A coalition of groups protested the appearance of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel at a fundraiser for Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in Milwaukee. Tickets for Wednesday’s Milwaukee luncheon ranged from $400 each to $2,500 for a table.The luncheon was closed to the media, and outside, there were about 75 demonstrators.
The groups protesting Rahm Emanuel cited several reasons for doing so. First, they pointed to his weakening of civil liberties for protestors attending the coming NATO Summit in Chicago as well as a blanket spending authority given to Rahm for the Summit. Rahm’s most recent city budget also closed half of the city’s mental health clinics and privatized seven of the city’s neighborhood health clinics, both of which serve some of Chicago’s neediest communities. Meanwhile, Rahm continues to find millions of dollars for paramilitary riot gear for peaceful protestors? These egregious actions taken by Mayor Rahm have deservedly earned him the title of “1% Mayor”. The protest was endorsed by several groups including the General Assemblies of Occupy Chicago and Occupy Milwaukee.
Barrett is running for re-election as mayor. He has said he’ll announce whether he’s jumping into the governor’s race sometime between Friday and Tuesday. Earlier this month, Barrett said: “I’m seriously considering that office, but again, I love being the mayor of the city of Milwaukee, so that’s what I’m focusing on right now.”
Edward McDonald is challenging Barrett in Milwaukee’s mayoral race. McDonald says he’s waiting for Barrett to declare whether he will run for governor. “He’s done this three times now, where he’s used the office of Mayor as a safety net in order to advance his career,” McDonald said.
Rahm Protest 1
FOX6 News made repeated attempts to contact Mayor Barrett Wednesday, but was unable. Barrett’s announcement on whether he’ll run in a potential recall against Governor Walker is expected before next Tuesday’s elections.
http://fox6now.com/...
Protest Rahm's Attack on the 99% Pt 2
Protest Rahm's Attack On The 99%
Occupy Milwaukee, Occupy Chicago, Occupy the Hood-Milwaukee, Occupy the Hood-Chicago, Occupy Riverwest, Students for a Democratic Society, Peace Action WI, Southside Together Organizing for Power, the Milwaukee Coalition to Protest NATO, Progressive Democrats of America, Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement, the Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association, International Action Center, Wisconsin Jobs Now, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin and the Chicago Mental Health Movement demand:
Civil liberties for the upcoming NATO/G8 protests in Chicago!
Money for healthcare, Not Warfare!
No cuts to mental health clinics!
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced that his first Mayor's Club event of 2012 will feature Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Yes, Rahm Emanuel! The same man who has pushed a series of First Amendment killing policies for the upcoming G-8 Summit in Chicago of the World's 8 biggest economies.
"Earlier this month, the Chicago City Council overwhelmingly approved two ordinances Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced to crack down on expected NATO and G8 protesters via stricter rules for parade organizers, increased fines for resisting arrest and a green light for the mayor's blanket spending authority for the summits going forward." (Huffington Post).
"Each time a new measure that the city of Chicago is preparing for the coming NATO and G8 summits is unveiled, the tension in the city ratchets up a notch. The latest news comes in the form of reports that Chicago has purchased face shields, and may be considering the implementation of airborne surveillance technology.
As part of the expanded powers given to Mayor Rahm Emanuel for the May summits, the city has authority to accept contracts for goods or services without approval of the City Council or the expected competitive bidding process. The face shields and aerial surveillance technology are the first use of this allowance.
Chicago police officers, and any law enforcement the city chooses to deputize under the measures put in place for NATO/G8, will be equipped with 3,000 new face shields that “will fit easily over gas masks,” according to The Chicago Sun-Times." (Infowars.com)
We need to go and remind Rahm Emanuel that we take our First Amendment Rights very seriously!
Update 2/23/12
Looks like more reasons to Protest Rahm:
"Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel privatizing and union busting like Scott Walker – and Barrett may jump right in"
http://bdgrdemocracy.wordpress.com/....
Update 3/1/12
No shortage of reasons to Protest Rahm!
Emanuel's city budget closes 6 of the City’s 12 Mental Health Clinics, privatizes all 7 of the City’s Neighborhood Health Clinics, and lays off hundreds of dedicated employees.
http://stopchicago.org/....
Protest Rahm's Attack on the 99% Pt. 3
Please halt the devastating cuts of vital health care services and invest in better services for the most vulnerable in our city.
Many thousands of residents rely on the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) for critical mental health and primary care services, but your 2012 Budget closes 6 of the City’s 12 Mental Health Clinics, privatizes of all 7 of the City’s Neighborhood Health Clinics, and lays off hundreds of dedicated employees.
The proposed cuts will have a significant impact on clients, patients, City employees and the quality of life in the City as a whole by:
• Destroying long-standing relationships individuals have with their providers.
• Leaving many people with no where to turn for care.
• Laying off dedicated employees who have decades of experience, make a decent living and
give back to the City and their neighborhoods.
• Undermining the value of community health by forcing residents to travel outside of their
community to get care.
• Killing good-paying jobs for Chicago residents.
• Costing much more in tax dollars and human suffering because people will not get the
care they need and end up in emergency rooms, police stations and jails.
WE URGE YOU TO:
- HALT ALL CLOSURES AND CONSOLIDATION OF MENTAL HEALTH CLINICS.
- STOP THE PLAN TO PRIVATIZE THE NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CLINICS.
- FULLY FUND AND STAFF ALL CDPH CLINICS.
- CREATE A TASKFORCE OF COMMUNITY RESIDENTS, CONSUMERS, POLITICAL
LEADERS, WORKERS AND CDPH MANAGEMENT TO DEVELOP A 10 YEAR
PLAN FOR IMPROVING HEALTH SERVICES IN CHICAGO.
Protest Rahm's Attack on the 99% Pt 4