Sanders, Clinton, Electeds Join CWA Picket Lines

On Day One of the Verizon strike, more than 27,000 people jammed Washington Square Park in New York City for a "Bernie Sanders for President" rally. Front and center were 150 Verizon strikers, and CWA President Chris Shelton who said working people were supporting Bernie Sanders because they want a president who will stand up for them and for keeping good jobs in the U.S.

President Shelton speaks at the Sanders rally in New York City.

Earlier that day, Sanders joined a crowd of 2,000 CWA Verizon and Verizon Wireless workers and supporters on the picket line in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Day One of the strike (watch below) and met with stewards and members of CWA Local 1122 in Buffalo before the strike, telling them, "I want to thank you for standing up to the outrageous greed of Verizon and corporate America. When you do that, you're not just standing up for your own members – you're standing up for working people all over this country."

Hillary Clinton shows her support for striking workers.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton stopped by a Verizon Wireless store picket line on West 42nd St., in Manhattan. She issued this statement: "I am disappointed to learn that negotiations have broken down between Verizon and their workers, represented by the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Verizon should come back to the bargaining table with a fair offer for their workers."

Elected officials joined CWA members on picket lines and at rallies in many locations, including Brooklyn and Suffolk County, N.Y.; Newark, N.J.; Dover, DE, and many Maryland and Virginia sites. Read more at http://standuptoverizon.com and the StandUp2VZ Facebook page.