Demonstrators Put Spotlight on 'Work That Needs Doing'

A group of about 40 people gathered in the cold wind near the Jefferson Street bridge in downtown Joliet Thursday as part of a national day of action, declaring an “economic emergency for the 99 percent.”

Held at bridges across the nation that have been designated as structurally unsound, the demonstrations were inspired by Work That Needs Doing, a project whose mission is to put Americans back to work repairing the country’s infrastructure and meeting America’s education, healthcare and clean-energy needs.

“In virtually every community you’ll see work that needs doing, states the group's website, workthatneedsdoing.org. “Rundown schools. Crumbling bridges. Neglected parks, recreation centers and playgrounds. Buildings that need to be more energy efficient. Energy sources that need to be more environment friendly.”

Work That Needs Doing has gathered support from organizations such as the American Dream Movement, Campaign for America’s Future, Center for Community Change, Change to Win, MoveOn.org, the National Employment Law Project, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), USAction and We Are One.

According to a Nov. 16 press release from SEIU Healthcare Illinois and Indiana, the protest at the Jefferson Street bridge would be about more than just infrastructure.

“After votes by Congress to block the President’s jobs plan, and on the eve of the Super Committee’s recommendations to enact more job-killing budget cuts, unemployed workers and local residents will declare an “Economic Emergency for the 99 Percent” on Thursday, November 17 and march across the Jefferson Street Bridge, calling on Congress to create jobs, stop cuts, and make Wall Street banks pay,” the press release said.

Bullhorn in hand, Twila Yednock, a representative of the Illinois Valley branch of MoveOn.org in Ottawa, encouraged protesters to fight back “every day” and call their representatives in Congress, especially Adam Kinzinger, U.S. Representative for the 11^th Congressional District.

“Who does he (Kinzinger) think he is — signing a (no tax) pledge to Grover Norquist and ignoring his constituents?” Yednock asked the crowd.

As demonstrators marched across the Jefferson Street bridge, several protesters tossed a large banner over the side of the structure. As the banner unfurled, the words aimed at Kinzinger became clear: “Adam: Fix Our Bridges! Jobs, Not Cuts!”

Holding a handmade sign stating, “Wake Up America — Remember the Bill of Our Rights,” Clarice Hearne of Joliet said she came to the demonstration to exercise her First Amendment rights.

Hearne walked through the crowd, urging fellow demonstrators to sign a petition to overturn a recent controversial Supreme Court’s decision commonly known as “Citizens United, ”which, in essence, says the government may not ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections.

“What is happening to our civil liberties?” Hearne asked. “We need to have the right to express ourselves. It’s really important that we keep at it.”