On May 23rd, Action Now members joined thousands of people from labor, community and religious organizations to demand that our tax dollars go to create jobs and save public services, instead of to tax breaks for the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, which is the city’s most profitable corporation!
Deep cuts to the state budget are victimizing working families—with more severe cuts threatened in the near future. While the 99% struggle to get by, the CME is pocketing a BILLION of our tax dollars on top of the record profits it’s raking in.
This protest united working families of Illinois to say: Enough is enough! No More Cuts! Rich Corporations Must Pay Their Fair Share!
The day started with 15 people getting arrested for blocking traffic outside of the Board of Trade. Then four Action Now members along with others from Stand Up Chicago attended the Chicago Mercantile Exchange shareholders meeting and disrupted “business as usual” by telling the CEO of CME, Terrence Duffy, to give back the tax breaks that are draining the state’s budget and causing cuts to services for children, seniors and the disabled!
After the shareholders meeting, busloads of Action Now members joined hundreds of others from community, labor and religious organizations for a “People’s Shareholder Meeting” at the Thompson Center. Then we all took over Lasalle Street and marched from the Thompson Center to the Board of Trade. Once we got to the Board of Trade, we were joined by over 3,000 teachers from the Chicago Teachers Union! Being a part of thousands of working people calling for an end to corporate greed and demanding that our government work for the 99% instead of catering to the rich was empowering and showed the strength we have when we organize and unite!
Press coverage:
CBS News, “Protesters To CME Group: Give Your Tax Break Back”
Chicago Tribune, “UPDATE 2-Chicago police arrest 15 at futures exchange protest” (Charles Brown quoted)
Reuter, “Chicago police arrest 15 at futures exchange protest” (Charles Brown quoted)
Chicago Sun-Times, “50 shareholders protesting tax break forced out of CME meeting “
Crain’s Chicago Business, “Community groups to protest CME”
Daily Kos, “Chicago Mercantile Exchange Entrance Blocked As Protesters Criticize Huge Tax Break(Updated!)”
Progress Illinois, “CME Shareholder Meeting Crashed By Community Activists”
NBC News, “15 Protesters Arrested Outside Chicago Board of Trade”
WBEZ-FM 91.5, “Thousands of Chicago teachers rally downtown”
Salon.com, “Chicago Mercantile Exchange Blockaded to Protest Tax Break”
