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Yesterday, 20,000 Hoosiers marched on the Indiana Statehouse to stand against an onslaught of anti-worker legislation. You may have seen the news, you may have been there in person, but there’s no denying that Hoosier workers are making their voices heard.
“Today is Day 18 in the longest sustained protest in Indiana’s history,” said Nancy Guyott, President of the Indiana State AFL-CIO, as she addressed the thousands gathered yesterday at the Indiana Statehouse. “It was our hands, our sweat, our tears, and our toil that built this great state, and we won't sit idly by while outside forces seek to destroy it.”
AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker spoke to yesterday’s rally as well. “Freedom to bargain. That is what this fight is all about,” said Vice President Holt Baker. “Without a free trade union movement and without the right to bargain, we cannot have a strong democracy. We cannot be a country where the rich and powerful take advantage of the workers.”
Leo Gerard, President of the United Steelworkers, gave an enthusiastic speech to the crowd in Indianapolis. “Corporate America has declared war on the middle class, but we won’t back down,” said Gerard. “We’re not winning this war for ourselves, but for our kids and grandkids. Defeat is not an option. We will stand together one day longer, one day stronger.”
Terrance O'Sullivan, President of the Laborers International Union, also spoke at the "We Are Indiana" rally. "I ask you, brothers and sisters, to never forget this day, to never forget this fight, and never forget the power of solidarity," said O'Sullivan. "Becuase what I see here today is the heart and soul, the backbone of the American trade labor movement."
Jim Boland, President of the Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, also spoke at the "We Are Indiana" rally. "Instead of solving the problems of their states and the problems of the country, we're seeing an attack on working people who didn't cause any of these problems," said Boland. "We're here to point out that these all originated on Wall Street and we can't have cruel politicians go after working people and destroy what it took a lifetime to build up."
Marisa Graham a kindergarten teacher and a member of IFT Local 519 has been outspoken against the anti-worker, anti-public school legislation in the General Assembly. "Every decision I make and all of my efforts are to better the lives of my students,” said Graham. “Unfortunately, this agenda and things that are happening at the state level are taking over my ability to be an effective teacher. So I’m here to stand up and speak out for what’s best for children.”
Reverend Darren Cushman Wood with Speedway United Methodist Church and Interfaith Worker Justice also stood alongside protesters in Indianapolis yesterday. “As a pastor, my faith tradition teaches that workers’ rights are a part of fundamental human rights,” said Cushman Wood. “We are called by God to stand up for the poor and the dispossessed in the state of Indiana. That includes workers, whose rights are being attacked by this government.”
Chris Sanders, a UFCW member who has been at the Statehouse for most of the past 18 days, says yesterday’s rally was a turning point. “Life is made up of moments, and we had a huge moment yesterday,” said Sanders. “We turned a tide toward working people. Yesterday we showed the politicians that we mean business.”
As politicians in the General Assembly continue to discount and ignore the voice of working people, our protests must continue. Monday, workers will continue to rally inside the Statehouse beginning at 1:00pm. "This fight is not over," said Joe Breedlove, Secretary-Treasurer of the Indiana AFL-CIO. "The forces that wish to take away the rights of workers are still moving forward. We can't let them succeed."
