Groups Say U.S. Chamber is Fighting for Policies That Protect Corporate Interests Over Real People
Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 23, 2013. A group of unemployed workers is walking more than 140 miles from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. in order to demand that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce stop blocking efforts to create green jobs. The action, called “Operation Green Jobs,” is supported by The Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign, Shut the Chamber, Public Citizen’s U.S. Chamber Watch program and Move to Amend.
Despite claims that its primary purpose is to create jobs, the U.S. Chamber has spent millions attacking the overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is a reality, including by suing the EPA and by calling for climate science itself to be put on trial.
“Congress focuses on dirty fossil fuels over clean energy alternatives because the U.S. Chamber gets millions from oil companies to lobby Congress,” said Carl Gibson, lead organizer of the Shut The Chamber campaign. “Like Congress, the U.S. Chamber likes to say they speak for us, but their real interest is in serving the multinational corporations who fund their activities.”
The groups said that in addition to blocking the growth of green jobs, the U.S. Chamber is fighting to enact a dangerous corporate-sponsored agenda of upward wealth redistribution through tax cuts for the rich and cuts to programs that serve the poor.
“There are 40 schools closing in Philadelphia, and kids’ futures and communities are being destroyed by austerity,” Cheri Honkala, national organizer for the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign. “My 10 year-old son Guillermo is marching with us all the way to DC and carrying signatures from his classmates all demanding an end to the cuts.”
Marchers are also directing their anger at the organization for its lobbying efforts to block job creation in the green energy industry. Many of the businesses stymied by the U.S. Chamber’s efforts are small businesses.
“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent more than $136 million in 2012 to lobby on behalf of giant corporations,” said Jake Parent, coordinator of Public Citizen’s U.S. Chamber Watch project. “It’s time for Congress to stop listening to the corporate voice and instead turn their ears to what Americans really want—a thriving clean energy economy, and the green jobs that come with it.”
The walkers are covering roughly 20 miles a day between May 18th and May 24th. You can find route information at and a daily blog on the group’s progress at http://shut-the-chamber.tumblr.com and http://ppehrc.tumblr.com.
There will be a rally at the headquarters of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Friday, May 24 at 10 am. Unemployed workers will share their stories and others will offer contrasting solutions to help create more jobs and a stronger economy.
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David Swanson’s books include “War Is A Lie.” He blogs at http://davidswanson.org and http://warisacrime.org and works for http://rootsaction.org. He hosts Talk Nation Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @davidcnswanson and FaceBook.
