. Our volunteers signed up hundreds of supporters when they canvassed the First Friday event in Old City. Many of the people that we meet are members of the museum.”

Jobs with Justice leaders say that they will continue to agitate for changes in the next few months by protesting at member events, the popular Art After 5 series and a major protest to coincide with the opening of the “Cézanne and Beyond” exhibit in February of 2009.

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