JOIN THE ACTION TO PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY ON JULY 2, 2013

The Human Chain Against the chained CPI July 2, 2013 @ 3 p.m. Join the Connecticut Alliance for Retired Americans and the Connecticut AFL-CIO  in a National Day of Action to elevate our voices in the battle to protect and enhance retirement security.  We will join together in front of the Robert Giamo Federal Building  in New Haven to form a Human Chain against the Chained CPI. The Chained CPI is a Social Security benefit cut that will take thousands of dollars out of the pockets of seniors.  Join us on July 2nd and tell Congress we oppose any cuts to Social Security! Where: Federal Building,  150 Court St. New Haven, CT (corner of Orange St and Court St) What: National Day of Action to  oppose cuts to Social Security When: Tuesday, July 2 at 3:00pm Contact:  Mary Elia at  maryeliawh@gmail.com       or (203) 500-6089 Posted by T. Connolly

AN ACTION BY THE 99% - SHOW CITIZEN KOCH ON PUBLIC TV

Even the best of us make mistakes -- and public television just made a big one.

Because they were afraid of upsetting Tea Party billionaire and PBS donor David Koch, public television pulled funding for a documentary by Academy Award-nominated filmmakers on the corrosive role of money in politics. That means millions of PBS viewers won't have the chance to see the film Citizen Koch. David Koch's enormous wealth -- and $23 million in donations to public television as a board member of local PBS stations -- shouldn't give him the power to suppress programming that serves the public good.

Sign our petition: Koch money shouldn't influence public television programming -- we want to see Citizen Koch aired on PBS. 

We're huge fans of public television, and I bet you are too. That's why we want to see it live up to its founding principles of serving the public interest -- not the private interests of wealthy donors like the Kochs. Citizen Koch's exploration of money in politics is exactly the type of debate that public television was started to help foster. But instead, big money has prevented the discussion from even starting.

What makes it even scarier is that right now the Koch brothers are attempting to buy the second-largest newspaper chain in America. Imagine how much more news they could censor and distort if the Kochs owned papers like theLos Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune.

We hope that someday public broadcasting receives enough public funding so it won't be in the position of needing to take money from unsavory and ideological donors like the Koch brothers. Until then, we need to make sure these donations aren't having an outsize influence.

Add your name: Public television should stop the self-censorship and air the documentary Citizen Koch: 
http://action.workingfamiliesparty.org/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8107

Thanks for your help, and we'll keep you posted,
Erica Sagrans
Working Families
PS: You can watch the trailer for Citizen Koch here.

Sources:1. "A word from our sponsor," New Yorker, 5/27/20132. "L.A. Times Suitor Charles Koch Confirms Interest in Acquiring Newspapers," Hollywood Reporter, 6/5/2013 

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Posted by Tom Connolly - From The Working Families Party

NEED ACTION ON IMMIGRATION REFORM

FROM:  THE CENTER FOR A NEW ECONOMY

Time is running out to pass important immigration reform bills in Connecticut.   The session ends June 5th, and when it does will we be able to look back and say we expanded economic opportunity in our state?

Join CCNE, CIRA, CIVIC, immigrants, faith, community and labor leaders from across the state for a mass Immigration Rally and Multicultural Festival this Saturday, June 1st at 1:00pm in Hartford's Bushnell Park.




Let's say no to racial profling and the separation of families. Let's fight for our dreams - to live free from fear and discrimination in welcoming communities where everyone is treated with dignity. Help us pass critical immigration reform bills while celebrating our diversity and having some fun with your family and neighbors. 

And to stay up to date on immigration reform efforts and the broader movement for economic and racial justice, be sure to "like" CCNE's facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Connecticut-Center-for-a-New-Economy/27935807063?ref=hl

Posted by Tom Connolly

TODAY'S DEMO - STOP THE KOCH BROTHERS

About 100 labor and community activists attended a 12 noon demonstration toady at the Hartford Courant  to stop the Koch brothers from buying the Courant. [See Photos Below]
 Background - By The Working Families Party.

The Koch brothers are the right-wing duo infamous for funding the Tea Party. Now they want to buy their own media empire to spread their extreme views -- including the Hartford Courant, and its parent, the Tribune Company.

The Kochs have spent their fortune funding anti-worker candidates like Scott Walker and right-wing lobbying groups like ALEC. They even warned tens of thousands of their employees that there would be "consequences" if they didn't vote for Republicans. Not exactly the kind of guys I want running the most respected newspaper in Connecticut. Isn't one Rupert Murdoch enough?

The Hartford Courant is a valuable source of honest journalism. We can't let it turn into a right-wing mouthpiece.

Posted by Tom Connolly

DEMO THIS WED. MAY 29TH - SAY NO TO THE KOCH BROTHERS!

In light of the fact that the Tribune Company is meeting on Thursday, May 30th where the sale to the Koch Brothers will be discussed, a rally is planned in Hartford and other Tribune sites:

Stop the Sale of the Courant to Koch Brothers Rally

Wednesday, May 29

12 Noon -- In Front of the LOB

March from park in front of Legislative Office Building (corner of Broad and Capitol) to the Hartford Courant, Broad Street, Hartford.

Hope you can join us for this very short (less than one hour) protest rally. 

From: Hartford Labor Council

Posted by: Tom Connolly