January 22, 2008, Philadelphia, PA- Temple President, Ann Weaver Hart, like many American’s on January 21 was ready to celebrate the legacy of Reverend Martin Luther King. In recognition of the civil rights leader President Hart planned a big event in the Student Activities Center on Temple Campus. Unfortunately, the one thing that she hadn’t planned on was real, live civil rights activists showing up at the event.

Activists from the community organization Jobs with Justice arrived early at the event and began leafleting and talking with people as they entered the auditorium. The activists claim that Temple University is responsible for the poor compensation, working conditions and workers’ rights abuses of 250 security guards on campus. The 95% African-American work force is subcontracted through the AlliedBarton company.

The activists have been waging a campaign since 2005 to win improvements for the workers.