Hip-hop legend LL Cool J announced that he was pulling out of a Fourth of July festival in Philadelphia in support of municipal workers’ ongoing strike in the city.
He made the announcement the night before the Wawa Welcome America Festival, Philadelphia’s annual July Fourth celebration.
LL Cool J was set to headline the festival along with Grammy-winning singer Jazmine Sullivan.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker said she was aware of LL Cool J’s decision to not perform and she had “spoke personally” with him.
Hours before she was set to perform, Sullivan also announced she was backing out of the festival in solidarity with the union.
In solidarity with the city’s ongoing strike of municipal workers, hip-hop icon LL Cool J declared that he would be skipping a Fourth of July celebration in Philadelphia.
He stated in a video uploaded to X on Thursday that “there is absolutely no way that I could perform, cross a picket line, and pick up money when I know that people are out there fighting for a living wage.”.
The evening before Philadelphia’s annual July Fourth celebration, the Wawa Welcome America Festival, he made the announcement. Grammy-winning singer Jazmine Sullivan and LL Cool J were scheduled to perform as the festival’s main acts.
He went on to express his hope that “the city can make a deal” and his intention to be in Philadelphia “just in case.”. “”.
At 12:01 a.m., the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees’ District Council 33, the union, went on strike. m. Tuesday morning following the failure to broker a new, higher-paying contract. Essential public services like 911 dispatch and sanitation are the responsibility of union members.
In a social media response to LL Cool J, the union said it was heartening to see him use his platform “to champion causes that matter to everyday people.”. “”.
The union said in a statement that LL Cool J’s choice to respect workers’ rights by refusing to cross a picket line is a strong testament to his solidarity with the labor movement.
According to Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, she had “spoken personally” with LL Cool J and was aware of his decision to skip the performance.
“I appreciate his choice and can appreciate his wish to see the city come together. In a statement, she said, “He is always welcome in Philadelphia.”.
In support of the union, Sullivan also declared she was withdrawing from the festival just hours before her scheduled performance.
On Instagram, Sullivan wrote, “Today I choose to stand with Philly’s DC33 and not perform at the Wawa Welcome America concert until the city and union find a way to bring fair living wages to our working class.”.
“I respect Jazmine’s decision, and understand her desire to see our City unified,” Parker said, confirming that Sullivan had also chosen not to perform. “Jazmine, your hometown loves you!” Parker added.
The union’s president, Greg Boulware, expressed his profound humility at Sullivan’s decision to withdraw from her performance.
He said in a statement, “It’s incredibly refreshing to see a celebrity of her caliber and a native Philadelphian appreciate and acknowledge the unwavering commitment of civil servants.”.
In the country, one of the biggest July Fourth celebrations is Wawa Welcome America. When asked for comment, a festival representative did not immediately reply.
