Press Release

RNs to Hold Candlelight Vigils, Protests in 20 U.S. Cities

Call on Congress, White House – No Fiscal Cliff Cuts in Vital Programs
Nurses Also Sponsor Bus Ads in Washington, Billboards Across Country

Nurses across the nation are turning up the heat on Congress and the White House with candlelight vigils and other actions in some 20 cities, beginning in Chicago on Thursday, December 6 and continuing across the U.S. Monday, December 10.

The actions, which National Nurses United is sponsoring or joining, will press the case to oppose cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid during the “fiscal cliff” negotiations in Washington.

Actions are planned in California, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Texas, with events in other states pending. RNs are joining with labor, senior, and scores of community activists in insisting on no increase in the eligibility age or cuts in benefits.

Nurses will also be calling for Congress and the White House to pass a tax on Wall Street speculation, the Robin Hood tax, to raise critically needed revenue for economic recovery.

Concurrently, NNU is featuring ads now visible on Metro buses throughout Washington, and on billboards in several states with the message “Don’t Push Seniors Off The ‘Fiscal Cliff’ – Tax Wall Street.”

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NNU bus and billboard ads now on display

On the fiscal cliff showdown, “raising the age for Medicare or Social Security, delays in cost of living increases, or cuts in benefits, three of the approaches proposed by some in Washington, would severely harm the seniors and low and moderate income families who have suffered the most from the economic crisis, which continues in Main Street communities across America,” said Deborah Burger, co-president of the 185,000-member NNU.

“Wall Street’s agenda, of more punishing cuts for working people, and more handouts for the banks, who are the main beneficiaries of policies that put debt payments ahead of protecting seniors and working families, was roundly rejected by voters in November. Let’s not hand Wall Street the victory they lost at the polls. Instead, it is time to hold the bankers and speculators accountable, and levy a small tax on their reckless behavior to help rebuild the economy they did so much to wreck, Burger said.

Actions are planned in California, Florida, Illinois (event held Dec. 6), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Texas, with events in other states pending. RNs are joining with labor, senior, and scores of community activists in insisting on no increase in the eligibility age or cuts in benefits.

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Photo from Chicago action on Dec.6, 2012.

PDF flyers linked for confirmed locations below

Monday, December 10 (additional locations pending)

Austin, TX: 4-6 p.m., Chase Bank building (Senate offices housed there), 221 W. Sixth St.

Bakersfield, CA: 4-6 p.m., Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s office, 4100 Empire Drive, Suite 150

Bangor, ME: 10 a.m. press conference, 5:30PM candlelight vigil, Sen. Susan Collins ‘ office, 202 Harlow Street, Room 204

Boston, MA: 4-6 p.m., Sen. John Kerry ‘s, office, One Bowdoin Square, #10

Campbell, CA: 4-6 p.m., Rep. Mike Honda’s office, 1999 S. Bascon Ave., Suite 815

Concord, CA: 4-6 p.m., Rep. George Miller’s office, 1333 Willow Pass Rd., Suite 203

Duluth, MN: time to be announced, Rep. Chip Cravaack’s office

Fresno, CA: 4-6 p.m., Rep. Jim Costa’s office, 855 M. St., Suite 940

Gold River, CA: 4-6 p.m., Rep. Dan Lungren’s office, 2339 Gold Meadow Way, Suite 220

Rockville, MD: 4-6 p.m., Rep. Chris Van Hollen’s office, 51 Monroe St., Suite 507

Kalamazoo, MI: 4-6 p.m., Rep. Fred Upton’s office, 157 South Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 180

Los Angeles, CA: 4-6 p.m., Rep. Henry Waxman’s office, 8436 W. Third St., Suite 600

New York, NY: 4-6 p.m., Offices of Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand 780 3rd Ave. New York City

Orange, CA: 4-6 p.m., Rep. Ed Royce’s office, 1110 E. Chapman Ave., Suite 207

San Francisco, CA: 4-6 p.m., Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s office, 90 7th St., Suite 2-800

Seminole, FL: 4-6 p.m., Rep. Bill Young’s office, 9210 113th St.

St. Louis, MO: 12 noon, starting at the SSA offices,  5669 Delmar Blvd then marching to Sen. Claire McCaskills office, 5850 Delmar Blvd, Suite A

Kansas City, MO: 4:00 pm The office of Congressman Emanuel Cleaver 101 W 31st St.

Stockton, CA:  4-6 p.m., Rep. Jerry McNerney’s office, 2222 Grand Canal Blvd., Suite 7

Vista, CA:  4-6 p.m., Rep. Darrell Issa’s office, 1800 Thibodo Rd., Suite 310