In Commemoration of Labor Day, San Jose Community Activist and Author Timothy Fitzgerald Fights for the Rights of Chronically Unemployed Workers

San Jose, CA (PRWEB) August 24, 2011

In commemoration of Labor Day, San Jose community activist and recently published author Timothy Fitzgerald, who holds a bachelors and masters in economics, is fighting for the rights of chronically unemployed workers in his community. In the United States, fourteen million people are unemployed. Over six million people have been looking for work for six months or more. Millions more have given up looking for work.

"I am appalled by the mistreatment of the chronically unemployed," said activist Timothy Fitzgerald. "It is absolutely abominable that some employers are refusing to hire the unemployed on the basis that they do not currently have a job."

"Being employed is not a crime, instead, it is a reflection of the dire straits and nature of our economy. This is no fault of the unemployed," continued Timothy Fitzgerald. "We must stand together as people with the chronically unemployed and demand that they are treated with equal rights and opportunity along with respect and dignity."

Fitzgerald's new book "'A Diamond in the Rough" reflects on America's worst recession, which occurred in the 1980s. This horrific recession started in July 1981. Unemployment skyrocketed to a whopping 10.8 percent in November 1982 under the Reagan administration. Over 100,000 Americans lost their homes in 1982 and homelessness skyrocketed.

Thirty years ago, Fitzgerald experienced America's recession back then while recovering from a disabling illness. As a young man only in his thirties, Fitzgerald recalls its dire effects. People could not find jobs and some were forced to join the ranks of the homeless.

The first volume of the trilogy, "The Wawona Brotherhood: The San Jose State Campus Revolt," chronicles Fitzgerald's civil rights experiences at San Jose State University during the turbulent 1960s through the early 1970s. This volume was released in 2009.

The trilogy indicates that from his time as an undergraduate, Mr. Fitzgerald has been a community activist in San Jose for over thirty years. In the 1990s, he ran for State Assembly and was the Vice Chairman of the Disability Advisory Commission of San Jose in 1997. In addition, Fitzgerald was a Green Party state leader for fifteen years.

At the age of 65, Fitzgerald has been enrolled in the over-60 program at San Jose State University as a senior citizen and post-graduate student; and is now completing his third master's degree. He is on track to be awarded this degree in Philosophy in fall 2011.

Mr. Fitzgerald is currently featured as a guest columnist on the web-based journal DailyPost.org. In addition, Mr. Fitzgerald has been a guest on American Voice Radio Network's New World Order Disorder, LA Talk Radio's Bipolar Nation, San Francisco radio station KPOO's Community Worker, San Jose radio station KKUP's Silicon Valli Voice and has appeared on San Jose radio station KBAY and Mammoth Lakes radio station KMMT. He also has been interviewed by the San Jose Mercury News, San Jose State Spartan Daily along with the Mammoth Times and Los Gatos Times Weekly. He also has authored an article for AAboomers.com.

For more information about Timothy Fitzgerald, visit his Web site http://www.timfitzgerald.org. For interviews, e-mail timothyfitzgerald97(at)yahoo(dot)com or call 408.726-9940.
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