"Hell No" to Cuts, Say Government Workers
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)When the crowd exuberantly took up AFGE President J. David Cox’s war-cry of
“Not ‘no’ but ‘hell, no!’” with the Capitol dome gleaming in the
bright sun behind him, the noontime rally took on a sharper edge of anger and
frustration. Waving signs saying “Jobs Not Cuts,” “We’ve Sacrificed
Enough,” and “Hands Off Social Security” over 1,500 AFGE and AFSCME
members – joined by CWA, IATSE, the Painters and more – roared their support
as their leaders castigated Congress for failing to pass a budget, threatening
government services and jobs. “It doesn’t matter what colors you wear
today,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders as he looked out on the crowd
dominated by AFSCME green and AFGE blue. “We stand in solidarity as one, for
the families who depend on us across the country. Because somebody has to stand
up…and today that somebody is you!” You could have heard a pin drop on the
muddy ground as Florida nurse Michelle Warner, a Desert Storm vet, shared the
story of how government health insurance saved her son’s life. “Medicaid,
Medicare and Social Security make our lives bright and better,” Warner said. AFL-CIO President Rich
Trumka, who said that “sequestration is just a long word to hide a very bad
idea,” and finished the rally by saying “This is our country. We built it
and we’re going to take it back!” The chant of “Take it back!” echoed
off the walls of the Capitol as the crowd – most of whom came from AFGE and
AFSCME legislative conferences -- headed in to lobby their elected leaders. -
report/photos by Chris Garlock