CT Rallies for Families Over Billionaires

 

150 union workers, students, immigrant rights and community activists gathered with Connecticut for All outside New Haven's Brennan Rogers School, closing due to lack of funds, with a clear message: the Governor and Legislature must stand up for working families now.

The national day of action to put Families First over Billionaires was initiated by Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The massive cut to human needs wee accompanied by huge increases in funds for mass deporations and wars.

“We choose families not corporations. We will not be divided, and We Will not Back Down,” said emcee Seth Freeman president of SEIU Local 1973 – 4C's, calling on the legislature and governor to hold a speciall session “to stand up and protect Connecticut residents from death and destruction coming from the Trump administration. and increase taxes on the ultra wealthy by implementing the Finance Committee’s progressive revenue proposals.”

Healthcare workes, students and immigrant youth spoke passionately of the harms these cuts will bring to them and their communities.

“Hundreds of thousands of Connecticut residents will be directly harmed by these cuts, but ultimately every resident in our state will be harmed, because gutting and shredding the social safety net hurts all of us,” said Freeman.

“Our message to every legislator in our state, is that if you are not in favor of raising revenue – raising state taxes on the same individuals that Trump just gave a tax break to - then you are supporting Donald Trump’s agenda.” he said to loud applause.

“Our message is that if you are not going to stand up now – while ICE is terrorizing our communities, abducting mothers in front of their children – then when are you going to stand up?

'Our message is that if you not going to stand up now – while Yale New Haven and CT Children’s Hospital announced cutting youth gender-affirming care - then when are you going to stand up?”

Families First rallies were held in ten Connecticut towns.