On March 10, more than 25,000 people gathered at the
Indianapolis Capitol Building to send a message to Indiana Gov. Mitch
Daniels and state legislators: workers and students from throughout
the state oppose legislation that cuts funds for education and
women’s health care, and hurts public-sector unions. Below is a
firsthand account of the action by guest contributor Elizabeth Sloan.
It was
about 10 a.m. and the buses were lining up a few blocks from the
State Capital Building. People came pouring out of the buses,
carrying signs and looking determined. Through loudspeakers and
echoing around the buildings you could hear “God Bless the Working
Man.” It was an impressive sight. The pro-labor rally was getting
started.
I spoke
to Diane Friley just after she got off one of the buses. Friley said
she was a member of United Steel Workers and had come on one of the
11 buses from Gary, Indiana. She said the buses were filled with
workers from many unions and supporters of the right to collective
bargaining.
The
crowd was swelling. From the loudspeaker and the crowd came the
chants: “We are the union, the mighty, mighty union.” “Whose
got the power? We got the power. What kind of power? Union power.”
“This is our house.” “They say cut back, we say fight back.”
The speaker would shout “Stand up” and the crowd would respond
with “Fight back.”
There
were signs everywhere: “Workers are the backbone, not the blame.”
“Jobs with Justice.” “Middle class busting.” “RTW starves
Hoosier Construction Workers, LIUNA Builds America.” “Stop
Corporate Wealthy Greed.” “Stop the War on Workers.”
There
were large numbers of teachers there with messages that showed their
concern for the public-education system and desire to keep a good
public system. Angela O’Malley, a teacher, told me: “The
divide-and-conquer tactic being used would destroy the schools and
they would be run by people who just don’t care about the
students.”
Many of
the signs identified the unions. Workers were there from the United
Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers; International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers; Ironworkers; Machinists;
Communication Workers of America; United Auto Workers; Teamsters; as
well as postal workers, fire fighters and more. This was truly a
showing of a cross section of workers who are trying to survive, and
keep their rights and dignity.
Vi
Simpson, a state senator, came out singing “Solidarity Forever.”
She announced the names of some of the senators who were in support
of the crowd, and said “Indiana is the last line in the sand.”
A few
ministers came up to lead prayers and the pledge of allegiance was
led by a Marine whose family were Ironworkers.
One of
the speakers said that this was day 18 of the longest protest in
Indiana’s history and this on March 10 was the largest protest in
Indiana’s history. There were thousands of people and on a very
cold day they were polite, kind and kept a sense of humor.
