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President Barack Obama was sworn in for his second term as President of the United States in the presence of hundreds of thousands of supporters. The Inauguration took place in Washington DC on the celebration of Martin Luther King’s Birthday Holiday. The sense of inclusion that was evident in the crowd was expressed by a number of people who were interviewed. One elderly African America woman said with obvious emotion and sincerity that she never imagined, given the sharp divisions in America over race relations during the 1960s and before, that the country would elect, and overwhelmingly re-elect, an African American President during her lifetime. There is an optimism that America is breaking down some of the racial barriers that have been a blight on its culture for many decades, particularly the shameful history of slavery in the South.



The American Labor Movement and Latino activist organisations are openly optimistic that the time for immigration reform has finally arrived. A bipartisan poll shows that Americans, across all incomes levels, race and gender lines and political party, all favor a path to citizenship for immigrants, most of whom, play a critical and integral part of American society. Immigration reform and job creation are two of the most important platforms of President Obama.



The Labor Movement is also poised to support the President’s defense of critical and historical public programs and benefits such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Healthcare for All. President Obama successfully led national legislation to bring healthcare access to millions of Americans who had none. Protecting and fully implementing these important social benefits is a key priority of the President. Standing with him will be the 45 million Americans who only have access to healthcare benefits because of this landmark legislation but also his allies in the Labor Movement and other supporters who are ready for real change in America.