USA: Thousands gather for liberal rally in Washington

Record ID: 215662

  • Title: USA: Thousands gather for liberal rally in Washington
  • Date: 3rd October 2010
  • Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 2, 2010) (REUTERS) HANDMADE SIGN READING "PRODUCTIVITY IS UP. THE TOP 2 PERCENT HAVE GOTTEN RICHER. THE REST OF US NOT SO MUCH. KEEP TAX CUTS FOR 98 PERCENT"
  • Embargoed: 18th October 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE0SUAOBLARCYXM6KFYQG4NCX6
  • Story Text: Unions, liberals and progressives gathered on the nation's Mall Saturday (October 2), in hopes to put the Democratic party back on track just one month before the midterm elections.
    About 400 organizations ranging from steelworkers, teachers unions, employees unions and peace groups gathered for the "One Nation Working Together" rally on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. The event follows a large rally by conservatives at the same site just over a month earlier.
    Opinion polls have indicated an election "enthusiasm gap," with Republican voters expressing more ardor about casting their votes than Democrats.
    The Rev. Al Sharpton energized the crowd, talking about the need for jobs in the U.S.
    "We need jobs. We've bailed out the banks. We've bailed out the insurance companies, now it's time to bail out the American people."
    Nils DeVita a public school teacher for 22 years in New York said he sees hard-working families struggle every day.
    "Blue collar workers go home every day, cook their dinner, help their kids with their homework, kiss them, put them to bed and they wake up and go to work the next day. And when they're out of work, there's damage being done to people," he said.
    A 9.6 percent unemployment rate and shrinking household wealth has many Americans looking for a change in course from the nation's leaders.
    "I just hope that... the democrats... do what they were sent to do and stop just lagging and not doing the things that Obama especially was voted in to do. And I hope this is one of the things that pushes him and if not I'm a little hopeless after that. I don't know if I have any more hope," said New York resident Herbierto Rodriguez.
    Norman Robbins, left Cleveland, Ohio early Saturday morning to attend the rally. Carrying a sign reading "Liked Iraq and Afghanistan? You'll love war with Iran!", he said he hoped the nation would scale back military funding, so there would be money for the other things Democrats campaigned on, like health care, jobs and education.
    "If we got into a war with Iran, you can forget about healthcare, you can forget about job stimulus programs, you can forget about green energy. All of those things that we're all dying to get," Robbins said.
    From the top of the base, all the way down, leaders are trying to stir up voters, particularly because so many races are expected to be tight this year.
    By the looks of this rally, the base spoke. Many said they want more attention on jobs, education and healthcare.
    Jacqueline Martin, a civil servant from New Jersey said she hoped the nation's leaders would take heed from the rally.
    "We voted you in, we can vote you out," she said.
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