September, 24 2008, 09:44am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Jodie Evans, CODEPINK co-founder, 310-621-5635
Jean Stevens, CODEPINK media coordinator, 508-769-2138
Hundreds of Americans and CODEPINK to Pile Their Trash at Wall Street Tomorrow
And Demand 'No Cash for Trash' and 'Bail Out This, Mr. Paulson!'
NEW YORK
Hundreds of everyday Americans will create an enormous pile of junk down by Wall Street at 4 p.m. tomorrow and demand, "No cash for trash!" and "Bailout this, Mr. Paulson!", to protest the government's proposal to use $700 billion of taxpayers' money to bail out banks that had a central role in creating what has been termed "the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression."
They'll bring their 8-track tape collection, high-school yearbook, Grampa's old recliner, and that snow globe from Great Adventure, not to mention their mortgage statements and student loan invoices, to tell Secretary Paulson why they deserve a bailout, too!
Their demand for a bail-out on their junk will be much like the 1 trillion dollar blank check -- the biggest financial theft of taxpayers' dollars in American history -- the White House is now trying to push through without a snitch of debate. All to save George W. Bush's cronies on Wall Street, the same people who created America's financial crisis and helped fund war and violation of rights.
"This is a financial September 11," said Jodie Evans, co-founder of CODEPINK Women for Peace. "Just like the White House used that moment of shock to institute abusive surveillance and policing powers under the Patriot Act, it's trying to use this economic meltdown to lavish taxpayer money on the same banks that made obscene profits off shady mortgage industry practices. And true to form, the Bush administration proposed giving itself vast new powers, this time over the economy, with absolutely no oversight."
If this bailout passes, America will have little money for environmental protection, for education, for national healthcare, and to counter global warming and to rebuild our decaying infrastructure. Much of this money was lost to an illegal war that has killed thousands of innocents.
"We have watched our rights be eroded, our invasion and distruction of an innocent country," Evans said. "Have we not learned, are we going to watch rape in broad daylight of the people of the United States now?"
This action has been organized by nearly a dozen organizations, including CODEPINK Women for Peace, in an incredible two days of planning in response to news of the bail-out.
WHAT: Say "NO to the Wall Street bailout" trash pile protest!
WHEN: 4 p.m. Thurs. Sept. 25
WHERE: Southern end of Bowling Green Park (in the plaza area), New York City
For more information, call Jean Stevens at 508-839-2138 or e-mail jean@codepinkalert.org.
CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs.
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