Action Now members on the bus to D.C.!
The journey to take back our Capitol for the 99% of Americans began in the early hours of December 5th as 41 Action Now members boarded the buses to Washington D.C. Members joined other community groups, unions, religious organizations, and unemployed workers to go to the nation’s capital from December 5-9th to break the grip that corporate lobbyists have on Congress.
Action Now members at the teach-in and sit-in at Illinois Republican U.S. Senator Mark Kirk. They stayed there for five hours while Kirk hid in the back room of his office!
They have been holding sit-ins at Congressmen and Senator’s offices, rallying and taking over K Street where corporate lobbying firms are located, setting up a People’s Camp on the National Mall, rallying outside of Speaker Boehner’s office and holding teach-ins and other events to show our legislators that the 99% will no longer be silent in the face of inequality.
For the most part, many of our legislators that routinely vote for tax breaks for big business and against helping working families were so scared that they hid from us or literally ran away. As Aaron Krager, a blogger who traveled to D.C., said, “Instead of talking to constituents, more than a few representatives are choosing to hide behind the very title that we the voters gave them… This is our Congress. These are the people who asked for our votes and then refuse to meet with us. It is no wonder they refuse to meet President Obama halfway on any policy goals. They run away scared, they fake meetings, and they claim ignorance in the face of the unemployed.”
Action Now marching down K street! Whose streets? OUR STREETS!
Action Now at the Capitol!
It has been raining in Washington D.C. all week but that has not slowed anyone down. It has only made us more determined to have our voices heard and hold politicians accountable!
Our fight is not over when we leave the Capitol on December 9th. This is only the beginning of a movement to reclaim our country for the people. We will continue to unite with others all over the country to build power and protest the government’s willingness to give tax breaks to the 1% while the 99% are suffering from unemployment and foreclosure, as well as cuts to schools, health clinics, libraries and possible cuts to medicare, medicaid and social security. The people united will never be defeated!
Rally outside of Speaker Boehner's office
Video:
Action Now and Stand Up! Chicago taking over K Street (footage courtesy of Stand Up! Chicago)
Press coverage:
Way to go action now
Sorry I could not be there, Action Now. But I will be interceding for you in prayer for the Capital to be taken back by the people of the Untied States. THE PEOPLE UNITED, WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!
Make sure to keep our protest NON-violent. I know you will.
Keep up the good work!!!
Prayerfully yours,
Miss Patricia Taylor
Action Now Member