Walter Hinojosa, president of the Northwest Arkansas Central Labor Council, was one of four speakers to address the Fayetteville, Arkansas, No Kings Day of Defiance rally Saturday, June 14, 2025. Reported the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “Around 10,000 people march Saturday June 14, 2025, down Dickson Street in Fayetteville as part of the nationwide ‘No Kings Day’ peaceful demonstrations against the Trump administration’s policies. Some 2,000 protests were held across the United States. Indivisible NWA and NWA Community Hub cohosted the event.” Local 965 members walked with their banner in the Dickson march. Following is Walter’s speech:
I am so glad you could join me for this special birthday celebration.
I am sure you are all here celebrating the 97th birthday of Che Guevara. Unlike another birthday event elsewhere today, I am not being paid to be here. Are you? I thought not.
Every single day since January 20th, I have totally exhausted my allotment of cuss words. It just keeps getting worse.
Then I look out and see so many people, and I know that together we can make this horrific nightmare end!
Still, I have to ask: When did firing park rangers, expert scientists and air traffic controllers become a better idea than simply taxing billionaires?
When did denying millions of health care or giving Musk and his musketeers ALL government data become a better idea than simply taxing billionaires?
As a retired political scientist, here’s my thumbnail analysis of the Declaration of Independence: The first one-third of it is a stirring description of the relationship between a government and the governed. The other two-thirds is why the King of England was such an asshole. We’ve been against kings since 1776. Why would we want another asshole now?
Today, I speak on behalf of the NWA Central Labor Council representing thousands of workers like FEMA workers, postal and railway workers, those who take care of our veterans — thank you Brother Bruce [Bruce Appel, president of Local 2201 of the American Federation of Government Employees], educators — thank you Local 965 [UA-Fayetteville Education Association / Local 965] — and our first-responders, to name just a few. Let’s give a big hand to the police for safely getting us to this park!
This administration has put anti-union and anti-regulation fanatics in charge of worker safety and worker rights.
This will cost worker lives!
Our Ozempic queen governor has opened the door for our children to work harder, longer and in more dangerous workplaces, and
That shit ain’t right!
Between the kiddie-run DOGE, that “big, beautiful” wealth redistribution bill, and those hugely unsuccessfull tariffs, we will all suffer greatly.
This administration is so full of incompetents, abject racists, drunks and weirdos that our government cannot function properly, but that is their goal
And elections do have consequences!
To them, waste, fraud and abuse are not the targets, they are the primary objectives, and the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution be damned!
Beloveds, organized labor is one of our last defenses against this travesty.
I extend to you today an invitation to join us in the labor movement.
Join us in fighting back against the Forces of Darkness and Evil.
If you are in a workplace that is represented by a union, then join the damned union.
And, if you are a union member, then urge your union leaders to participate in our labor council and in the state federation!
If there is no union where you work, then help us start one.
A movement cannot be detained, and solidarity cannot be deported!
Join with us and make your voice heard so that together we can be the voice for the voiceless!
Thank you, and happy birthday, Che!
UA-Fayetteville Education Association 