Democracy Awakening Converges at Capitol

Dozens of APWU officers and staffers joined thousands of labor, civil rights, environmental and political reform groups at the Capitol on April 17 and 18 to participate in the Democracy Awakening. The event was the culmination of more than a week of rallies, teach-ins and non-violent protests calling on the government to expand voting rights and get money out of politics.

Participants are demanding the expansion of the Voting Rights Act and to overturn the Supreme Court’s Citizen United decision, which allows corporations to donate an unlimited amount of money to political candidates without disclosure.

Chris Shelton, president of the Communication Workers of America (CWA), fired up the crowd in front of Union Station before protesters marched to the Capitol. Referring to the 40,000 Verizon workers who are currently on strike, he said, “When you see companies like Verizon make $18 billion in the last 18 months, and use that money to buy politicians, you know our democracy is gone. But all of you are here to do something about that.” 

More than 300 activists were arrested while standing peacefully on the Capitol steps on April 18 for “protesting in an impermissible area.” Cheers of support erupted from the crowd as they were led away to waiting police buses.

“Democracy Awakening was a historic event,” said Executive Vice President Debby Szeredy, who is a member of the organization’s steering committee. Szeredy said she was especially inspired by 25-year-old PSE Josh Luther of the Pittsburgh Metro Area Local, who came by bus on

Sunday to hand out Boycott Staples flyers.

"Every citizen has the right to vote," said APWU Human Relations Director Sue Carney. "We can't sit idly by while corporations buy politicians, steal America's elections, and methodically invoke voter suppression laws to silence the voice of our citizens."

Click here for more photos.

APWU is a member of Democracy Initiative, which organized the event. There are more than 300 member organizations, including the NAACP, Sierra Club, CASA, Public Citizen, and numerous labor organizations. The group’s activities will continue throughout the country in the months to come.  For more information, visit, DemocracyAwakening.org.