Union Pulls Support For Black Students Because Koch Brothers’ Donation

The  American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is throwing a hissy fit after the United Negro College Fund accepted a grant from the Koch brothers.

AFSCME President Lee Saunder said the union will be rescinding their $50,000 to $60,000 annual donations due to UNCF accepting a $25 million grant from Koch Industries Inc. and the Charles Koch Foundation. The UNCF fund provides scholarships to and actively supports historically black colleges and universities.

According to the New York Post:

AFSCME President Lee Saunders said the actions of the college fund’s president “are not only deeply hostile to the rights and dignity of public employees, but also a profound betrayal of the ideals of the civil rights movement.”

[…]

After accepting the grant, Saunders says, UNCF President Michael Lomax spoke at a Koch brothers summit in California.

Saunders called the Koches “the single most prominent funders of efforts to prevent African-Americans from voting” and said Lomax’s appearance at their function was “a betrayal of everything the UNCF stands for.”

Lomax said the fund never had a litmus test for donors.

“While I am saddened by AFSCME’s decision, it will not distract us from our mission of helping thousands of African-American students achieve their dream of a college degree and the economic benefits that come with it,” Lomax said.