The AFL-CIO and Jobs with Justice went another round against big banks this week.
Jobs with Justice mobilized this week with the AFL-CIO’s “Make Wall Street Pay” week of action. Building on our week of action to save jobs earlier this month, JwJ Coalitions participated in actions in at least 12 cities this week. Some 200 actions are reported nationwide, and the profile of these actions is rising as well, as this week’s New York Times article illustrates.
In Washington, DC the Billionaires for Bailouts asked lunchtime passersby to spare a few million dollars for their bonuses. Actions are escalating in several cities as anger mounts against CEO pay and consumer gouging. Over 1,000 people rallied at a Bank of America branch in Philadelphia, with 50 entering the bank and disrupting business. In Orlando, nearly 100 blocked the Bank of America branch, and 12 withdrew their money from the bank.
This is a critical time for action against Wall Street. After their reckless speculation nearly collapsed our economy they received tens of billions of dollars in taxpayer support. A year and a half later, they are using that money to pay near record CEO bonuses, charge high interest rates to struggling cities and states, gouge customers with fees, and to lobby against meaningful bank oversight that would prevent future economic catastrophe and protect consumers.
Jobs with Justice also took action in Dallas, Orlando, Cleveland, Dayton, Detroit, Columbus, OH, South Bend, IN, Bangor, ME and Providence, RI.
We need to continue to show Congress that people are demanding action to reign in Wall Street!
Join us on Tax Day to keep up the fight! Learn more at www.taxwallstreet.org.
[...] Diaz, on March 31st, 2010 Central Florida JwJ joined the Central Florida AFL-CIO as part of a nationwide effort to demand good jobs and a stop to bank bailouts. On Friday March 26th, a group of 30 people started [...]