"Don’t Trade Away Our Future!" Protesters Call on Congress to Reject Trade Promotion Authority

Social justice organizations from across the country together with organized labor will join together to speak out against the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in the nation’s capital on Monday, April 20th. Protesters will march from Lafayette Square to the office of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative to demand that Congress reject so-called “Fast Track” Trade Promotion Authority.

Organized by National People’s Action, the Campaign for America’s Future, USAction, and Alliance for a Just Society, the rally will draw grassroots activists from more than 30 states. The protest is part of the AFL-CIO’s nationwide week of actions against Trade Promotion Authority.

Twenty-one years after the passage of NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Association), ordinary Americans know from experience the danger of trade deals that serve corporate interests while threatening workers’ rights and the environment. The TPP, negotiated behind closed doors by more than 600 corporate lobbyists, would endanger worker safety and weaken health and environmental regulations. Trade Promotion bypasses Congress’ ability to review and amend trade deals like the TPP, depriving Americans of the chance for their democratically elected representatives to review and amend the deal. Civil society leaders and thousands of grassroots activists are coming together to ensure that their voices are heard, despite industry attempts to silence them.

WHO:

Senator Bernie Sanders, (I-VT)

Jim Hightower, National Radio Commentator

Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO

Larry Cohen, President of the Communication Workers of America (CWA)

Hundreds of grassroots leaders from National People’s Action, Campaign for America’s Future, Alliance for Just Society, USAction and other labor unions and social justice organizations.

WHAT: Rally and March to denounce Fast Track and the Trans Pacific Partnership

WHERE: AFL-CIO Building (815 16th Street NW)

WHEN: Monday, April 20th at 12:00pm ET

WHY: Because American’s don’t want our elected officials to trade away their future for corporate profits

DETAILS: Visuals include giant Trojan horse, large crowds with banners and signs with the White House, U.S. Trade Representative’s office in the background

The action is connected with the Populism2015 conference to be held this weekend, attended by 750 organizers and activists nationwide, and hosted by National People’s Action, USAction, Alliance for a Just Society, and Campaign for America’s Future. At the conference, organizers will lay out a 12-point agenda for economic, environmental and racial justice. For more information on the conference visit: www.populism2015.org.