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| Protesters Standing with Wisconsin in Kingston,NY B Upton |
Next ACTION-
Stand in Solidarity with Wisconsin Workers and
Stop Corporate Tax Dodging!
Saturday, Feb 26- In front of Elting Library, Main St,
12 foot sign to show our military madness- Thanks to Shirley Warren!! B Upton
Hundreds of rallies are planned Saturday (2/26) all across the nation to protect workers' rights and
demand corporations and the rich pay their fair share.
Hard working American families have sacrificed enough already! If you are not in the Hudson Valley find a rally near you at usuncut.org
Hard working American families have sacrificed enough already! If you are not in the Hudson Valley find a rally near you at usuncut.org
To sign up for the New Paltz rally click here!
Kingston, NY: On Thursday, about 75-100 people attended a spirited rally in front of Congressman Hinchey's office in Kingston to show their support for the workers of Wisconsin and to thank the congressman for consistently being on the side of the people.
Donna Goodman, a member of a public sector union, United University Professions at SUNY New Paltz, said it was important for people to remember the poor and middle class did not create the current economic disaster; Wall Street did and that they should be held to account. She added that the fight against unions is about power, not the budget and that collective bargaining gives workers a fighting chance for fair wages and benefits. The average union member with a bachelor's degree makes 25% less than those in the private sector according to Goodman.
Barbara Upton, also with the MoveOn Council, said, "I paid more taxes last year than GE and Exxon Mobil combined and so did each of you!" She urged lawmakers to collect the estimated $100 billion corporations currently dodge through offshore tax havens. She also spoke of the billions that could be cut from the Pentagon without jeopardizing our safety. She reminded the crowd that the day before 9/11/01, Sec of Defense Donald Rumsfeld told reporters that the Pentagon had lost $2.3 trillion. Protesters held up a 12 foot sign while she spoke that showed that the Defense Department currently makes up almost 60% of our budget.
"We need to move hundreds of billions spent on death and destruction and use that money to rebuild America, create good jobs, build a green economy and provide quality health care and education to the people," she said. "We need to use that money to renew the American dream."
Another rally with the same theme will be held Saturday in New Paltz, in front of the Elting Library, 93 Main Street from 12:30 to 1:30PM. All are welcome.
“We’re here today to commend Hinchey for his stand against the Republicans’ incredibly dangerous proposed cuts to the budget and to urge him to keep up the fight,” said Linda Abbott, the Coordinator of the Ulster County MoveOn Council that organized the rally. “The Republicans recently proposed over $100 billion in cuts to the federal budget, which would include cutting $123.1 million from New York State’s education budget. At a time when millions of Americans are struggling to make ends meet, it doesn’t make sense to cut programs that working families depend on. Instead, we should invest in America by making corporations and millionaires pay their fair share, not by punishing working Americans,” said Abbott.
Lori DuBord, Congressman Hinchey's District Representative addressed the crowd.
"Congressman Hinchey sides with people who actually work for a living unlike the Republican majority in Washington, who are siding with Wall Street, Big Oil and greedy CEO's. While he's working to end huge tax earmarks for big oil and corporate welfare, they are cutting investments in renewable energy jobs and heating assistance for the elderly. Congressman Hinchey understands how important it is that we win this fight and that the budget cannot and should not be balanced on the backs of working people," said DuBord.
"Congressman Hinchey sides with people who actually work for a living unlike the Republican majority in Washington, who are siding with Wall Street, Big Oil and greedy CEO's. While he's working to end huge tax earmarks for big oil and corporate welfare, they are cutting investments in renewable energy jobs and heating assistance for the elderly. Congressman Hinchey understands how important it is that we win this fight and that the budget cannot and should not be balanced on the backs of working people," said DuBord.
Some participants spoke of the difficult, financial times they and their families are experiencing. A sixty-three year old woman spoke of losing her job, others said they were worried about home foreclosures and others spoke of how difficult it is to make ends meet.
Donna Goodman, a member of a public sector union, United University Professions at SUNY New Paltz, said it was important for people to remember the poor and middle class did not create the current economic disaster; Wall Street did and that they should be held to account. She added that the fight against unions is about power, not the budget and that collective bargaining gives workers a fighting chance for fair wages and benefits. The average union member with a bachelor's degree makes 25% less than those in the private sector according to Goodman.
Barbara Upton, also with the MoveOn Council, said, "I paid more taxes last year than GE and Exxon Mobil combined and so did each of you!" She urged lawmakers to collect the estimated $100 billion corporations currently dodge through offshore tax havens. She also spoke of the billions that could be cut from the Pentagon without jeopardizing our safety. She reminded the crowd that the day before 9/11/01, Sec of Defense Donald Rumsfeld told reporters that the Pentagon had lost $2.3 trillion. Protesters held up a 12 foot sign while she spoke that showed that the Defense Department currently makes up almost 60% of our budget.
"We need to move hundreds of billions spent on death and destruction and use that money to rebuild America, create good jobs, build a green economy and provide quality health care and education to the people," she said. "We need to use that money to renew the American dream."
Another rally with the same theme will be held Saturday in New Paltz, in front of the Elting Library, 93 Main Street from 12:30 to 1:30PM. All are welcome.
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