LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan withdraw from Wawa Welcome America's Fourth of July concert, having expressed solidarity with striking city workers.
In the heart of Philadelphia, the city's holiday festivities are in full swing, with the Wawa Welcome America July Fourth Concert set to begin at 7 p.m., followed by a fireworks display at 9:30 p.m. over the Philadelphia Museum of Art. However, the city's municipal workers' strike, now in its fourth day, has made headlines, affecting various services across the city.
The strike, involving approximately 9,000 members of AFSCME District Council 33, includes sanitation workers, city mechanics, 911 dispatchers, and school crossing guards. The workers are demanding a minimum of 8% annual wage increases to address poverty pay and the high cost of living, with negotiations having stalled and no agreement in sight.
Despite the ongoing strike, the holiday celebrations continue undeterred. The concert lineup, originally scheduled to feature LL Cool J, Jazmine Sullivan, DJ Z-Trip, Grammy-nominated pop and R&B star JoJo, and Puerto Rican singer and songwriter Alvaro Diaz, has undergone a slight change. Both LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan have announced their decisions to cancel their performances, citing their unwillingness to cross the picket line.
In a video posted to social media, LL Cool J expressed his hope that the mayor and the city can make a deal. Sullivan, in a message posted on her social media, stated that she would not perform until the city and union "find a way to bring fair living wages to our working class."
Mayor Cherelle Parker has acknowledged LL Cool J's decision and welcomed him to Philadelphia. She also respects Sullivan's solidarity with striking municipal workers. The showdown between the city administration and the union members is ongoing, with no immediate resolution in sight.
While the strike has caused significant impact on city services, particularly sanitation, with piles of garbage accumulating in parts of the city, the July Fourth concert appears to be proceeding as planned. The city's emergency plans aim to maintain core services and public safety during the strike, but large-scale events have not been reported as canceled or disrupted due to the strike as of now.
As the city continues to navigate this challenging situation, the focus remains on finding a solution that addresses the workers' demands for fair wages while ensuring the continuity of essential services for Philadelphia's residents.
[1] Philadelphia Inquirer, "Philadelphia's municipal workers strike enters second day as negotiations stall," July 2, 2025. [2] NBC10 Philadelphia, "Philadelphia's municipal workers strike enters third day," July 3, 2025. [3] CBS Philly, "Philadelphia's municipal workers strike enters fourth day," July 4, 2025. [4] ABC6 Action News, "Philadelphia's July Fourth celebrations continue amid ongoing workers' strike," July 4, 2025.
- Despite the ongoing municipal workers' strike in Philadelphia, political discussions about the issue have gained traction on social media platforms, with celebrities like LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan voicing their support for the workers' policy-and-legislation demands for fair wages.
- The impact of the strike on city services has made headlines in general-news outlets, but the July Fourth entertainment events, such as the Wawa Welcome America concert, are continuing as planned, albeit with some alterations due to the absence of certain celebrities.
- The ongoing strike, marked by the constant presence of picket lines, has also influenced the city's pop-culture landscape, as it has been integrated into the discussions and social media posts of entertainers and administrative figures alike.
