Once enemies, now they march together: Organized labor expected to join Wall Street protest

[sce56]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/10/05/2011-10-05_once_enemies_now_they_march.html#ixzz1ZwD8R4q6

Juan Gonzalez - News

Wednesday, October 5th 2011, 4:00 AM

Vietnam War protesters were held in contempt by blue-collar workers, but the Occupy Wall Street economic protesters will ally with organized labor Wednesday.

Organized labor will serve notice today on the bankers and the politicians that the young protesters of Occupy Wall Street speak for millions. Tens of thousands of transit and city workers, teachers, and maintenance and hospital workers are expected to march to Zuccotti Park late today in a show of solidarity. The labor rally will signal just how far unions have come since that infamous day 41 years ago, when bands of construction workers rampaged through the Financial District and City Hall. Back then, the hardhats brutally beat scores of youths protesting the Vietnam War.

Now the young people and the unions are on the same side. "The whole order of things today is absolutely upside down," said John Samuelsen, president of the Transport Workers Union Local 100. "Tax breaks for millionaires, working people suffer, and no jobs for these kids." Establishment critics of the Zuccotti Park events have no clue what is happening. By setting up camp near the scene of Wall Street's still-unpunished crimes, and by persevering round the clock for nearly three weeks, these kids have created a boot camp for social change.

There was, for instance, the wide-eyed couple newly arrived yesterday from Catasauqua, Pa. Colin Muth and Taylor Anderson, both 20, were clutching backpacks and sleeping blankets under their arms. "We came because we've got to do something to reduce the wealth gap," Muth said. "I had to drop out of community college because I can't afford it," Anderson said. "We're here to learn how this is done so we can go back home and occupy Bethlehem." Did they tell their parents before they left home? "Sure," Muth said. "And my dad said, 'Go for it.'"

A day late but still great reporting from Juan Gonzalez who is also on DemocracyNow.org

[Demeter]

1. Proving that Blue Collar May Mean Slow to Change, But Not Stupid

[Jackpine Radical]

2. I think this is even more important than it sounds.

As one who remembers the "Hard Hat" reactions to us DFH antiwar types, I applaud the falling of the barriers that the Ruling Class has for so long used to divide us and render us ineffective. All races, all religions, all of us who work for a living are the 99%, and if we refuse to let them divide us, we must and will win out in the end.

[madrchsod]

3. hell, i remember getting shit from these guys in the 60`s....

then several years later i started noticing a lot of them with long hair. by the mid 80`s everyone was in the same sinking ship so no one cared what the fuck ya looked like.

you know obama made a great speech about those who divide us....

[Jackpine Radical]

4. By the time they were wearing long hair, it had lost its political significance.

If it meant anything, maybe it meant they were doing pot. ("Not," as Seinfeld would hasten to add, (that there's anything WRONG with that…")

And then there's the issue of mullets--but I digress.

[Uncle Joe]

5. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, sce.

P.S. Legalize cannabis.