Solidarity, with Cheese!

Newly-elected Tea Party governor Scott Walker thought he could slash the Wisconsin state budget and dismantle 50 years of workers' rights without a fight, but boy was he wrong.

Hundreds of thousands of regular Wisconsinites—teachers, firefighters, police officers, students—have taken to the streets of Madison. They've occupied the capitol building for the last 7 days and nights.

But this isn't just about Wisconsin.

In state capitals across the country, and in Washington, D.C., Republicans are using the wrecked economy as an excuse to slash vital programs and hurt workers. The American Dream itself is under attack.

Rally outside Fox News NYC

This morning, leaders of the NYC Central Labor Council (CLC) held a press conference on the steps of City Hall hailing the public employees from Wisconsin and demonstrating solidarity with those union members who are facing an unprecedented attack on collective bargaining. In addition, union leaders in New York City issued a warning to their membership that public employee unions are being demonized throughout the country.

Yesterday, Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 5 p.m., in front of FOX News headquarters, 1211 6th Ave at 48th Street,100s of workers from NYC Unions including CWA, AEA, AFTRA, SAG, IBEW, NABET, IATSE, and WGAE rallied with public service union members again in solidarity with Wisconsin workers against union-busting Gov. Scott Walker!

IBEW Local 1212 Senior Business Representative Vinny Butler was there, as was my wife Gayle, a long time IATSE 764 member. - Bob Daraio, Broadcast Union News

Rally outside Fox News NYC

So, next we're helping MoveOn.org lead an emergency call for rallies in every state capital this Saturday at noon to support folks in Wisconsin and oppose these attacks, wherever they occur.

We have only 4 days to organize, so we're trying something unusual—asking thousands of individuals and local groups to add their names to this call to action. Will you share the call with your personal network—plus get any groups you're part of to sign on? Clicking here will add your name:

Get the word out about this Saturday's Rallies now!

 MoveOn.org is finalizing the details and we'll get back to you to sign up soon, but we have to start spreading the word right now if Saturday is going to be huge.


Here's the call to action:


50-State Mobilization to Save the American Dream

We're helping lead an emergency call for rallies in every state capital this Saturday at noon to stand in solidarity with the workers of Wisconsin. Clicking below will add your name to the call for action, then you can help get the word out:

http://pol.moveon.org/callforaction/o.pl?id=26218-11584934-N0G44Wx&t=1

Calling all students, teachers, union members, workers, patriots, public servants, unemployed folks, progressives, and people of conscience:

In Wisconsin and around our country, the American Dream is under fierce attack. Instead of creating jobs, Republicans are giving tax breaks to corporations and the very rich, and then cutting funding for education, police, emergency response and vital human services. The right to organize is on the chopping block. The American Dream is slipping out of reach for more and more Americans, and we have to fight back.

We call for emergency rallies in front of every statehouse this Saturday at noon to stand in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin. Demand an end to the attacks on workers' rights and public services across the country. Demand investment, to create decent jobs for the millions of people who desperately want to work. And demand that the rich and powerful pay their fair share.

We are all Wisconsins!


We are all Americans!


Add your endorsement and this Saturday we will stand together to save the American Dream.


Clicking  HERE will add your name so you can start spreading the word: 

In addition to allies like PCCC, Color of Change, CREDO Action, Democracy for America, Campaign for Community Change, National People's Action, TrueMajority, US Action, Progressive Majority, and Courage Campaign, green jobs visionary Van Jones has joined this call to action as well. His inspiring words from The Huffington Post this morning are worth quoting:

"In the past 24 months, those of us who longed for positive change have gone from hope to heartbreak. But hope is returning to America—at last—thanks largely to the courageous stand of the heroes and heroines of Wisconsin.

Reinvigorated by the idealism and fighting spirit on display right now in America's heartland, the movement for "hope and change" has a rare, second chance. It can renew itself and become again a national force with which to be reckoned.

Over the next hours and days, all who love this country need to do everything possible to spread the "spirit of Madison" to all 50 states. This does not mean we need to occupy 50 state capitol buildings; things elsewhere are not yet that dire. But this weekend, the best of America should rally on the steps of every statehouse in the union."

Van's full piece is worth reading. To check it out and pass it on, Click Here.

Thanks for all you do.

–Daniel, Lenore, Joan, Justin, and the rest of the MoveOn.org team