Providence College students will hold a rally to encourage the creation of an inclusive, beloved community on campus, and in support of a just contract for the contracted janitors at Providence College. In the spirit of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, the rally will embrace the nonviolent message preached by Dr. King, and his "objective (of) a truly brotherly society, the creation of the beloved community." Students regard this opportunity for justice for contracted janitors at Providence College another step in creating the beloved community, one that is founded on the values shared by its people, including the realization of the dignity of workers.
Contracted janitors reported that they have been facing harassment and intimation from their supervisors at the workplace. Students, especially due to their strengthening unity with janitors, believe that a just contract cannot come from a climate of fear at work. As Martin Luther King said when supporting the sanitation workers in Memphis, "We aren't engaged in any negative protest and in any negative arguments with anybody. We are saying that we are... determined to be people. We are saying that we are God's children. And that we don't have to live like we are forced to live." Contracted janitors at Providence College are invaluable to the functionality, but more importantly, the spirit, of the campus community. Their work has been undervalued, but the Providence College community has been presented with an opportunity to see change.
As clearly stated in its mission, Providence College "encourages the deepest respect for the essential dignity, freedom, and equality of every person." In keeping with the mission of the College, all workers -- students, faculty, and Hurley janitors alike -- deserve the dignity that is essential to being human.