Clifton, AZ - On the eve of Arizona's Centennial celebration, history unfolded, last Saturday evening, when the United Steelworkers formally announced their endorsement of Wenona Benally Baldenegro for Arizona's First Congressional District, at the historic Morenci Miners Local 616 Union Hall in Clifton, AZ. Many of the people in attendance were involved, directly or in a supportive role, in the historic 1983-86 United Steelworkers strike in Clifton/Morenci.
The Union Hall was Ground Zero during the 1983-86 strike, and a timeless mural by internationally acclaimed muralist David Tineo, capturing the dynamics of the strike, takes up the entire length of one wall in the Union Hall. It is a living document that honors the struggle of the workers who stood up and with dignity and courage, and fought the good fight for their families.
Manny Armenta, Sub-Director of United Steelworkers District 12 (which encompasses 11 western states), was the main speaker at the dinner and introduced Wenona. During his talk, Manny announced to the capacity crowd the formal USW endorsement of Wenona's historic campaign to be the first American Indian woman to ever serve in the U.S. Congress, and the first American Indian from Arizona to serve in Congress.
Said Armenta, “We fought that fight, in 1983, so that our future generations would not have to endure the same injustices that we faced. It's unfortunate that in 2011, we find ourselves in the same struggle, as then. It’s time to stand up for the working people of Arizona. The United Steelworkers are endorsing Wenona because we know that she will fight for the working families of Arizona and of the United States.”
Armenta’s speech was particularly poignant in that he was involved in the 1983-86 strike, and being back in the Union Hall—with the Tineo mural memorializing the many images of the strike—was an emotional moment for him, as it was for many in the audience who were on the picket lines during the strike.
For two hours, last Saturday evening, in Clifton, AZ, time stood still during a seminal moment in Wenona's campaign and, indeed, in the history of Arizona.