Americans stage massive protest

US: Protesters gathered at Pershing Square, Saturday, in response to the Wisconsin Legislature’s approval of a bill that curtails the collective bargaining rights of many unions.

Many people from different religious and civil rights organizations also joined the protesters, urging the American government to stop the war on workers and focus on fixing the economy.

Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa, secretary treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor Maria Elena Durazo, and president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Wisconsin Mahlon Mitchell were among the speakers of the rally.

The Pershing Square protest was one of the largest demonstrations of unions in Los Angeles since the protests in began in Wisconsin in mid-February. It is also one of the many similar movements that took place across the country in what has been dubbed “Solidarity Saturday.”

Organizers say this massive call to action is meant to stop more states from taking rights away from union workers and to teach the public about the importance of unions. Demonstrators also criticized Washington for getting involved in the war against Libya, saying that the reason behind such action was not clear and that it could damage the relations with other countries.

American workers expressed their frustration at the lack of government and media attention to jobs and economy, stressing that the focus has now been shifted to Libya despite all the hardships still facing the people at home.

Presstv