4/5: Participate in Fight Back USA National and Local Teach-In and Webcast

From Teach-In Organizers:
The courageous actions by the citizens in Wisconsin are an inspiring defense of the core values of this country: a civil society based on freedom of association, healthy and stable communities that value public services and the public good.

The outpouring of support nationally shows the possibilities for challenging deepening economic inequality and political marginalization of the majority of the American people. We are on the cusp of a great movement to resist and roll-back the corporate domination by banks, energy companies and war profiteers.

To join that movement and escalate the activism planned in the days, weeks and months ahead, participate in a “National Teach-in on Debt, Austerity and How People Are Fighting Back." The live webcast Teach-In will be streamed on Tuesday, April 5th, from the Judson Memorial Church in New York City, beginning at 12:00 Noon MDT.

Social justice experts and activists from around the country, including economist JEFFREY SACHS of Columbia University; HEATHER McGHEE of Demos; and RICHARD TRUMKA President of the AFL-CIO, will be hosted by moderators FRANCES FOX PIVEN and CORNEL WEST in New York City through a live webcast. The webcast will also feature activist reports on Wisconsin, teacher unions and anti-forclosure movement.

In Albuquerque, join members of the New Mexico Health Equity Working Group (NMHEWG) for the webcast of the national TEACH-IN from 12 Noon to 1:30 PM (MDT). The event, co-sponsored by the MPH program and the New Mexico Health Equity Working Group, will take place at the University of New Mexico in the Domenici Center Room 2112. Contact Victoria Sanchez at visanchez@salud.unm.edu or Kristine Suozzi at kosuozzi@yahoo.com if you have questions.

You can also participate by organizing a Teach-In on your campus or in your community by contacting fightbackteachin@gmail.com and registering your event at www.fightbackteachin.org/. Also see this Facebook page for more info.

As we are seeing every day, Wall Street Banks, American corporations and their political allies have declared a one-sided war on the American people. This war is being waged at our schools and colleges, on public employee unions, in our workplaces and  in our communities.

Today, Americans are working harder and earning less while corporate profits soar. Homeowners, consumers and students are seeing their wealth being stripped away by banks. Our government plunges into debt waging trillion dollar wars. Meanwhile, our infrastructure erodes, climate change proceeds unchecked, our schools, daycare centers, senior facilities, clinics, parks and emergency services are all starved while corporations and elites get billions in tax breaks.

“Austerity” policies falsely suggest that spending on social needs is the reason why governments-- at all levels-- are facing massive budget short falls. NO! Our debt and deficit problems are a direct result of corporate tax breaks and extortionist bank practices that have lead to a scandalous and unprecedented transfer of wealth -- from hardworking Americans to the richest segments of US society.

Photo by M.E. Broderick.