MIAMI – More than 100 angry Miami-Dade residents and community leaders protested and formed a soup line reminiscent of those during the Great Depression in Coral Gables, disrupting a $10,000/plate Republican fundraiser. In attendance at the dinner were U.S. House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the elite few who could afford the sizeable donation as well as South Florida’s U.S. House delegation, including Reps. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R), Mario Diaz-Balart (R), David Rivera (R), and Allen West (R).
While the elite were rubbing elbows and lining the pockets of the Members of Congress inside, protesters outside were lining up to receive a meager amount of soup to make the point that the majority of Americans are struggling to figure out a way to feed their families and have access to good jobs.
“There are no jobs, I’ve been looking for months,” says Anna Kleinholz, an unemployed teacher. “These politicians only care about the rich and maintaining their cushy D.C. jobs, while we’re out here starving for work and daily necessities! We are tired of hearing about tax breaks and bailouts for the country’s largest corporations. D.C.’s lack of focus on real job creation is beyond frustrating.”
“The latest polls speak for themselves,” said Jose Suarez, communications director for 1Miami. “The country as a whole is sick and tired of politicians caving to lobbyist and Corporate America’s special interest. Banks and big business had their bailout and tax breaks, and look where it got us. Now, it’s time for government to step in and put the people back to work. The middle class is disappearing, and with it our shot at the American Dream.”
Hard-working families around the country and Miami-Dade are tired of the lack of leadership within all levels of government. Tuesday, they wanted to send their elected officials a strong message – this is a government of the people, for the people and by the people. It’s time they start working that they way.
The angst of those Miami-Dade residents protesting was that in the midst of a recession and high unemployment, these South Florida politicians were more concerned with having their pockets lined by the rich than the jobs crisis going on in their own backyard.
1Miami is a new coalition of community groups, neighborhood associations, faith organizations and workers united to bring good jobs to Miami.
