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March Spotlights Poverty in Appalachia
CWA members and leaders were a key part of the "March for Appalachia," organized by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the AFL-CIO, CWA and other unions, to focus attention on the citizens throughout the region who are not sharing in the nation's prosperity.
The 13-stop bus tour through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio ended with a rally and march in Nelsonville, Ohio. CWA Vice Presidents Brooks Sunkett and Jeff Rechenbach, and several busloads of CWA officers, staff and members from Districts 1 and 2 joined Jackson at the final stop, with CWA members also among those meeting with Jackson at stops along the way.
"Close the gaps, leave no one behind," was the call as participants met with working families, students, religious organizations and others throughout the four-state region. The region suffers from poverty and high levels of unemployment - as high as 15 percent - and low levels of education funding and attainment.
In the past, efforts to help working people in Appalachia "have been piecemeal," Jackson said. "In Russia, when the ruble falls, we assume something is wrong with the system and come in with a system plan. But for the people in the hills of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, we assume something is wrong with them. We need to help these most hard-working Americans," he stressed.
The rally brought together political and religious activists who often are on differing sides of political issues. But all agreed on the need to "leave no American behind," Jackson said. Rev. Jerry Falwell, activist/actor Martin Sheen, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, country singer Willie Nelson, Sunkett and Rechenbach were among those addressing the crowd of 3,000 at Hocking College, the rally site and end of the bus tour.
From the opening event in Pittsburgh until the final stop in Nelsonville, the message was the same: the problems of the poorest Americans, whether they live in the inner cities or the hills of Appalachia, are not being addressed. The nation must shift its focus to affordable housing, lack of health care, failing public schools and the need for good jobs - the real problems that are facing millions of citizens, Jackson said.
"We seek to bring dignity, jobs and justice to Appalachia. We're blessed enough and we're fortunate enough that we should share America's growth with all of its people," Jackson told the crowd.
The coalition will continue to press for more jobs and investment in the region and has met with economic development groups to plan for such investment.
The 13-stop bus tour through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio ended with a rally and march in Nelsonville, Ohio. CWA Vice Presidents Brooks Sunkett and Jeff Rechenbach, and several busloads of CWA officers, staff and members from Districts 1 and 2 joined Jackson at the final stop, with CWA members also among those meeting with Jackson at stops along the way.
"Close the gaps, leave no one behind," was the call as participants met with working families, students, religious organizations and others throughout the four-state region. The region suffers from poverty and high levels of unemployment - as high as 15 percent - and low levels of education funding and attainment.
In the past, efforts to help working people in Appalachia "have been piecemeal," Jackson said. "In Russia, when the ruble falls, we assume something is wrong with the system and come in with a system plan. But for the people in the hills of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, we assume something is wrong with them. We need to help these most hard-working Americans," he stressed.
The rally brought together political and religious activists who often are on differing sides of political issues. But all agreed on the need to "leave no American behind," Jackson said. Rev. Jerry Falwell, activist/actor Martin Sheen, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, country singer Willie Nelson, Sunkett and Rechenbach were among those addressing the crowd of 3,000 at Hocking College, the rally site and end of the bus tour.
From the opening event in Pittsburgh until the final stop in Nelsonville, the message was the same: the problems of the poorest Americans, whether they live in the inner cities or the hills of Appalachia, are not being addressed. The nation must shift its focus to affordable housing, lack of health care, failing public schools and the need for good jobs - the real problems that are facing millions of citizens, Jackson said.
"We seek to bring dignity, jobs and justice to Appalachia. We're blessed enough and we're fortunate enough that we should share America's growth with all of its people," Jackson told the crowd.
The coalition will continue to press for more jobs and investment in the region and has met with economic development groups to plan for such investment.