AFM Endorses Hillary Rodham Clinton for President of the United States

October 4, 2016

Ray Hair  -  AFM International President

The November 8 general election will mark a turning point in American government and history. America’s values are on the line and it is up to each and every registered voter to weigh in and select a president that shares our values as workers.

Today, the American worker faces numerous national and global challenges that threaten progress, particularly within the arts. Throughout her long legislative-political career, throughout the primary campaign season, and now in the general election, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton has consistently stood as a champion for working men and women and their families across the US. Because of her consistent record in support of education, the performing arts, the US entertainment industry, health care, retirement security, and workplace safety, among other worker issues, the AFM’s International Executive Board voted Friday, September 9, 2016 to endorse the candidacy of Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton in the election for next President of the United States.

The AFM is proud to join with its brothers and sisters throughout the American labor movement to continue our fight for social and economic justice, while continuing our mission to make American culture through the arts and entertainment second to none. Because of her record, we believe that Clinton will best help us uphold these principles.

US arts and culture serve as a beacon of hope for people around the globe. As First Lady under the first Clinton Administration, Hillary Clinton worked to produce a number of cultural initiatives including the Save America’s Treasures program, a project between the White House and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which invested in our nation’s irreplaceable legacy of artistic works. As a member of the US Senate Cultural Caucus, then-Senator Clinton voted in support of federal funding for the arts and supported numerous arts-related Senate actions that helped improve the lives of all American families with a special emphasis on creative ideals espoused by working artists.

During her years as Senator from New York, she was noted for her support of the artistic architectural redesign and rebuilding of the newly constructed One World Trade Center, built as a monument to American resolve after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. In each of these cases, Secretary Clinton used the power of arts and culture to carefully weave a refreshingly new American fabric, while working to help heal our nation and promote the deep diversity that is uniquely ours.

The AFM joins with all Americans who want to see a united country that promotes inclusion and a vision for the future that honors and respects all of its citizens. We believe that, with this mission at home and Secretary Clinton’s proven ability to bring world leaders together in peace, this nation will continue to grow, harmonize, and prosper among its global neighbors.

This AFM Presidential endorsement is based on the information referred to above, together with Secretary Clinton’s unswerving commitment to the hard-fought principles and ideals of the organized labor movement. It was arrived at by a unanimous vote of the AFM International Executive Board.

---