Civil rights veteran James Phipps, 75, wants to be on the front lines of the future No Kings protests, planned for Chicago, Illinois. His recent return from colon cancer surgery will not stop him. Phipps, who has dedicated much of his life to fighting for equality and workers’ rights, draws parallels between the historical injustices he faced in Mississippi and the current treatment of immigrants under former President Donald Trump’s administration.
Phipps was born in Marks, Mississippi. In doing so, he bravely took a stand as part of the civil rights movement at only 13 years old. At only 15, he had already joined the Mississippi Freedom Labor Union (MFLU). His activism deepened as he helped these sharecroppers get organized in their struggle for increased wages. He recalls working in brutal environments. He was only paid 30 cents an hour, only receiving $3 for ten hours of fieldwork in the community’s cotton fields.
As a young man, Phipps made a pivotal move for civil rights at his neighborhood high school. He worked hand in hand with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to do just that. Reflecting on his experiences, Phipps stated, “The same struggle that Mexican Americans and people of color are going through, we went through that since [1619].” His long-standing commitment to social justice remains unwavering as he prepares to join the protests.
Phipps has recently voiced strong opposition to the violent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that have been sweeping Chicago. He underscores the importance of community and solidarity. Not considering the fact that his Mexican neighbors have lived right next door for 41 years. He firmly believes that “there’s no reason why you should walk the streets, taking people out of their home, and they’ve been here for 20 or 30 years.”
Central to Phipps’s activism is his belief that freedom isn’t possible without a voice, and that’s what his activism is grounded in. He states, “We didn’t want kings then, and we don’t want kings now,” echoing a sentiment shared among many protesters who feel marginalized by current political leaders. Phipps criticizes politicians who prioritize the interests of billionaires over the needs of working-class individuals, saying, “You have greedy men thinking about one thing, and that’s about enhancing their pocketbook, their financial wellbeing.”
Phipps not only continues his work as a civil rights advocate, but he serves in administrative support of Cook County government. Moreover, he is a proud rank and file member of SEIU Local 73. He’s been involved all the way through with organizing on behalf of the union to push for workers’ rights. American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten is an ardent advocate of the Lambertian principle. She continues, “Unions know that when you have a voice at work you have the power to lift up working people. Our unions know that a voice in our democracy builds power for everyday people, for working people in a multiracial democracy.”
As part of the No Kings protests scheduled for October 18, Phipps joins a larger movement calling for accountability from elected officials. Jaime Contreras of SEIU speaks to the necessity of working together as workers of all types. That’s why he’s been a leading voice opposing the demonization of peaceful protesters as threats. He declares, “The real threat to this country isn’t peaceful protesters. It’s politicians shutting down our government to protect billionaires and corporate greed.”
Phipps’s commitment to social justice has not wavered since his arrival to Cornell, as he awaits the protests. He articulates his motivation by stating, “I have a burning desire to be a part of the protest.” His voice is heard loud and clear from all those who understand that democracy needs to work for the people and not just a privileged few.