May 2010

Tens of thousands are mobilizing to Phoenix on May 29 to show the world that people from all backgrounds across the country are unified in denouncing SB1070.  From Seattle to Miami, the demands are clear, that President Obama needs to end the criminalization of people of color in the state of Arizona and stop SB1070.

Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, stated, “The eyes of the world are watching and President Obama must act.  SB1070 is where we draw the line and say enough is enough.  Enough of a disastrous and dangerous ‘enforcement first’ strategy to immigration reform.  Enough to the criminalization of workers and families.  We will escalate our struggle if the President does not act concretely and immediately to stop the implementation of SB1070.”

Last night the Senate passed their version of the financial reform bill, bringing the U.S. to the brink of passing the biggest overhaul of financial regulations since the Great Depression.  The New York Times says:

The bill seeks to curb abusive lending, particularly in the mortgage industry, and to ensure that troubled companies, no matter how big or complex, can be liquidated at no cost to taxpayers. And it would create a “financial stability oversight council” to coordinate efforts to identify risks to the financial system. It would also establish new rules on the trading of derivatives and require hedge funds and most other private equity companies to register for regulation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Although this bill is far from perfect, it is a big move in the right direction, and it would not have happened without people like you taking action.  Wall Street has fought this bill every step of the way, spending $1.4 million a day on lobbying.  It was your voices: in the streets, on the phone, and in the mailboxes of your Senators that made it impossible for the banks to kill this legislation.

On May 17, thousands of union members, community activists, and allies from across the country came together on a rainy Monday morning to send a message to Congress & the corporate lobbyists on K Street:  Wall Street reform now!

The protest was organized by National People's Action, SEIU, the AFL-CIO, and Jobs with Justice.

The crowd rallied in McPherson Square park before shutting down K Street and then marching to the Bank of America.  Check out the video & photos from the action below.

We are closer than ever to winning meaningful reform of Wall Street.  The work of Jobs with Justice members, activists, and allies is starting to add up to a national movement that is changing the debate in Washington, and our momentum is building. 

The Senate is close to finalizing a banking reform bill, and the big banks are trying desperately to weaken or kill banking reforms that might prevent another meltdown, even threatening to filibuster.

Click here to take action and then CALL YOUR SENATORS at 1-888-854-1978

Today, Jobs with Justice and allies will join National People's Action,  SEIU, and the AFL-CIO for a "Showdown on K Street" in Washington, DC, ground zero for Wall Street's corporate lobbyists, as the Senate is voting on important amendments to the banking reform bill. 

Break Wall Street lobbyists' grip on Congress.  We demand jobs and a real economic recovery!

• Sign up to join us on K Street in DC on Monday, May 17th at noon

• Can't make it to DC?  Join our virtual march & we'll keep you posted on how to support the rally from your town

Wall Street recklessness and corporate greed have destroyed our economy and hijacked our democracy.  Corporate lobbyists representing the big banks paved the way to deregulate Wall Street, and now they're standing in the way of reforms that would protect people and strengthen our economy.