Clark Construction and the Battle for Local DC Jobs.wmv

Clark Construction Denying Qualified Black DC Residents Promised Construction Jobs

DC Clergy united with DC Residents from Wards 7 & 8 and vicinity for a Demonstration

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Hundreds of D.C. Residents from Wards 7 & 8 and vicinity joined by several Clergy, including Pastor Patrick J. Walker from New Macedonia Baptist Church to march on Wednesday, September 21st, to protest the lack of hiring of African American District of Columbia residents to work on the new headquarters for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the former St. Elizabeths Hospital.

The march began at noon at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church, 2616 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, and proceeded to the Clark Construction gate at the intersection of Firth Sterling Avenue and Stevens Road. Picket lines were formed in front of the gate, and trucks were blocked from entering. The march was intended to call attention to the small number of Ward 8 residents who have been hired to work on the project, contrary to the promises made by local officials and construction company executives before the project began.

"Clark Construction has manipulated the numbers to make it appear as if they are hiring more local residents than they actually are. Despite what they claim, certified payroll data show that fewer than 14% of total work hours on the site have been performed by DC residents, based on an analysis of data obtained through a request under the Freedom of Information Act," said Ron Harris, of DC Jobs or Else Coalition. He continues, "The East of the River community is angry. It feels lied too again." Reverend Patrick J. Walker, President of the Missionary Baptist Ministers' Conference of Washington, DC and Vicinity, adds, "The building of this facility will provide long term career opportunities, and those opportunities need to go to those who live in this city. That is real homeland security."

Participants in the march assembled at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday at Matthews Memorial Baptist Church, where speakers addressed the demonstrators. The speakers included: Reverend Patrick J. Walker, President of the Missionary Baptist Ministers' Conference of Washington, DC and Vicinity; Tom Brown of the Ward 8 Workforce Development Council; DC Council Member Marion Barry, and Richie Armstrong, community activist. The march was organized by religious, community and labor leaders.

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