Los Angeles – Actors’ Equity Association announced that the union has endorsed Lateefah Simon for Congress in California’s 12th Congressional District, which is home to over 750,000 people across Alameda County and includes Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Emeryville, Oakland, Piedmont and San Leandro. The seat is currently held by Barbara Lee, who is vacating the San Francisco Bay Area seat to run for Senate.
"Lateefah Simon has dedicated her entire career to giving underrepresented communities a voice in their government," said Kate Shindle, president of Actors’ Equity Association. "Simon will be a fearless champion for arts workers in Congress, and we’re proud to support her campaign for progressive change."
"I am deeply honored to receive the endorsement of Actors' Equity Association, a union that has tirelessly championed the rights of creative professionals for over a century," said Lateefah Simon. "With the backing of the Actors' Equity Association, I am eager to get to work in Congress to fight for equity, fair wages, and benefits for the creative professionals who enrich our lives through their artistry."
Equity’s federal public policy priorities include tax fairness, defending and protecting the right to collectively bargain, a prevailing wage in the arts, racial justice, a strong minimum wage, stronger federal and state arts funding, gun violence prevention, universal federal health care and LGBTQ non-discrimination protections.
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks
January 8, 2024
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