A spirited crowd of 1,000 rank-and-file union members and community supporters will demonstrate against the extreme agenda and failed record of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in Springfield on Tuesday morning, April 17. Walker will be in the capital city to address the Illinois Chamber of Commerce.
WHAT: Demonstration and rally against Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker
WHO: Crowd of 1,000 and rally speakers from Springfield NAACP, Faith Coalition for the Common Good, Illinois AFL-CIO, Wisconsin AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers-Wisconsin, Citizen Action/Illinois, hosted by Springfield Central Labor Council.
WHERE: Outside Abraham Lincoln Hotel, corner of 7th and Adams Sts. in Springfield
WHEN: Tuesday, April 17, demonstration starts 9 a.m., speaking program 10:30 a.m.
VISUALS: Spirited crowd of 1,000+ people, colorful signs, triple-life-size cutout of Gov. Walker with slogan “Don’t Badger Us!”
Advance teleconference
Ahead of Walker’s Springfield visit, an array of advocacy groups from Illinois and Wisconsin will hold a news teleconference tomorrow (Monday, April 16) to expose Walker’s radical record on small business, women’s health, the environment and other key issues.
WHAT: News teleconference by “Scott Walker Citizen Truth Squad”
WHO: Citizen Action/Illinois, Wisconsin Citizen Action, AIDS Foundation, Planned Parenthood, Sierra Club, Women Employed, 9 to 5 Wisconsin, Illinois small business owner.
WHEN: Tomorrow (Monday, April 16) at 10 a.m.
What’s wrong with Walker?
Despite stumbling to the nation’s worst job-creation record during his first year in office, Walker has been invited to speak Tuesday to the Illinois Chamber of Commerce’s annual gathering of corporate CEOs and lobbyists.
Walker triggered outrage by stripping teachers and other public employees of their right to bargain collectively, then slashing education and health care funding, all while giving huge new tax breaks to corporations that funded his campaign. A historic outpouring of more than 1 million Wisconsin voters signed petitions to remove Walker from office, triggering a recall election set for June 5.
Walker is also dogged by a mushrooming corruption scandal. Four of his closest aides have already been charged with felony crimes, while Walker himself has established a legal defense fund stemming from the investigation.
