Local
212 Goes to Washington
January 27, 2007
note: more photos
of this event can be found in the photos
section
On January 27, tens of thousands of people
poured into Washington D.C. to protest the war in Iraq.
Labor unions joined veterans, military families, peace,
and women’s groups to demand that Congress use the
power of the purse to cut off funding for the war, bring
the troops home, and restore veterans’ benefits.
 People
traveled to Washington from as far away as Texas and California.
Six busloads came from Wisconsin, including three from the
northern part of the state, two from Madison, and one from
Milwaukee. On the way we met buses from Grand Rapids, Chicago,
and Gary—including Teamsters, AFSCME, Steelworkers,
and SEIU members.
Local 212 sent two executive board members
and two retirees. Chris Breihan traveled with her 14-year-old
son Teddy, who had persuaded her to go. There they met up
with her oldest son Adam, a UW student who rode the bus
from Madison. Joanne and Bill Lange flew in from Milwaukee
with Joan Bleidorn.
Fred Mason, a national leader of U.S.
Labor Against the War (USLAW) and president of the Maryland
AFL-CIO, welcomed the crowd:
 “Sisters
and Brothers, I bring you greetings today on behalf of President
John Sweeney and the millions of working men and women of
the AFL-CIO. The American public spoke loudly in the November
elections. The new Congress—many of whom we helped
to elect—has a responsibility to the American people
to end U.S. military involvement in Iraq and bring our troops
home now!”
The National Mall was a sea of people
with banners and signs, reaching all the way back toward
the Washington Monument. The march that followed completely
encircled the Capitol, with the lead marchers finishing
before the last marchers had stepped off.
“I have never before marched with
people who felt such a sense of betrayal over our government's
actions in Iraq,” reported Chris Breihan. “There
was a father from a military family on our bus who said
he used to get teary when the national anthem was played,
but now he just feels empty. Testimony like that is hard
to forget.”
 U.S.
Labor Against the War (USLAW) led the labor contingent with
a “Bring Our Troops Home Now!” banner and signs
that said “Not One More Death, Dollar, Day!”
AFT Local 2334 from CUNY carried red-and-white signs demanding
“Money for Education, Not War!”
Military Families Speak Out marched with
pictures and messages from family members who are serving,
or who have been killed in Iraq or Afghanistan. Iraq Veterans
Against the War issued an Appeal for Redress:
“As a patriotic American proud
to serve the nation in uniform, I respectfully urge my political
leaders in Congress to support the prompt withdrawal of
all American military forces and bases from Iraq. Staying
in Iraq will not work and is not worth the price. It’s
time for U.S. troops to come home.”
On January 29, Wisconsin citizen lobbyists
visited the office of Senators Kohl and Feingold and all
eight Representatives. Rep. David Obey, chair of the House
Appropriations Committee, has a powerful position. The budget
bill voted by his committee can place conditions on military
funding, and that was our goal.
For more about union efforts to oppose
the war, visit www.uslaboragainstwar.org.
Sue Ruggles
USLAW
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