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Largest DC Metro Union Slams WMATA For White Supremacy Rally Response
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One of the largest labor unions in Washington, D.C., went after the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) on Sunday for its supposed preferential treatment of white supremacists during the “Unite The Right” rally.
In a series of tweets, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 689, the city’s largest metro union, blasted WMATA for providing a group of white nationalists a private train car and police escort onto the metro, according to Fox-5.
The Metro faced backlash in the days leading up to the rally after rumors spread about the agency considering strategies to deal with the potential clash of protesters, including providing private cars. The metro subsequently released a statement denying the claim.
“DC, now you see who was telling the truth about the racist marchers being escorted onto the Metro and who lied,” ATU Local 689 tweeted. “[WMATA CEO Paul J.] Wiedefeld lied to riders and public when the truth was more convenient. The fallout of today will be on him.”
DC, now you see who was telling the truth about the racist marchers being escorted onto Metro and who lied. Wiedefeld lied to riders and public when the truth was more convenient. The fallout of today will be on him.
— ATU Local 689 (@ATULocal689) August 12, 2018
Local police accompanied about 20 white supremacists on the way to the rally, however, a WMATA spokeswoman confirmed to The Hill that no one was provided a private car, and all cars were accessible to the public. Further, the train car contained multiple reporters who claimed riders opted out of boarding the car due to the media and law officer presence.
“There are dozens of transit police protecting the racist marchers but drivers on Metrobus never see police protection on their buses,” ATU Local 689 continued. The union also claimed that WMATA “has given this hate group power by treating them like they are special.”
There are dozens of transit police protecting the racist marchers but drivers on Metrobus never see police protection on their buses #wmata
— ATU Local 689 (@ATULocal689) August 12, 2018
Jackie Jeter, president of ATU Local 689, later called on various officials to fire WMATA CEO Paul Wiedefeld immediately.
“We are asking the public to join us in contacting the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to order the #WMATA Board to fire the general manager immediately.”
(3/3) We are asking the public to join us in contacting @NoVaTransit, DC @MayorBowser and Maryland Governor @LarryHogan to order the #WMATA Board to fire the general manager immediately.” – Pres. Jackie Jeter
— ATU Local 689 (@ATULocal689) August 12, 2018
Bowser declined to comment on the WMATA’s approach to the rally, only saying “we feel strongly that [how Sunday was handled] led to a relatively peaceful day.”
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