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CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK'S DAY. DRIVE THE SNAKES OUT OF OUR STATES.
Before we get to snake eradication (and I am referring, of course, to the metaphorical two-legged kind with no intent to denigrate real Reptile Americans), kindly pause a bit and lift a glass of green beer to Dropkick Murphys, an "Irish-punk roots" band that has "become a rocking & rolling, raging, green-clover machine." They recently issued this message of solidarity:
Dropkick Murphys stand with Wisconsin
Hey Everyone the Dropkick Murphys would like to take a moment to acknowledge the struggles of the working people of Wisconsin and to pledge our support and solidarity by releasing the song “Take Em Down” from our upcoming album. We think it’s appropriate at the moment and hope you like it.
We have also created a limited edition “Take ‘Em Down” t-shirt which will be available for sale shortly at www.dropkickmurphys.com/merch. Proceeds from the “Take ‘Em Down” t-shirt sales will benefit Workers’ Rights Emergency Response Fund (https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4002/wi-response).
Thank you, Dropkick Murphys!
Now, back to snakes, the aforementioned metaphorical two-legged kind. If headlines from around the country are any indication, the people are in no mood to tolerate their efforts to unravel worker rights, gut education, decimate programs for the poor and seniors, target public employees, bust unions, and effect mass transfers of state revenues to corporations and the wealthy at the expense of everybody else.
Read on and enjoy St. Patrick's Day in any manner allowed by law.
♣ Dlúthpháirtíocht!♣
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♣ Large, dynamic solidarity protest in DC outside Wisconsin GOP fundraiser
The occasion for the protest in DC was the arrival of the Wisconsin Republican state Senators facing recall. They were in town for a $1,000-per-head fundraiser, hosted at the offices of corporate lobbyists. They must have felt right at home, given what was happening both inside and outside the building.
In character with the new labor-fueled protests rallies the country, this protest was a dynamic, almost unpredictable event that far exceeded expectations. It began with students, union members, and activists taking up about half the sidewalk of 13th St NW, between G and F. Before long, it not only took up the entire block, but it also stretched around the block
♣ VIDEO:Washington DC Wisconsin GOP Fundraiser protest 3/16/2011
This is video footage of a protest in Washington DC against the Wisconsin GOP fundraising event at the BGR Group headquarters. The protesters occupied the lobby of the building for about an hour, then went to the White House to protest there, and concludes by going over to the US Chamber of Commerce building, where protesters occupied the lobby there.
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WISCONSIN
♣ Pro-Labor Group Working America Recruits 20,000 New Wisconsin Members In Wake Of Budget Protests
Working America, an advocacy organization affiliated with the AFL-CIO that provides an outlet for non-union members to support the labor movement, has signed up approximately 20,000 new members since Feb. 15. The group was active in the state in 2008, when it built up the bulk of its membership, which now stands at 65,000. It was inactive for the past couple years, however, and just reopened shop the beginning of 2011.
Joining up with Working America is far easier than enrolling in a union, involving simply filling out a form either in person or online. New members are asked to contribute $5, although no dues are required.
♣ VIDEO: M&I Bank Protest Tuesday 3-15-11 Madison, WI
M&I Bank Protest Tuesday 3-15-11 Madison, Wisconsin 3:20 PM
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MARYLAND
♣ Union rally draws thousands to Annapolis to protest pension reform sought by Md. Gov. O’Malley
Thousands of union members rallied before the State House on Monday night, vowing to protect their employee pensions and public school funding.
“We’ve worked hard and now we’re told the money’s not there,” said Angela Baker, a 28-year veteran math teacher at La Plata High School.
“Hey Annapolis! Give us YOUR pension! Pension Equity!” read the sign Baker held above her head.
♣ VIDEO: Union Pension Rally Draws Thousands To Annapolis
Members Protest Proposed Pension Changes
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MICHIGAN
♣ Thousands rally against Gov. Rick Snyder's budget in Lansing
Most in the crowd hoisted signs, many of which complained about the emergency financial manager bill passed yesterday that would give broad powers to people running schools and cities in severely financially challenged cities. But other signs called for Snyder’s recall and the Michigan Nurses Association members carried signs that said “Some Cuts Never Heal.”
♣ 1,000-plus seniors rally at Capitol to protest Snyder's plan to tax pensions
The rally was another in a string of demonstrations at the Capitol, sparked by Snyder’s sweeping budget and tax plan that would give businesses a collective $1.8 billion tax cut while taxing pensions that are untaxed now, and cutting state aid to schools, universities and local governments.
♣ Students Protest University of Michigan's Decision to Name Gov. Rick Snyder Commencement Speaker
Just hours after the announcement was made, thousands had already signed on to a petition to recall the decision... In a separate effort, over 500 have confirmed attendance to an "anti-commencement" protest organized through a Facebook event.
♣ VIDEO: Workers protest at Michigan State Capitol, 3/16/11
What appears to be a union leader making a speech to a crowd of workers who are infuriated at the new governors attempt to eliminate their rights.
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MONTANA
♣ Montanans protest GOP ‘assault’ on environmental and labor programs
More than a thousand Montanans gathered in front of the state Capitol of Helena on Monday to protest budgetary plans to cut health, educational, environmental and labor programs while pushing for corporate tax cuts.
Republicans in Montana are pushing legislation to gut the Montana Environmental Policy Act, reduce workers' compensation insurance, close the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls, prevent the establishment of a state health insurance exchange, slash a number of health programs, and cut funding to higher education in the state.
Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers have said they will eliminate the state’s business equipment tax. Eliminating the tax would amount to a loss of $90 million to local governments statewide.
♣ VIDEO: Firefighters Speak Against GOP Cuts
Today, Montana firefighters spoke against the GOP's unnecessary cuts to vital public services.
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♣ In Ohio, Labor Rallies for Referendum Against Anti-Union Bill
Yesterday, Ohio Gov. John Kasich -- who after just two months in office already had a 28-year record low 40 percent job approval rating -- unveiled his budget plan, which includes slashing public school budgets and selling several state prisons to the private sector. Meanwhile, a coalition of labor unions, community groups, and small student associations held a "Day of Actions" in protest of Senate Bill 5, with activities such as a teachers' rally, picketing on Columbus's Capitol Hill and phonebanking...
Labor groups and Democrats anticipate the bill's passage through the Republican dominated House -- it passed the Ohio Senate on March 5 -- but plan to fight back by working to put the legislation directly before voters in a special ballot election this fall
♣ Cornell Students Aid Protests at Ohio State University
The Cornell Organization for Labor Action journeyed to The Ohio State University to join students in protest against proposed changes to the state’s public sector bargaining law last weekend.
♣ VIDEO:Senate Bill 5 Protest at Ohio Statehouse
Thousands of Ohioans protested at the Ohio Statehouse against Senate Bill 5. The legislation would eliminate collective bargaining rights for state employees and severely limit negotiating rights for teachers, firefighters and police officers
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TENNESSEE
♣ Tenn. Union Legislation Provokes Union Protesters and Arrests
The disruption occurred after hundreds of labor supporters gathered for a midday protest near the Capitol to denounce the bill to strip teachers of their collective bargaining rights. The seven arrested were among those who stood up during the hearing and began chants about "union busting" by the Legislature.
♣ VIDEO: TN Anti-Workers' Rights Bill Draws Protests, Arrests
he fight over workers' rights escalated in Tennessee this afternoon as protesters jammed a Senate hearing on a bill that would weaken unions. Seven were arrested as the protesters chanted and refused to leave the room.
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IDAHO
♣ Idaho teachers unions protest against proposed cuts
The rallies were organized by the Idaho Education Association, which groups more than 12,000 elementary and secondary school teachers. At issue is Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna's proposed overhaul of the public education system for kindergarten through high school.
♣ VIDEO: Idaho Students Stage Walk-Out to Oppose Teacher Layoffs, Collective Bargaining Curbs
Hundreds of high school students in Idaho have walked out of classes to protest a plan to lay off public school teachers and curtail their collective bargaining rights. Democracy Now! interviews student activist Jonny Saunders of Timberline High School in Boise, Idaho.
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INDIANA
♣ Over 8,000 union protesters converge on Indiana
Protesters hung a banner outside the west front of the Statehouse proclaiming "Hoosiers Standing up for the Middle Class." The cold, sunless windy weather may have kept the crowds down -- organizers had expected more than 20,000.
Over 8,000 workers converged on the Indiana statehouse on Thursday to protest proposed legislation they say would weaken unions and public schools...The Indiana House is not in session until Monday.
♣ VIDEO: Labor protest in Indianapolis, Indiana. 3/10/2011
The Associated Press has reported "over 8,000" people to be present at this rally
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IOWA
♣ Protesters greet Branstad as he travels around Iowa
Gov. Terry Branstad faced off with members of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Thursday during a stop in Iowa City promoting his economic ideas, with protesters saying they disrupted the governor’s forum because they were denied their chance to speak during the Q&A session.
♣ VIDEO: Protesters Interrupt Governor’s Jobs Talk in Iowa City
The heat picked up a bit as Iowa Governor Terry Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds brought their “Jobs for Iowa” tour to Iowa City.
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CALIFORNIA
♣ 10,000 protestors march to state capitol, rally against budget cuts
On Monday, March 14, California community college students, faculty, staff and administrators marched to the capitol hoisting signs and shouting rally cries. For 1.1 miles, they trekked through gloomy, 60 degree weather and persistent rain in protest of recent higher-education budget cuts.
♣ VIDEO:10,000 protesters march to state capitol, rally against budget cuts
Despite rainy conditions, approximately 10,000 California community college students, faculty, staff and administrators -- according to the Sacramento police department -- marched to the state capitol building in Sacramento on March 14, 2011 to protest against education budget cuts.
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TEXAS
♣ Thousands protest cuts to Texas school budgets
Thousands of teachers, students and parents flocked to the Texas Capitol on Saturday to protest a proposal to cut $10 billion in state education spending, which they say will force widespread teacher layoffs and ruin public schools. The protesters formed a procession stretching seven blocks and marched through the state government campus to the south steps of the Capitol while local band students beat drums. It was one of the largest grassroots gatherings at the Capitol in recent years.
♣ VIDEO: Save Texas Schools Rally at the Capitol March 12, 2011
Texas teachers march on the capitol to protest proposed legislative cuts in school funding.
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FLORIDA
On March 8, the opening day of our state's 2011 legislative session, some 15,000 Floridians, from Pensacola to Key West, attended local rallies organized by Awake the State, an organic, grassroots movement that formed to stop budget cuts and other assaults on working families. The following day hundreds of unemployed workers and their families stormed Florida's capitol, where they set up a soup kitchen, and wore tape across their mouths to protest what they see as the silencing of workers and the unemployed.
♣ VIDEO: Rick Scott Protest Tampa March 2011
First day of Florida's legislative season, "We the People" decided to let Gov. Rick Scott know we are NOT pleased with his draconian measures against Floridians. Protest rallies were held throughout Florida (organized by AwaketheState.com)
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NEW JERSEY
♣ NJ Police, Firefighters Protest Staff Cuts Outside Statehouse
A sea of blue, black and gold surrounded the Statehouse as up to 12,000 off-duty and retired New Jersey police and firefighters rallied to protest staff cuts and promote public safety.
♣ VIDEO: New Jersey unions sound off against state budget cuts
Thousands of teachers and public sector workers picketed New Jersey's capitol and its Republican govenor Chris Christie on Friday, as protests which began in Wisconsin against a union-busting budget bill spread across more than a dozen states in fiscal crisis.
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RHODE ISLAND
♣ Crowd protests Providence, Rhode Island, teacher dismissals
Hundreds of teachers, students and union supporters rallied on Wednesday to protest dismissal of all of Providence's nearly 2,000 teachers as Rhode Island's capital city struggles to address its shaky finances.The protesters demanded that Mayor Angel Taveras retract the terminations, most of which he has said will be rescinded...
Notices were sent to all the city's teachers to comply with a state law requiring they be notified before March 1 of any possible changes to their employment status, Taveras has said.
♣ 3-2-11 Providence RI Teachers Rally
Providence, RI, students and Providence Teachers Union, Stephen Smith. AFT National Pres. Weingarten, AFLCIO- RI Pres. GEORGE NEE, NEA-RI Pres. Purtill, RI Fed. of Teachers Pres. Flynn
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