by AlanMWolf on 2011-02-21 newsobserver.com blogs
A coalition of labor, civil rights and religious groups rallied in front of the General Assembly offices today to call for an end to North Carolina's ban on public employees' collective bargaining and to resist balancing the state budget at the expense of public sector jobs and programs.
The rally drew about 100 supporters who listened to several speakers representing labor, churches and the NAACP, staff writer Craig Jarvis reports. About two dozen people staged a counter-protest across across the street in Bicentennial Plaza, shouting and chanting throughout the rally.
Both sides cited the public employees' union standoff in Wisconsin, where that state's governor has proposed to reduce public employee's pay and benefits and to limit their collective-bargaining rights.
"In North Carolina and the rest of the Southern states, we are denied collective bargaining," Saladin Muhammad of the International Workers Justice Campaign and UE Local 150 North Carolina Public Service Workers Union. "That came out of a period called Jim Crow."
Coalition members filed into the Legislative Building to present copies of the call for a repeal on the bargaining prohibition to the offices of Sen. Phil Berger, pro tem of the Senate and to Rep. Tom Tillis, speaker of the house. Tillis briefly greeted rally leaders and agreed to schedule a time for a more substantial meeting.
North Carolina and Virginia are the only states that have a complete ban on public employee collective bargaining.
Randy Dye of Pittsboro, one of the counter-protesters, said the network of Triangle conservative organizations only heard about the rally 24 hours earlier, and didn't have enough time to mount a larger presence. "We wanted to face off with them," he said.
The conservative protesters carried signs reading "Unions -- Too Big, Too Costly" and "Wisconsin: Pass the Bill." They shouted "freeloaders!" and chanted "U.S.A"
The other side countered with their own chants, including "People's budget! People's budget!"
ACT NOW: Wisconsin Gov. Plans to Eject Protesters from Capitol
The Whole World is Watching!
The Capitol Belongs to the People!
Urgent: Protesters Inside Wisconsin Capitol Need Your Support
Gov. Starts Punitive and Restrictive Measures
The Wisconsin Finance Committee Announces Plans to Eject Protesters this Sunday at 4 P.M.
Tell Gov. Walker, the Wisconsin Legislature and the Obama administration:
DON'T EJECT THE PROTESTERS!
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION AT http://www.bailoutpeople.org/wisconsinworkerspetition.shtml
For 12 straight days peaceful protesters: high school and college students, families with children, workers from all of the unions including teachers, state workers, nurses and firefighters have continued a 24 hour presence at the Capitol.
The presence of the people inside is the only way to insure that the politicians and the bought and paid for Governor Walker heed the democratic will of the people.
The Capitol belongs to the people! We built it: we paid for it.
On Friday night, police were ordered to lock doors at 9 P.M. and to restrict people from bringing in bedrolls, blankets and air mattresses to make it more difficult for people to maintain their 24 hour people's lobby.
Prior to this, loudspeaker systems boomed all night long forcing people including the police to wear ear plugs.
None of this has daunted the spirit of those who are participating in the occupation.
But they need your support.
Many inside are prepared to go to jail if need be.
The time is critical-let Governor Walker, the Koch brothers and his rich cronies and all the politicians know that the whole world is watching!
Stop punitive measures! Defend the democratic right of protesters to stay in the Capitol! Eject Walker instead! Defend workers rights! Kill the bill!
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION AT http://www.bailoutpeople.org/wisconsinworkerspetition.shtml
In solidarity,
Bail Out the People Movement www.bailoutpeople.org
Please donate! Go to http://www.bailoutpeople.org/donatewi.shtml
Sign-up for updates at http://www.bailoutpeople.org/bopmupdates.shtml
The Capitol Belongs to the People!
Urgent: Protesters Inside Wisconsin Capitol Need Your Support
Gov. Starts Punitive and Restrictive Measures
The Wisconsin Finance Committee Announces Plans to Eject Protesters this Sunday at 4 P.M.
Tell Gov. Walker, the Wisconsin Legislature and the Obama administration:
DON'T EJECT THE PROTESTERS!
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION AT http://www.bailoutpeople.org/wisconsinworkerspetition.shtml
For 12 straight days peaceful protesters: high school and college students, families with children, workers from all of the unions including teachers, state workers, nurses and firefighters have continued a 24 hour presence at the Capitol.
The presence of the people inside is the only way to insure that the politicians and the bought and paid for Governor Walker heed the democratic will of the people.
The Capitol belongs to the people! We built it: we paid for it.
On Friday night, police were ordered to lock doors at 9 P.M. and to restrict people from bringing in bedrolls, blankets and air mattresses to make it more difficult for people to maintain their 24 hour people's lobby.
Prior to this, loudspeaker systems boomed all night long forcing people including the police to wear ear plugs.
None of this has daunted the spirit of those who are participating in the occupation.
But they need your support.
Many inside are prepared to go to jail if need be.
The time is critical-let Governor Walker, the Koch brothers and his rich cronies and all the politicians know that the whole world is watching!
Stop punitive measures! Defend the democratic right of protesters to stay in the Capitol! Eject Walker instead! Defend workers rights! Kill the bill!
SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION AT http://www.bailoutpeople.org/wisconsinworkerspetition.shtml
In solidarity,
Bail Out the People Movement www.bailoutpeople.org
Please donate! Go to http://www.bailoutpeople.org/donatewi.shtml
Sign-up for updates at http://www.bailoutpeople.org/bopmupdates.shtml
March 6: The Stories Behind The Jewish Boat to Gaza
The Stories Behind The Jewish Boat to Gaza
Sunday, March 6 2011
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Providence Road Baptist Church
4921 Randolph Road
Charlotte, NC
Come hear how an international crew consisting of an 82 year old Israeli Holocaust survivor, two Israeli Defense Force members, a founding member of the Bereaved Families Circle, an American whose family are Shoa survivors, and a German Jew by conversion joined a small ship bound for Gaza under the helm of British activist Glyn Secker. Boat Captain Secker and Holocaust survivor Reuven Moskovitz relate how all endured disparagement by their respective countrymen and governments, assault by the Israeli navy, and arrest by the Israeli government. Choosing to uphold fundamental Jewish values over Israeli government policies, their journey and sacrifices are a message of hope, solidarity and peace based on freedom, justice and human rights for all.
Sponsored by
Providence Baptist Church
St. Peter's Catholic Church
Muslim American Society of Charlotte (MAS)
Al-Awda of Charlotte
Amnesty International of Charlotte
Baptist Peace Fellowship North America
Facebook Event page for The Stories Behind The Jewish Boat to Gaza
Sunday, March 6 2011
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Providence Road Baptist Church
4921 Randolph Road
Charlotte, NC
Come hear how an international crew consisting of an 82 year old Israeli Holocaust survivor, two Israeli Defense Force members, a founding member of the Bereaved Families Circle, an American whose family are Shoa survivors, and a German Jew by conversion joined a small ship bound for Gaza under the helm of British activist Glyn Secker. Boat Captain Secker and Holocaust survivor Reuven Moskovitz relate how all endured disparagement by their respective countrymen and governments, assault by the Israeli navy, and arrest by the Israeli government. Choosing to uphold fundamental Jewish values over Israeli government policies, their journey and sacrifices are a message of hope, solidarity and peace based on freedom, justice and human rights for all.
Sponsored by
Providence Baptist Church
St. Peter's Catholic Church
Muslim American Society of Charlotte (MAS)
Al-Awda of Charlotte
Amnesty International of Charlotte
Baptist Peace Fellowship North America
Facebook Event page for The Stories Behind The Jewish Boat to Gaza
Feb 26: Charlotte Protest for Workers & Against Corporate Tax Dodgers
"Since 2009, America’s most profitable companies such as ExxonMobil, General Electric, Bank of America and Citigroup all paid a grand total of $0 in federal income taxes to Uncle Sam."
Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Peaceful Protest of Corporate Tax Evader Bank of America
Bank of America, 8551 US Highway 29 North, Charlotte, NC 28262
We pay our taxes. Why don’t they?
U.S. Uncut is a new progressive, people-powered advocacy organization whose aims include ensuring corporations pay their fair share of income tax on the revenue they make instead of hiding it offshore.
On February 26, demonstrations across the United States and the United Kingdom are taking place to bring awareness to the practices of these huge companies, including demonstrations at Bank of America, Target, Amazon, and Comcast:
You read that right. Charlotte-based Bank of America has paid ZERO, ZIP, ZILCH in federal income taxes since 2009, despite having received $45 billion in tax-payer supported income. Instead of paying taxes, BofA funneled its income to 115 separate offshore bank accounts while it lavished bank executives with bonuses.
Answer the call to Action in Charlotte on Saturday (2/26)
What: Peaceful Protest of Corporate Tax Evader Bank of America
When: Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Where: Bank of America, 8551 US Highway 29 North, Charlotte, NC 28262
We pay taxes on the money we make in our state and in our nation. That money pays for our common defense, paves our streets and highways, affords police, fire, and other emergency responders, protects our air and water from pollution, and pays our teachers and builds our schools to educate our children. Ask yourself:
* Why are these corporate tax dodgers not also paying their fair share?
* How many more public sector workers will lose their jobs because of our state and federal budget deficits?
* How much more should you have to pay so the rich can get richer?
Click here to RSVP for this event on Facebook.
Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Peaceful Protest of Corporate Tax Evader Bank of America
Bank of America, 8551 US Highway 29 North, Charlotte, NC 28262
We pay our taxes. Why don’t they?
U.S. Uncut is a new progressive, people-powered advocacy organization whose aims include ensuring corporations pay their fair share of income tax on the revenue they make instead of hiding it offshore.
On February 26, demonstrations across the United States and the United Kingdom are taking place to bring awareness to the practices of these huge companies, including demonstrations at Bank of America, Target, Amazon, and Comcast:
Enjoying record profits and taxpayer-funded bailouts as the economy slowly recovers from a financial crisis, nearly two-thirds of US corporations don’t pay any income taxes, instead opting to abuse tax loopholes and offshore tax havens. According to this study from the non-partisan Government Accountability Office, 83 of the top 100 publicly traded corporations that operate in the US exploit corporate tax havens. Since 2009, America’s most profitable companies such as ExxonMobil, General Electric, Bank of America and Citigroup all paid a grand total of $0 in federal income taxes to Uncle Sam. Tax havens alone account for up to $1 trillion in tax revenue lost every decade, money that could be invested in K-12 education, colleges, public health, job creation and hundreds of other worthy public programs.
You read that right. Charlotte-based Bank of America has paid ZERO, ZIP, ZILCH in federal income taxes since 2009, despite having received $45 billion in tax-payer supported income. Instead of paying taxes, BofA funneled its income to 115 separate offshore bank accounts while it lavished bank executives with bonuses.
Answer the call to Action in Charlotte on Saturday (2/26)
What: Peaceful Protest of Corporate Tax Evader Bank of America
When: Saturday, February 26, 2011 from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Where: Bank of America, 8551 US Highway 29 North, Charlotte, NC 28262
We pay taxes on the money we make in our state and in our nation. That money pays for our common defense, paves our streets and highways, affords police, fire, and other emergency responders, protects our air and water from pollution, and pays our teachers and builds our schools to educate our children. Ask yourself:
* Why are these corporate tax dodgers not also paying their fair share?
* How many more public sector workers will lose their jobs because of our state and federal budget deficits?
* How much more should you have to pay so the rich can get richer?
Click here to RSVP for this event on Facebook.
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