Bldg. staff protest for Black Lives

Hundreds of essential building services workers gathered on Sixth Ave. Tuesday to declare solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement — and demand respect for being in the thick of the battle against coronavirus.

“It takes every ounce in my body to stay positive and stay sane,” said Max Smalls, a 31-year-old security officer who works on W. 18th St. “Enough with the lack of support for essential workers.”

The protest was held in honor of the 30th anniversary of the “Battle of Century City,” a 1990 demonstration in Los Angeles by mostly Latino janitors for the right to organize that turned violent when police began attacking peaceful protesters.

“Police are still being utilized to quell the voice of working people as they call for unity and justice in the streets,” said

Kyle Bragg, president of SEIU 32BJ. “In this pandemic, essential workers, a lot of whom are black and brown, deal with a double anxiety of being stopped by police in their commutes.”

Bragg (inset) was joined by service employees representing custodians, airport workers, and security personnel, as well as Councilman Keith Powers (D-Manhattan) and city Comptroller Scott Stringer.

“The people dying are the ones who the government gave up on,” Stringer said. “That is why black lives matter.”

Powers spoke about accountability, investment in public utilities such as housing and education, and protecting essential employees.

“We’re going to make sure workers get their fair share in this city,” he said.

Emmanuel Tanis held a “Black Lives Matter” sign outside of 1221 Sixth Ave., where he works as a security guard. “I hope people driving by learn to respect people for the job that they do.”