Transit Worker Film Screening Spotlights DC Housing Issues

Local transit workers and public housing residents mingled at last Friday’s cocktail hour/movie night at ATU Local 689’s union hall. The event, on the eve of Labor Day weekend, kicked off the local’s observance of Labor Month. The screening, co-sponsored by the DC Labor FilmFest, was of “Chocolate City,” the 2008 film about how 400 families from the Arthur Capper’s housing project in South East Washington DC were forced from their homes in 2003 as part of a massive nation-wide redevelopment program. After the movie, attendees, including Local 689 president Jackie Jeter, Metro Washington Council president Jos Williams and public housing residents who are members of Empower DC, participated in a short discussion about ways to help the residents of Berry Farms and other Empower DC public housing campaigns. Local 689 plans to host another cocktail hour/movie night at the end of October.
- report/photos by Katie Traber, except group photo by Roland Jeter