LISTEN: Activists march to Springfield in effort to demand budget

Posted on May 23, 2017
Marchers left Chicago on May 15. (Photo Courtesy: Fair Economy Illinois)

 

By Sam Wood

Activists are embarking on a 15-day, 200 mile march from Chicago to Springfield in an effort to demand an end to the state’s historic budget crisis.

The group – organized by Fair Economy Illinois – is passing through the Bloomington-Normal area Wednesday, May 23 and will host a listening session at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Bloomington on Wednesday evening at 7:00.

Samantha Nichols is a leader with the group. She spoke with WJBC’s Sam Wood on Monday.

Listen below: 

Sam Wood can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…