Dear President Obama,

We, the loyal citizens of Baja Arizona, desperately need your help. We are being held captive by a band of marauding, Narcissistic know-nothings from the north.

Under the ironclad control of their ruthless, maniacal leader, Emperor Russell Pearce and his hand-maiden Jan Brewer, the Empire of Maricopa has lost sight of what is good for the citizens of Arizona, in general, and the citizens of Baja Arizona, in particular.

The Empire of Maricopa has held us Bajans against our will and stolen our tax dollars for decades. Now that they want to secede from the United States of America– and have the guns and the anger to do it– we feel that they have gone too far. We want our own state!

The Emperor and his Lackey Legislature have robbed Bajans of our tax money, raped our school/university systems, and highjacked our children’s future to pay for pet projects like private prisons, corporate welfare, discriminatory laws, and unnecessary court battles with the federal government– while ignoring our state’s budgetary problems. Mr. President, they even want to use our pristine open spaces as a nuclear waste dump for the rest of the country!

They starve our cities by withholding revenue-sharing, and they enact laws that meddle with our local government’s sovereignty and attack specific ethnic groups and specific curricula in our schools. They waste time and tax dollars on unnecessary and discriminatory legislation while continuing to ignore our state’s problems, which the Emporer and his Lackey Legislature created as a result of extreme, long-term fiscal mismanagement.

The citizens of Baja Arizona are tired of taxation without representation in the Arizona’s Lackey Legislature. Year after year, the loyal US citizens of Baja Arizona elect reasonable, intelligent state representatives and senators and send them to Phoenix to be ignored by the white power elite of the Empire.

We, the citizens of Baja Arizona, believe:

In open, representative government by and for real, flesh-and-blood People– not corporations.

In equality and the value of human life– regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or religion– even after birth.

In progressive ideals– like public education, public health services, a living wage, clean energy, clean environment, and cultural diversity.

In nurturing, educating, and caring for future generations as they mature–rather than casting them off to fend for themselves after birth.

That it is an abomination to fund prisons at a higher level than schools or universities.

That tax dollars should be used for the public good– rather than corporate welfare.

That you are a citizen, Mr. President, and we won’t make you show a birth certificate when we hold the Baja Arizona presidential primary in 2012.

And, lastly, we believe in the sovereignty of the US government and choose you as our leader over Emperor Pearce.

Please help us in our struggle to free ourselves from tyranny.

Ya Basta!

Viva Baja Arizona. Libertad! Igualdad! Fraternidad!

Your humble scribe,

The Tucson Progressive

P.S. If you want to Start Our State, join this facebook group. If you’re not on facebook, join!

More than 300 unapologetic progressives packed a local YWCA for the inaugural meeting of Progressive Democrats of America, Tucson Chapter. (Photo Credit: Pamela Powers)

Who said the progressive movement was dead? It is alive and well in Tucson, Arizona.

An estimated 300 activists, liberals, Green Party members, and Democratic Party foot soldiers crammed into a large meeting room at the YWCA on the west side of Tucson Monday night for the inaugural meeting of the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), Tucson Chapter.

Twenty minutes before the meeting started, it was standing room only. By the time the first speaker began at 7 p.m., all chairs were filled and people were standing 2-3 deep on the sidelines, sitting 4-5 deep on the floor in front, and standing out in the hall.

Pretty much all of Tucson’s liberal leaders and volunteers– including a significant portion of Democratic Party Precinct Committeepersons (PCs)– came to hear what Congressman Raul Grijalva, populist radio commentator Jim Hightower and PDA leaders Tim Carpenter and Mimi Kennedy had to say.

As one of the introductory speakers, Carpenter sparked cheers from the crowd with fiery rhetoric, saying, “We [PDA] are not the Democratic Party… We’re the insurgency of the Democratic Party!”

Carpenter said that PDA was born out of the presidential races of Dennis Kucinich and Howard Dean. He gave a shout-out to other liberal groups whose members were in attendance: MoveOn.org, Democracy for America, Jobs with Justice, and the Central Labor Council.

Populist commentator and author Jim Hightower was the keynote speaker, along with Congressman Raul Grijalva. (Photo Credit: Pamela Powers)

“Building community and building organization. That’s what PDA is about,” said Carpenter. But despite their efforts, progressives learned in recent years that electing a Democratic Party president and Congress wasn’t enough to get progressive legislation enacted. PDA is now going to work inside and outside the Democratic Party for real change in America.

The speeches were punctuated with cheers when Carpenter, Grijalva, and Hightower talked about taking our country back from the radical right and corporate pawns in the  Republican and Democratic Parties.

Hightower warned activists that taking the country back from the corporate oligarchy that now runs it would be a long struggle and likened it to the 70-year battle for women’s suffrage.

Hightower did admit that he wasn’t beyond “colluding with the pharmaceutical industry” in his quest to rebuild the middle class. He wants them to invent a “new Viagra” that could be used to stiffen the spines of Democrats and give them the backbone to fight for the middle class, rather than kowtowing to big business and their lobbying machine.

After the speeches, attendees broke up into issue organizing teams around PDA’s six core issues:

• Single-payer healthcare (Medicare for All)
• Peace (ending the wars and occupations and redirecting the funds)
• Clean elections and voter rights (including repeal of Citizens United and elimination of private funding for elections)
• Economic and social justice
• Accountability of elected officials
• Environment and global warming

Republicans and Republican-lite Democrats– be forewarned. Like the Tea Party on the right, progressives are “mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore”. Well, maybe we’re seriously annoyed and not going to donate to or volunteer for Republican-lite anymore. Southern Arizona Leadership Council Democratic Party sympathizers and No Labels Democrats could be in trouble, if even half of the Democratic Party PCs in attendance decide to work for real progressive candidates and issues instead of just settling for someone who is not Republican.

The Tucson meeting was the second in a series of PDA organizing meetings across the state. According to Carpenter, the Bisbee organizing meeting drew 120 attendees; later this week PDA will hold events in Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Winslow.

Watch for an update of this story with full video of the speeches.

Common Ground Tucson is hosting the first in a series of monthly events celebrating community. This coming Sunday, February 20, 2011, from 3-9 p.m., join other Tucsonans on the roof of the Pennington St. Parking Garage for sharing, learning, talking, and– most importantly– seeking common ground.

If you want to help Tucson grow, thrive, and become more sustainable, and you want to meet like-minded folks, you’re invited! Here is the scoop from the Common Ground Tucson website.

The invitation is to every group, organization, collective, congregation, school, club, small business and individual in the Tucson area to show up and share what they do and/or want to do to make Tucson (and the world) a happier, more peaceful, sustainable and balanced place.

The event is an orchestration of that sharing. It includes the usual tables and booths for displaying information and interactive outreach, but….

the real excitement is that it’s a continuous round of inventive ways to invite and inspire participation that connects people experientially with those resources and opportunities. It’s a showcase of local talent, musical, artistic, entrepreneurial and organizational, all designed for everyone to take part in right on the spot. It’s about healing, intervening, water, wildlife, food, faith, transportation and compost. It’s mini workshops, group games, challenges and dialogue. It’s singing and dancing and telling each other jokes, stories and imagined possibilities.

It’s everything we can imagine and set into motion, and yet, its true core intention, is about connecting with each other and the big picture of what that means to all our lives. Common Ground is a stage where everyone is a performer, quiet or loud, optimistic, pessimistic, young or old, no matter what you believe is true or isn’t, because…. Tucson is such a stage.

It’s finally time to get to know one another and we’re here to make that easy.

The Pennington St. Parking Garage is on the southeast corner of E. Pennington St. and N. Scott Ave. in downtown Tucson. Common Ground Tucson plans to hold monthly events on the third Sunday of each month at this time and location.

A scene from the 2010 Tucson Peace Fair. (Photo Credit: Pamela Powers)

Righties would like to believe that Lefties are at home, moping and depressed at the state of our state and our country– following the 2010 “shellacking”– and sipping Chardonnay as we read progressive blogs and long for a political miracle.

While there may be some truth to that scenario, Southern Arizona Lefties have a myriad of socializing, organizing, and energizing opportunities in the coming weeks to cheer us up and sharpen our resolve.

Corazon de Justicia Awards Dinner, Friday, February 18, 2011– Sponsored by Derechos Humanos, this dinner recognizes the work of “community organizers for their commitment to justice and social change.” Beginning at 6:30 p.m., the event will be held at the Apollo Middle School. The cost is $35 per person. Follow the link for more information about the program and the keynote speaker David Bacon, a writer for TruthOut, The Nation, and other publications. (Here’s a link to a story on last year’s event.)

Organizing Meeting for Progressive Democrats of America Tucson Chapter, Monday, February 21, 2011– Jeff Latas (former Congressional candidate), Phil Lopes (former Arizona Legislator), and other progressives are firing up local lefties and trying to get us organized. This first meeting will feature Congressman Jim Hightower and our own Congressman Raul Grijalva (Chair, Congressional Progressive Caucus). The meeting will be held at the Tucson YWCA, 525 N. Bonita (just south of St. Mary’s Road ½ mile west of I-10). The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m., with registration starting at 6:30. Suggested donation is $5 at door. For more information contact Phil Lopes: lopesphil@gmail.com.

“Join me in this new chapter to help energize the much needed change we desperately need in our country and in Arizona. We can no longer count on someone else doing the changing and we definitely shouldn’t count on the status quo of our current party structures. It is up to us to make this much needed political change and we must act now. Hope to see you and many of your friends at the YWCA on 21 February,” says Latas.

29th Annual Tucson Peace Fair and Music Festival, Saturday, February 26, 2011– Billed as “Arizona’s largest gathering of peace, social justice and environmental groups,” the Tucson Peace Fair is a free, family-friendly event featuring live music and dozens of booths representing activist organizations and political movements. The event is 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Reid Park Bandshell. (Here’s a link to a story on last year’s event.)

1st Annual Consuelo Aguilar Awards Luncheon, Saturday, February 26, 2011– The Southern Arizona Unity Coalition will honor the 11 ethnic studies teachers with presentation of the first Consuela Aguilar Award. The goal of the group is to honor Aguilar’s memory by recognizing community leaders “who embody her commitment to education and community empowerment.” Tickets are $25 each, and the event will be 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the University Marriott.

Democratic Party LD28 St. Patrick’s Day Party, Saturday, March 13, 2011– This is an annual fundraiser for local Democrats. The potluck event is held at the home of life-long Tucson Democrats George and Margie Cunningham, parents of City Councilman Paul Cunningham. The event is from 2 to 5 p.m. at 630 N. Alamo. Tickets will go on sale after Feb. 15. They are $20 if purchased prior to March 10 and $25 after the March 10 or at the door.

March for Peace and Jobs, Saturday March 19, 2011 — March 19 is the 8th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. This event is still being organized by the End the Wars Coalition. The March will begin at 10 a.m. at Armory Park and end with a rally at noon at DeAnza Park. Watch for more details. From the Tucson Peace Center website: March and Rally to Protest the Wars and Demand funding for social programs. Puppets, floats (that will fit on the sidewalk) and other forms of creative protest are invited. If you focus on Border issues, join us. If you focus on Health Care, join us. If your focus is Education or Job Creation, join us. (You get the idea–) Environmentalists, ethnic studies students, anti-SB1070′ers–join us with your banners and your priorities. We are all scrambling for the crumbs of funding left over after our government is finished paying for multiple wars–demand change now!

Solar oven-- one of the many environmentally friendly products featured at Solar Rock 2010. (Photo Credit: Pamela Powers)

Solar Rock Tucson, Sunday, March 27, 2011– Solar Rock is an outdoor,  solar-powered music concert and vendor fair. The rock concert demonstrates the power of the sun loud and clear. Last year, there were several vendors with information on solar panels, solar hot water systems, rainwater harvesting, bicycle commuting, and all things environmentally friendly. This year’s event is from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Armory Park.

22nd Annual LULAC Educator’s Banquet, Thursday, March 31, 2011– The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) will host its annual awards banquet in the Copper Room of the Tucson Convention Center. Tickets are $75 per person. No host bar begins at 5:30 p.m., with the dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m.

Mark your calendars, fellow comrades! Come out and meet other like-minded people at one or more of these worthwhile events.

Let’s face it. 2011 looks pretty damn depressing for liberals in Arizona– No Plan Jan will continue her reign of terror aided by corporate chums, private prison lobbyists, and a solidly wing-nut Republican-controlled Legislature.

So, what better way to lift your spirits regarding the impending doom our state faces than to get gather with friends at a local watering hole and kibitz about politics?

This coming Sunday night, Tucson chapter of Drinking Liberally will do just that. The Drinking Liberally Classic topic for Sunday, December 12 is the Future of the Democratic Party in Arizona. Whew. That should be good for a few rounds, at least.

Every two years, the Democrats elect new officers. In recent weeks, four of southern Arizona’s Legislative Districts elected new chairs:

LD27 – Roger Wagner succeeds Jim Hannley
LD 28 – Ted Prezelski succeeds Wood Sanders
LD 29 – Matt Kopec succeeds Laura Elias de la Torre
LD 30 – It is undecided who will succeed Suzanne Newton. Former Legislative candidate Andrea Dalessandro was elected to the LD post but has stepped down.

In January, Pima County Democrats and statewide Democrats will elect new officers to lead the party through the 2012 elections. If you want to voice your opinion (informally) on who should lead the statewide party, vote in the Three Sonorans poll.If you want to voice your opinion even more informally, come to Drinking Liberally on Sunday, beginning at 6 p.m. on the patio of The Shanty.

The Tucson chapter of Drinking Liberally meets every Sunday evening– same time, same place. The event is free and open to anyone– even Republicans, if you dare. Even if you drink only soda, you’re welcome.

Drinking Liberally is a national social group of progressives with more than 100 chapters nationwide.

Should the budget-busting Bush Era tax cuts be extended or not? This question has dominated the news in the last few weeks.

President Obama has said for months that the tax cuts should be extended for all income under $250,000, which include rich people’s income under $250,000. Republicans have been fighting hard to extend all Bush Era tax cuts– including tax cuts for the riches 1 percent of Americans.

Progressive pundits like Ed Schultz have been telling the President not to cave on this issue; Schultz has been lobbying for letting all of the cuts sunset– in the name of fiscal responsibility. This would force Republicans to fight for tax cuts for the rich in 2011 while at the same time they fight for cuts in government spending and government jobs– thus exposing their hypocracy on the issue of fiscal responsibility.

Unfortunately, Obama appears to be waffling around on this issue. Instead of sticking to his stated policy– only extending tax cuts for income under $250,000– he has offered several alternatives (ie, temporary extension of all cuts, changing the limit to $500,000 or $1 million, etc.) Get real. If these tax cuts are temporarily extended for 2 years, what is the likelihood of sunseting these tax cuts in 2012? Zippo.

I have a new idea. Rich and upper middle class people only pay Social Security Tax on income under $106,000. Yes, if you are a billionaire, only a tiny amount of your income is subjected to Social Security Tax. So, if rich people want tax cuts based upon their entire income, they should pay Social Security Tax on all of their income. Seems fair to me. It would also greatly help the Social Security fund.

For more analysis of the Cat Food Commission’s debit suggestions, the Bush Era tax cuts, fiscal responsibility, and how all of this affects us, check out the video below: “Did the debt commission get it wrong?”

IGT staffer Patrick Hartley facilitated the midtown community conversations with the help of intern Kiry Nelson.

Over the years, Tucson has had no lack of planning, but building consensus and getting projects off the ground has been an issue (1, 2, 3, 4).

Tucson’s newest planning effort is Imagine Greater Tucson (IGT). Announced in September 2010, IGT’s initial funding is through matching grants from the Federal Highway Administration and the Pima Association of Government. The grants fund a community planning and research phase which hopes to build consensus and plan for Greater Tucson’s future.

IGT is in the information-gathering phase. As such, they are holding “community conversations” all around the Tucson valley and gathering data through a web-based survey. To date approximately 200 people have participated in a community conversation, and about 600 have taken the online survey.

Last night’s community conversation was held at the Ward 6 office in midtown Tucson, but there are community conversations scheduled for Vail, Sauhuarita, Oro Valley, and the Tucson Foothills in the near future.

About 20 Tucsonans plus a handful of IGT staff and volunteers and representatives from the county participated. Several neighborhood leaders representing the El Rio, Garden District, Rincon Heights, Blenman-Elm, Palo Verde, Arroyo Chico, and Miramonte neighborhoods were present.

Attendees were split into 2 groups, and facilitators led brainstorming sessions and asked attendees what they valued about living in Tucson and what they would like to change.

As a bastion of liberal thinking in the Tucson, there was quite a bit of consensus  in our group. Using free-form conversation and large multi-color stickies, we identified 9 important areas of conversation: Transportation, Education, Political Culture, Built Environment, Economy, Creative Environment, Natural Environment, Outdoor Activities, and Cultural Diversity.

Green stickies represent things attendees value about Tucson, while the pink stickies identify areas to change. Above are stickies for environment, creative culture, and cultural diversity (mostly things we valued). Tucson's creative community (in the center) received universal support (all green).

Once all of the things we valued or wanted to change had been identified in each of these areas, the colored stickies gave a clear picture of our conversation. The group universally valued Tucson’s natural environment and climate (duh), the creative environment, the liberal values (remember we were in midtown), and the multicultural nature of Tucson. Also, universally, the group had many, many things they wanted to change in the areas of transportation, education , p0litical culture, built environment, and the economy.

There was general disgust for Arizona’s state government– saying they are out-of-touch with citizens. Attendees pointed to the disenfranchisement of Tucson voters who are represented by Democrats in the Republican-controlled Legislature. Particularly in the area of education (which had all pink/change stickies), the group said there was a dangerous disconnect between the citizens of Tucson who value education and voted for the sales tax to support education and the Arizona Legislature and Governor Jan Brewer who they fear will give away the money in tax cuts instead of funding the state’s future through support of K-12 and the university system. (Sure enough, there was a story in today’s Arizona Daily Star about tax cuts proposed by the governor. Doesn’t she know we’re broke?)

Also, vilified by the group was the greed of developers and land grabs by mini-dorm builders and the University of Arizona. The group lamented the loss of historic neighborhoods to build cheap student housing and buildings for University expansion. They pointed to empty lots, dilapidated apartment buildings, and sub-standard trailer parks that could be razed for multi-family or student housing– thus filling a need, eliminating blight, and preserving neighborhoods. There was an obvious love-hate relationship with the UA. The group valued education and innovation the University provides but didn’t like the University’s destruction of neighborhoods.

Rather than go into all of the details we discussed– sustainability, water supply, alternative forms of transportation, yada, yada, yada– I suggest you attend a community conversation or check out the raw data collected from the community conversations, which is on the IGT website.

The data gathering phase is projected to last through February 2011, followed by a planning phase (March – October 2011), and a concrete how-do-we-get-there phase (November 2011 – October 2012). I encourage all of you to get involved in this process by attending a community conversation, filling out the survey, volunteering, and/or donating to the cause. IGT will be using sophisticated descriptive data analysis and mapping software to analyse the data gathered.

Unlike the charter change process that brought us the failed Prop 401 initiative, IGT is not an initiative of the local corporatists from Southern Arizona Leadership Council.

Here are the stickies for political culture, built environment, education, and economy (mostly things we want to change). You'll note education (second from right) is all pink/change stickies.

Imaging Greater Tucson also is not to be confused with Imagine Tucson, which appears to be a campaign to encourage local business people to wear US flag pins that say “Imagine”.

Get involved. Let’s create consensus, stop the in-fighting about failed projects and niche issues, and build a future for our children and grandchildren. My new granddaughter was born on Monday, November 29. I want to leave her the legacy of a good education, clean environment, and a stable economy– not the mess we have now. How about YOU?

Connie Sanchez, president of Blondes for Brewer

Seriously, who is Connie Sanchez? This vivacious blonde recently blew unto the Tucson social scene and has been collecting friends on facebook like charms on her charm bracelet.

But who is she really?

Well, let me tell you, as president of Blondes for Brewer, Connie is force to be reckoned with. She is not one of Jan Jan’s lobbyists…er… handlers…er… “assistants.” She is one of Jan Jan’s true confidants. (A bit of girl talk here, but I think they even use the same color, if you know what I mean.)

Rumor has it that Connie and other Blondes for Brewer may show up at some Goddard events or maybe even some Teabag events. You never know where this politically savvy GF will be.

To be in the know, check out Connie’s facebook page and be her friend. I am.

I have been seriously jonesing to go to Washington, DC for the progressive rallies being held in October. After all I have a hybrid car and at least one person + 2 cattle dogs who would love to go on a road trip.

Problem is I also have a fulltime job and can’t take 2 weeks off for the round trip.

Ever since I learned about these 3 rallies, I have been pining away to hear Ed Schultz, Jon Stewart, and/or Stephen Colbert address the teeming throngs of progressives on the mall in DC, but alas…

Now, thanks to the ingenuity and marketing savvy of the Hotel Congress, Tucson progressives can enjoy the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or the March to Keep Fear Alive without leaving town. The rallies begin at 9 a.m. on 10-30-10.

Personally, I think they should secure Governor Jan Brewer and Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall as keynote speakers for the Keep Fear Alive rally.

For Restoring Sanity…hmmm…definitely there are no Arizona Republican politicians who could address a rally with that title– especially since Stewart called Arizona the “meth lab of democracy”. Maybe Dave Ewoldt or Andrew Weil?

Here is a link to the Tucson rally and a link list of other states and cities that are having rallies. And, of course, in case you’re not already distracted enough, you can follow it all on facebook and Twitter.

Ed Schultz, homespun radio progressive from Fargo, ND and now an MSNBC pundit, is organizing the One Nation March, to be held on October 2 at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

According to Big Ed’s website, “The march aims to bring working people, young people, retirees, civil rights activists and many others together on the Mall to show the obstructionists in Congress that we are many and diverse, strong and that united-and we will fight together for the American Dream…

“Working people can make a difference when we rely on ourselves and act collectively. We are America. And together we can make our voices heard.”

Let’s fight for the middle class. DC is quite a ways from Tucson. Maybe we could have a local march?

Here are the details from Big Ed’s website.

ONE NATION WORKING TOGETHER

Our nation stands at a critical crossroads. The 30-year drive for a low-wage, high-consumption society that imports more and more of what it consumes has hit the wall.

Millions are unemployed, with little recovery in sight. A record number of Americans who want desperately to work have been jobless for more than 6 months.

At the same time, Wall Street continues to roll up big profits. Banks and corporations have made off with trillions of public dollars, while small businesses can’t get loans and cities are being forced to make cuts to public education and public safety, harming our children and our communities.

Obstructionists in Congress are doing everything they can to stop anything that helps working people, and they are scapegoating workers for the demise of the economy. Public sector workers are being cast as selfish, auto workers are being blamed for the troubles of the auto industry, and teachers are being blamed for an education system in need of support.

Working people are frustrated and angry-incensed by the government’s inability to halt massive job loss and declining living standards on the one hand, and the comparative ease with which Republicans in Congress, with help from some Democrats, have done their best to make the world safe again for JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs and CitiGroup, on the other.

Just as we have seen through history, fear mongers in our country have seized on that anger and are working hard — unfortunately with some success–to use justifiable anger about a failing economy to divide us.

We have to fight this hateful demagoguery that only benefits our foes, and we can’t do it alone. History has taught us that the best way to fight the forces of hatred is to address the economic policies that led to our economic suffering, and that our fight must draw its strength from an alliance of the poor and the middle class-everyone who works for a living.

It is against this backdrop that we join ONE NATION.

ONE NATION is a multi-racial, civil and human rights movement whose mission is to reorder our nation’s priorities to invest in our nation’s most valuable resource – our people.

The organizations that have come together to form ONE NATION believe that our goal should be a future of shared prosperity, not stubborn unemployment and a lost generation. Workers should be able to share in the wealth they create, and everyone deserves the opportunity to achieve the American Dream – a secure job; the chance for our children to get a great public education and the opportunity to make their own way in the world; and laws that protect us, not oppress us.

ONE NATION is a long-term effort to reverse the dangerous economic course of our country over the past four decades. It brings together organizations from across the progressive spectrum-labor, civil rights, environmental, faith and many others-recognizing that none of us alone have been able to achieve our priorities, whether they are large-scale job creation, labor law reform, immigration reform, investing in public education or other concerns, and that we will not realize change until these priorities belong to all of us.

ONE NATION shares the labor movement’s policy agenda: An economy that works for all; good jobs, fair jobs, safe jobs, and more jobs; reforming Wall Street; repairing our immigration system; quality education for every child; and ensuring that everyone in America has the opportunity to contribute to and strengthen our country. Restoring workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively is at the heart of the policy agenda.

The ONE NATION march on Washington on October 2, 2010 will charge up an army of tens of thousands of activists who will return to their neighborhoods, churches, schools and, especially, voting booths, with new energy to enact our common agenda. And on the same day, the labor movement will walk door-to-door in targeted states around the country, bringing the same message to union members exactly one month before the fall elections.

The march aims to bring working people, young people, retirees, civil rights activists and many others together on the Mall to show the obstructionists in Congress that we are many and diverse, strong and that united-and we will fight together for the American Dream.

Many of our unions are already committed to work as a part of ONE NATION. The unions of the AFL-CIO proudly join this coalition and pledge to work collectively to add our support to this great effort.

Working people can make a difference when we rely on ourselves and act collectively. We are America. And together we can make our voices heard.

Here is the FAQ about the march.
When is the March?
Saturday, October 2, 2010. We will begin at 12:00 noon and will end at approximately 4:00 pm.

Where is the March?
The March takes place on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial located on the National Mall in Washington DC.

Is the event open to the public?
Yes, this event is open to the public. This event is also a family friendly event.

Is this event open to the media?
Yes. Media credentials and other logistics information may be obtained from the ONWT Communications Office which can be reached at 202 263 4529 or by email at ONWTCommunications@gmail.com.

What happens if it rains?
The March will proceed rain or shine.

Will there be food, beverage and bathrooms available on site?
Yes, there will be portable bathrooms and water on site.

Can I bring signs?
Yes, you can bring signs that promote the values of One Nation Working Together.

What arrangements are being made for persons with disabilities?
Special accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities. Please contact ONWTlogistics@gmail.com with any questions.

Where can I stay in the DC area?
There are many hotels in the D.C. area that are close to the March event site. To learn more about union hotels in the Washington, D.C. area, visit the Unite Here website.

Additional information about Washington, D.C. can be found at www.washington.org.

Can I make a donation to support the March or ONWT?
Please send any donations by check to:
One Nation Working Together Campaign
1825 K Street, NW Suite 210
ATTN: Matt Reents
Washington DC, 20006