New York, NY– On the thirty-eight anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, along with community, religious and political leaders, today called on the financial services community to "Stand Up for Security," by improving working conditions and security standards in commercial office buildings in New York City.

"Every day thousands of hard-working men and women of color go to work to protect billion dollar companies, yet struggle to get food on the table for their families," said Rev. Jackson. "As a tribute to Dr. King’s dream of racial and economic justice, we call on Wall Street to do right by ensuring security officers get the pay they need, the training they want and the respect they deserve."

Rev. Jackson has endorsed 32BJ’s campaign to raise wage and benefit standards for the 60,000 security officers – many African American – who keep New York safe and secure often on less than $10 an hour without affordable health care and inadequate security training. In January, Jackson sent letters to the heads of 13 top financial institutions -- including JP Morgan -- raising concerns about security in commercial office buildings and working conditions for security officers.

"As a leading financial services firm, JP Morgan should call on its security contractors to provide officers with a living wage and health care," said Mike Fishman, President of 32BJ. A $144-billion-dollar company, JP Morgan recorded $45 billion in revenues last year. "Providing security officers the pay they deserve and the training they seek will make New York’s buildings safer and transform security work into a career that can support a family and contribute to the community."

"Security officers, many from working class communities of color, can’t support their families on the poverty-like wages they get on Wall Street," said Hazel Dukes, President of the NY State NAACP. "JP Morgan has a moral responsibility to make these good paying jobs that support the local businesses, churches and institutions that are the backbone of a healthy community."

"We put our lives on the line to protect New York’s buildings, businesses and tenants," said James Barnes, a security officer employed by Elite Investigations. "But like many security officers, I have to work two jobs to make ends meet."

In addition to higher wages and affordable health care, 32BJ’s security campaign has stressed the need for state-of-the-art security training. 32BJ’s New York Safe & Secure Program, which has been endorsed by the Mayor, Police Commissioner and elected officials, provides security officers with the skills they need to get ahead in their job and to keep all New Yorkers safe and secure.

Press Release