Street Theater Targets Billionaire Bailout

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Billionaires demanded blank checks from taxpayers on the streets of Washington yesterday in a street theater performance organized by DC Jobs with Justice demanding that Congress pass an economic recovery plan putting people first instead of Wall Street and billionaires. With Congress expected back in town today to consider another vote on the failed bailout plan, "Billionaires for the Bailouts" squared off against taxpayers and activists in the streets outside Bank of America, Citibank and BB&T Bank a few blocks from the White House. As a Congressmember polished the foot of a cash-waving, green-clad billionaire standing on the back of a taxpayer, billionaires clad in top hats and gown chanted "We broke it, you fix it" with friendly Congressmembers, demanding a blank check from taxpayers while evicted homeowners struggled to pay their bills. Just when it looked like the billionaires would win the day, the "Stop Corporate Greed" crusader led taxpayers in shouting down the billionaires and built a "real economic recovery for working people" that included housing, corporate accountability, tax reform, green jobs, healthcare, and pensions. The action was one of dozens of actions organized nationally by Jobs with Justice Tuesday. Activists will meet at 9:45A this morning at the Capitol South Metro station (Blue-Orange line) to perform the street theater again. The AFL-CIO will also host a lunchtime discussion on the bailout today at 12:30P. Click here to watch a video from the action.
- report/photo by Andy Richards