Indy rally fires up unions

We just got some great pictures back from the rally in Indianapolis, but we're having problems with the Internets. So we'll post them tomorrow or you can see them at http://www.stopthewaronworkers.org/.

Indiana, you'll recall, also has the misfortune of anti-worker (Republican) majorities in the Legislature. They want to pass a host of anti-worker, anti-middle class legislation. Democratic House members fled the state a few weeks ago to prevent votes on the bills.
Our sister and organizer Rebecca Hanscom describes the rally as energetic and uplifting:

There was a great rapper from Canada (Mike O'Brien) who led a rap with a chorus 'one day longer, the peoples' voice gets stronger.' It sounds a little cliched, too, but everyone was swaying with the rhythm, dancing, and gesturing for 1 day longer. You could see the whole crowd swaying, fields of wheat waving in the wind. It gave a visual and visceral sense of solidarity and unity.

Rebecca thought Indiana AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott gave a good speech. The Associated Press reported Guyott told the crowd

...that craftsmen built the Statehouse more than 100 years ago, and had returned to reclaim it.

"The working men and women of Indiana have come back to take back the people's house for the people," she said.

Rebecca said a teacher (we're assuming it's the teacher AP identified as Marisa Graham from Anderson) spoke very movingly of what this legislation will do to public education. Rebecca said Graham told the crowd...

...it takes care of a small group at the expense of the majority of our children. She spoke very personally about how every decision a teacher makes in school is to benefit their pupils.

There was also a student, son of a union member from Wisconsin, who spoke about what was happening there, led chants, and was very sparky. Lots of diversity, young and old. Examples and facts of the disparity between the rich and the rest of us really resonated with people. Live music opening the event while people were assembling was important, too.

Associated Press got the message. Here's how AP newswoman Deanna Martin led the story:

Thousands of union workers who gathered outside Indiana's Statehouse for a Thursday rally railed against several different education and labor bills but their message reflected a united theme: Republicans here and across the country have gone too far in pushing an agenda opponents consider an attack on working families.

Finally, Rebecca offered an organizer's critique of the signs:

A mix of hand-made with manufactured signs was a good mix and provided provoking variety and expression.

To borrow Wisconsin's motto: Forward!