DETROIT (WXYZ) — The Detroit AFL-CIO is canceling their annual Detroit Labor Day march because of concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.
The union says replacement events are currently being planned. These events will take place in either a virtual or hybrid form.
“2020 will continue to look different for a lot of folks in Michigan, but we are committed to using all the tools at our disposal to continue to organize working folks this year,” said Daryl Newman, President of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO and Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan AFL-CIO. “We are looking forward to spending the next 12 weeks engaging with our brothers and sisters, culminating in a major event that we’ll announce closer to Labor Day.”
The annual Labor Day march is often an opportunity for candidates to appear in Detroit prior to the November election. Both Barack Obama and Joe Biden spoke at the event in the past. President Donald Trump also appeared in Detroit for Labor Day while campaigning in 2016.