Social Security Update
April 28, 2005
On April 26, while the Senate Finance Committee met to hear
testimony on Social Security and private accounts, thousands
of Americans attended rallies from Washington , DC to Phoenix
, AZ.
Thanks to the social workers who attended and spoke at these
events. NASW reached out to members in the 34 states where
rallies took place, as well as in the DC Metro region for the
Capitol Hill Rally.
Americans United to Protect Social Security released a Press
Release following the rallies, excerpts below.
If you are interested in participating in Social Security
Activities in your community, please contact Dina Zarrella,
NASW Senior Field Organizer at 202-336-8218 or dzarrella@naswdc.org to
join these efforts.
**Post Rally Press Release**
Americans United to Protect Social Security
While Bush Calls on Tom Delay to Help Salvage his Social Security
Privatization Plan in Texas (Yikes!!), Thousands Rally on Hill
to Protect Social Security and Stop Privatization
… James Roosevelt, Jr., the grandson of FDR, who brought the
nearly 120 anti-privatization members of Congress on to the
stage to raucous applause.
The rally was a huge, huge success. While President Bush,
in the ultimate sign of desperation, was in Texas calling on
Tom DeLay to help salvage his privatization bacon, the energy,
the power and the size of the anti-privatization forces and
the unity of the anti-privatization members of Congress was
on display for the entire world to see today. The final nail
in the coffin of the President's misguided privatization plan
may have been nailed today.
Today, approximately 3,500 concerned citizens descended on
Capitol Hill to say NO to President Bush's effort to privatize
Social Security. Folks from all over the country were greeted
by the unity of approximately 120 anti-privatization members
of Congress, from the House and the Senate and led by House
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader
Harry Reid, who attended and signed the Declaration of Unity
to Protect Social Security and Stop Privatization. Many more
members are expected to sign the declaration as they return
to Washington for the week's legislative business.
RALLY FACTS:
- Attendance: approximately 3,500
- Members in Attendance: Approx 120 (many House members were
traveling back as their first votes of the week are not
until after 6:00 P.M. but are expected to sign the declaration
upon their return)
- Music Played during Member March from the Capitol to the
Rally: The soundtracks to the movies Crimson Tide and Glory.
- Music Played During Recessional: Tom Petty's I Won't Back
Down
- Buses from around the country: 20
- Number of Pro-Privatization Protesters in attendance: 0
- Number of states holding Anti-privatization rallies across
the U.S. today: 34
- For more details on rallies, visit www.americansforsocialsecurity.com
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