Furloughed federal workers and those aligned with them protest the partial government shutdown in the Hart Senate Office Building January 23, 2019 in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)
Jan 22, 2019
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates...
Protesting the widespread economic hardship caused by the ongoing shutdown and demanding that the Senate vote to reopen the government, federal workers and their allies gathered inside the Hart Senate Office Building on Wednesday for a 33-minute silent demonstration--one minute for every day the government has been partially closed over President Donald Trump's demand for border wall funding.
"The protest happening right now in the Senate office building is just the start," declared MoveOn.org's Ben Wikler. "Public outrage is spiking. GOP senators are feeling the pressure."
The union-organized demonstration comes as the Senate is set to vote Thursday on two competing measures to reopen the government--a Trump-backed bill that would fund the border wall and a Democratic continuing resolution with no wall money.
\u201cHappening now: In what they\u2019re calling #OccupyHart, federal employee unions are standing silently in the Hart Senate building for 33 minutes - one for every day of the shutdown. @N2Sreports\u201d— Alejandro Alvarez (@Alejandro Alvarez) 1548264138
\u201c33 minutes of silent protest here in Hart Senate Office Building for each day of shutdown. Federal workers from various unions holding plates to show they need to feed their families.\u201d— Kelly O'Donnell (@Kelly O'Donnell) 1548263887
\u201cCrowds gathering the Hart Senate office building to protest the government shutdown. @AFGENational @NFFE_Union\u201d— Nicole Ogrysko (@Nicole Ogrysko) 1548263584
After the silence ended, workers led chants of, "No more food banks! Feds need paychecks!"
\u201c\u201cNo more food banks! Feds need paychecks!\u201d #occupyhart #StoptheShutdown #1u\u201d— AFGE (@AFGE) 1548266073
An Unconstitutional Rampage
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
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This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates...
Protesting the widespread economic hardship caused by the ongoing shutdown and demanding that the Senate vote to reopen the government, federal workers and their allies gathered inside the Hart Senate Office Building on Wednesday for a 33-minute silent demonstration--one minute for every day the government has been partially closed over President Donald Trump's demand for border wall funding.
"The protest happening right now in the Senate office building is just the start," declared MoveOn.org's Ben Wikler. "Public outrage is spiking. GOP senators are feeling the pressure."
The union-organized demonstration comes as the Senate is set to vote Thursday on two competing measures to reopen the government--a Trump-backed bill that would fund the border wall and a Democratic continuing resolution with no wall money.
\u201cHappening now: In what they\u2019re calling #OccupyHart, federal employee unions are standing silently in the Hart Senate building for 33 minutes - one for every day of the shutdown. @N2Sreports\u201d— Alejandro Alvarez (@Alejandro Alvarez) 1548264138
\u201c33 minutes of silent protest here in Hart Senate Office Building for each day of shutdown. Federal workers from various unions holding plates to show they need to feed their families.\u201d— Kelly O'Donnell (@Kelly O'Donnell) 1548263887
\u201cCrowds gathering the Hart Senate office building to protest the government shutdown. @AFGENational @NFFE_Union\u201d— Nicole Ogrysko (@Nicole Ogrysko) 1548263584
After the silence ended, workers led chants of, "No more food banks! Feds need paychecks!"
\u201c\u201cNo more food banks! Feds need paychecks!\u201d #occupyhart #StoptheShutdown #1u\u201d— AFGE (@AFGE) 1548266073
This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates...
Protesting the widespread economic hardship caused by the ongoing shutdown and demanding that the Senate vote to reopen the government, federal workers and their allies gathered inside the Hart Senate Office Building on Wednesday for a 33-minute silent demonstration--one minute for every day the government has been partially closed over President Donald Trump's demand for border wall funding.
"The protest happening right now in the Senate office building is just the start," declared MoveOn.org's Ben Wikler. "Public outrage is spiking. GOP senators are feeling the pressure."
The union-organized demonstration comes as the Senate is set to vote Thursday on two competing measures to reopen the government--a Trump-backed bill that would fund the border wall and a Democratic continuing resolution with no wall money.
\u201cHappening now: In what they\u2019re calling #OccupyHart, federal employee unions are standing silently in the Hart Senate building for 33 minutes - one for every day of the shutdown. @N2Sreports\u201d— Alejandro Alvarez (@Alejandro Alvarez) 1548264138
\u201c33 minutes of silent protest here in Hart Senate Office Building for each day of shutdown. Federal workers from various unions holding plates to show they need to feed their families.\u201d— Kelly O'Donnell (@Kelly O'Donnell) 1548263887
\u201cCrowds gathering the Hart Senate office building to protest the government shutdown. @AFGENational @NFFE_Union\u201d— Nicole Ogrysko (@Nicole Ogrysko) 1548263584
After the silence ended, workers led chants of, "No more food banks! Feds need paychecks!"
\u201c\u201cNo more food banks! Feds need paychecks!\u201d #occupyhart #StoptheShutdown #1u\u201d— AFGE (@AFGE) 1548266073
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