Grijalva Leads House Committee Fight Against Keystone XL Pipeline

Watch Southern Arizona Congressman Raul Grijalva debunks claims related to construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.

"There will be no lasting impact on the energy independence question for the American people," he said.

Ashley Sanders of Move to Amend Speaking in Tucson, May 26

Are you tired of corporations running our elections with dark money donations? Join the Move to Amend movement!

On Sunday, May 26, the Unitarian Universalist Church of Tucson will host a Move to Amend presentation by activist Ashley Sanders. 

Here is the background from the national Move to Amend website...

Ashley Sanders is touring the country for Move to Amend in an effort to build connections, inspire activism, and reveal the origins of corporate power in America.

Ashley Sanders is a long-time community activist from Salt Lake City, Utah. She began political work doing campus organizing against the Bush administration and then worked to build third parties as the Nader spokesperson in 2008. She worked for Democracy Unlimited (a Move to Amend Founding Organization) in 2009 and helped to form the Move to Amend coalition. She founded the Salt Lake affiliate of Move to Amend and serves on the National Leadership Team.

Move to Amend is a national coalition of over 280,000 people and organizations whose goal is to amend the US Constitution to end corporate rule and get money out of politics.

Sanders tells the history of the American Constitution as it pertains to Corporate Personhood and illegitimate but legal corporate constitutional rights, followed by facilitated discussion/Q and A. "Organizing to End Corporate Rule & Get Money Out of Politics" aims to help local folks understand how they can work to abolish corporate personhood and establish a government of, by, and for the people.

This event is free and open to the general public, donations appreciated, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. The UU church is located at 4831 E. 22nd St. in Tucson.

https://movetoamend.org/events/tucson-az-move-amend-barnstorming-tour-ashley-sanders

Here is a link to this event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/573962069314743/

PDA to Congress: 'Austerity Is Not an Option'

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) members visited roughly 200 Congressional offices nationwide on May 15 with an urgent message for their representatives: "Austerity is not an option."   In addition, 2,000 PDA members called their Congressional representatives yesterday, and PDA/Robin Hood Tax supporters held demonstrations in San Francisco and Fresno. Over the past year, PDA's monthly letter drop campaign has mushroomed from a handful of offices visited to nearly half of Congress.

Once again, here in Tucson, PDA  visited the office of Representative Ron Barber. Once again, we asked him to back the Financial Speculation Tax (AKA the Robin Hood Tax) which would charge a tiny fee for every Wall Street transaction, stop speculative minute-by-minute computerized trading, bring stability to the financial markets, and generate billions of dollars for our economy. Once again, we asked him to protect the middle class, the veterans, and the poor by protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Mr. Barber, aren't there more regular folks in CD 2 than bankers? Why would you protect Wall Street-- and not your constituents?

The only thing I can say to you is, "We're not giving up, and we're not going away."

March on May 1: International Workers Day of Justice & Dignity

It's May Day in Tucson

MARCH FOR IMMIGRANT AND WORKERS' RIGHTS!

On International Workers Day March for Justice and Dignity for Immigrants' and Workers' Rights on Wednesday, May 1st.

Gather at 9 AM at St. John's Church (12th and Ajo Way). March at 10 AM to rally at Rudy Garcia Park (Irvington and Old Nogales Hwy).

We demand:

• Worker and union rights for all.
• Stop the deportations
• No more deaths in the desert and border patrol violence
• Immigration reform for all 11 million.
• Repeal SB1070.
• End border militarization.
• Unite - don't separate families.
• Stop criminalization of migrants.

The march and rally are sponsored by May 1st Coalition, Derechos Humanos, Tucson Dreamers, Salt of the Earth Labor College, Alliance for Global Justice, Jobs with Justice, CPUSA, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) Tucson Chapter, and other groups. For More Info call 520-770-1373 or info@tucsonmay1st.org Tucson May 1st Coalition for Immigrant & Worker Rights.

Bus Riders' Union vs Developers: Should Tucson "Develop" the Ronstadt Transit Center?

For years, developers have been eyeing the Ronstadt Transit Center on Congress Street for redevelopment. This idea was raised again in late 2012. In February, the Tucson City Council decided (once again) not to move the Ronstadt Transit Center out of downtown (a move which developers have been pushing for for years). Instead, the council decided to open a 60-90 day public comment period, collect input, and determine what should be done about redevelopment.

The above video was shot at a public forum sponsored by the Bus Riders' Union. Approximately 250-300 citizens packed the Rialto Theater for this event.

For more background, check out this story: Ronstadt Transit Center: City, Developers Ponder Proverbial Political Football (video)

John Nichols on Greed and Austerity

John Nichols, columnist for The Nation and regular commentator on MSNBC, addressed a packed house at the Tucson IBEW Hall in March. The event was jointly sponsored by PDA Tuson and the Pima Area Labor Federation.

Above is a video excerpt from his talk. For more details, check out this story:

John Nichols: Don’t Let the ‘Crooks’ Roll Back Years of Progress (video)

PDA Tucson and PALF leaders pose with John Nichols (left to right): Pamela Powers Hannley, James Hannley, Alison McCloed, Dustin Cox, Laura Hogan, John Nichols, Linda Hatfield, Michael Gordy, Barbara Warrne, and Rick Graap.

Sights & Scenes from the People's Inauguration in DC (video)

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) sponsored the People's Inauguration in Washington DC over the weekend of the presidential inauguration. Activists, progressive leaders, and elected officials participated. Alison McLeod, Southern Arizona PDA organizer, was there. Here is a series of nine videos that she created from this event.

A Picture of PDA
John Nichols of The Nation orchestrates a photo of today's American progressive movement.

Rev. Jesse Jackson on the War on Poverty
"The political season is over - now we have work to do." Speaking at a Progressive Democrats of America conference in Washington, D.C., renowned civil rights, political and religious leader Jesse Jackson reminds us that the real work of social and economic change happens when people put their boots on the ground.