We did it! With the deadline for $1.2 trillion in automatic spending cuts hitting today, on Wednesday we took to the streets to pull the pork from the Pentagon.
From Annapolis and Milwaukee, all the way to Boise, Idaho and Spokane, Washington — all across the country, Americans rose up against our bloated Pentagon budget on Wednesday.
In Columbus, Ohio we had former Rep. Dennis Kucinich join us for a press event and discussion. In Bangor, Maine we delivered your signatures and served pulled pork sandwiches to Senate offices to represent pork in the Pentagon budget. In Nashua, New Hampshire we protested outside the office of Sen. Kelly Ayotte who has fought to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to pay for Pentagon waste. And in Washington, DC, we targeted the lobbying office of Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest defense contractor, to demand an end to wasteful Pentagon spending. And we had a giant 20-foot-tall inflatable pig too!
Click here to check out some great photos from our National Day of Action including pictures of the giant inflatable pig.
We want to extend a thank you to everyone who joined us in taking action Wednesday, along with our amazing affiliates and allies like CREDO Action, Peace Action, AFSC (and many more!) who helped with the groundwork and the turnout. So thank you all for helping out with a successful event!
Our actions gained considerable media attention from local and state to national news. Below is a short list.* And we expect more coverage to come soon for an upcoming documentary in Al Jazeera America.
In an interview with the Washington Post, USAction Program Director Alan Charney was quoted as saying, "We have to stop paying for the things we can’t afford so that we can afford the things our families really need. We have to stop this meat-ax budget-cut approach to our families and communities. Instead, we can pull the pork from the Pentagon and make millionaires and big corporations pay their fair share."
But that’s not all. In the weeks leading up to the big day, some 120 national organizations have signed on to a letter circulated by USAction, Coalition on Human Needs and NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby calling on Congress to rein in wasteful Pentagon spending. And over 100,000 USAction members have called on Congress to rein in wasteful Pentagon spending.
Click here to add your name too.
Now we’re in the home stretch. Today is the deadline for the sequestration cuts to hit. There's a good chance Congress will cave under the enormous pressure to get rid of the automatic cuts to the Pentagon. That's why we need to be prepared to up the pressure and fight back as Congress tries to slash education, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, in order to protect Pentagon pork.
Thanks to everyone who took part in the Pull The Pork National Day of Action. If we stand united together, we can all make a difference.
Check out some news highlights on our National Day of Action from around the country:
1 - "Cut the pork but hold the sequestration, protesters say," Washington Post, February 27, 2013
2 - "Maine organization calls for Defense Budget Cuts," WLBZ Bangor, February 27, 2013
3 - "Keystone Progress, others deliver petition to Tommney," WFMZ TV, February 25, 2013
4 - "ME People's Alliance Asks Congress to 'Pull the Pork' from the Pentagon Budget," WABI TV, February 27, 2013
5 - "Protesters rally at Sen. Toomey's office," UpperSauconPatch, February 26, 2013
6 - "Petitioners looking to 'Pull the Pork' from the Pentagon Budget," Fox 22 Bangor, February 27, 2013
7 - "Sequester Protest," ABC News Wisconsin, February 27, 2013