November, 19 2008, 05:53am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK co-founder, 415-235-6517
Gael Murphy, CODEPINK co-founder, 202-412-6700
Groups Protest Billions For General Motors, No Relief For Working Americans
Tell Congress to stop doling out corporate welfare
WASHINGTON
Outside the Rayburn Office Building today and during the 10 a.m.
House Finance Services meeting at 2128 Rayburn, Americans facing
foreclosure and homelessness will protest Congress' auto industry
bailout plan. They will demand a plan that instead provides relief to
homeowners and an economic stimulus package that would extend
unemployment benefits and food stamps to struggling families. (Click here for an Associated Pres photo of protest at yesterday's bailout hearing).
WHAT: CODEPINK Women for Peace and other groups to protest auto industry bailout at today's House hearing
WHEN: 9 a.m. TODAY, Nov. 19 (10 a.m. hearing)
WHERE: Rayburn Office Building, Independence Avenue and South Capitol Street SW
"For decades, U.S. auto companies refused to produce fuel
efficient, clean and affordable cars and they are now suffering for
their hubris," said Medea Benjamin of CODEPINK Women for Peace.
"Congress should not reward their mismanagement and reckless behavior,
but should instead help average Americans who are the innocent victims
of this corporate abuse."
Following the hearing, they will visit with various members of
Congress inside their offices and in hallways, encouraging them to stop
the auto bailout and to rewrite the Emergency Economic Stabilization
Act of 2008 to save homeowners and struggling families, not mismanaged
industries.
Visuals for the protest include clever
representations of homeless people living in cars and people facing
foreclosure. It is organized by CODEPINK, Neighborhood Assistance
Corporation of America (NACA), National Coalition for the Homeless,
Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Plymouth Congregational UCC BoSA and ANSWER.
For more information contact Gael Murphy at 202-412-6700 or gael@codepinkalert.org, or Medea Benjamin at 415-235-6517 or medea@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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U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday announced that he is commuting the sentences of nearly 1,500 Americans and pardoning 39 people convicted of nonviolent crimes, a move the White House described as "the largest single-day grant of clemency in modern history."
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