Tomorrow, Saturday, starting at noon there will be solidarity rallies for Wisconson workers at every Statehouse in America as well as some other locations. Moveon.org has this handy tool that will help you find one close to you.
If you happen to have a cheesehead it would certainly be appropriate and how many times can you say that? Moveon suggests Badger colors (red and white) perhaps because red is a labor color, I don’t think Packer green and gold would be out of place either (they are unionized and currently in negotiations with management).
I do seriously encourage any who can to take the time and attend. It is my hope that this will be as large as the demonstrations in favor of immigration and against the war in Iraq.
Thank you in advance.
ek hornbeck
Below the fold a message from Bob Fertik of Democracy.com.
This Saturday we’re drawing a line in the sand. The entire progressive movement is putting everything we have into one massive display of progressive solidarity nationwide.
We won’t let Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker – or any other billionaire-bought TeaParty Governor – break the unions. Unions created America’s middle class and if they disappear we’ll all end up as corporate slaves.
The entire progressive movement – Netroots, unions, environmentalists, and community groups – will hold solidarity rallies in major cities, including every state capital, this Saturday around noon.
We’ll demand an end to the attacks on workers’ rights and public services across the country. We’ll demand investment to create jobs. And we’ll demand that the rich and powerful pay their fair share of taxes.
…
(W)ith unions, students, and progressives in the Midwest leading the way, we’re turning the tide. When an Indiana official urged use of “live ammunition” against unions, he was immediately fired. Then Indiana Republicans dropped their anti-union “right-to-work” bill like a hot potato. Republican Governors in Michigan, New Jersey, and Florida are running as fast as they can from union-busting.But a few hard-line Republicans are holding out, especially Wisconsin’s Scott Walker and Ohio’s John Kasich. And several Republican presidential candidates are supporting them, promising to bust unions nationwide if they win in 2012.
So we need to hit the streets to send a message that’s loud and crystal-clear: the American people support our unions, and we want jobs!
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Hopefully, it won’t rain on our parade.
It’s a few blocks from an anti budget cut/raise corporate taxes (on Comcast) rally, so I’ll do my best to make sure they combine…although it wouldn’t make sense for them not to.
And it’s especially important for people who AREN’T Democrats to go – let’s not let the Democrats co-opt this movement, like they did with the antiwar movement. For them, this is about preserving their political base. For workers, this is about their livelihood and their basic (political and economic) rights.
bargaining and they become serfs. Can you imagine the fear of high school teachers commenting on same sex marriage, abortion, Religion, obscenity, capitalism etc.? This is just the tip of the iceberg.
It’s mindblowing. Corporations can spend to their heart’s content on electing 19th century dinosaurs, while teachers will tremble with fear for saying the wrong thing in the classroom, to fellow faculty members and even in public.
What happens to University tenure?
What happened to Keith Olberman?
What’s the future of the internet?
organized by Move On – Dick Durbin spoke – and lots of very passionate union people.
Damp and slightly snowing – but about 2,000 people there.
Recurring theme by the union speakers – all came from families where they saw when they were children that belonging to a union made a big difference in their lives. They talked about their fathers especially and how their family lives improved when dads got union job and as the men felt they had dignity and spent more time with them as they had more time since they didn’t work 2, 3 jobs. Unions build strong families.
A great experience – covered by Chicago tv — not much. Shades of the huge antiwar marches which were given scant coverage before the Iraq invasion.
Talking heads on tv are clueless. They need to get out. I watched a pathetic panel on McLaughlin when I got home – God where have these people been. Eleanor wasn’t bad but the rest of them were plain silly. Very disappointed in Buchanan – that populist pose he put on years ago must have been just that – a pose. Frankly, they seem afraid of the populist movement.
I have to say I am tired out. The years’ difference between the antiwar demonstrations and today’s rallies caught up with me.
But I’m glad I went. And until I’m unable to go to rallies like this – I’ll continue going.
Solidarity!