From
June 14-17 organizers held a PEOPLE’s Summit and tent City in
Detroit to present alternative fightback program for economic
recovery. It was four days of active resistance to foreclosures,
evictions, mass layoffs, war and repression.
The PEOPLE raised
strategies for a Declaration of a State of Economic Emergency both
statewide and federally, with a moratorium on foreclosures,
evictions and utility shut-offs.
On Monday
the PEOPLE marched to the Renaissance Center to confront the
National Summit of CEOs and Bankers taking place. Activists let
the corporations and banks know that they are responsible for the
worst crisis since the Great Depression. And the people, not the
bankers must provide a solution to the problems of foreclosures,
plant closings, school closings and environmental degradation.
Later that evening the
youth held a Youth Concert and Rally to Stop the “War on Drugs” and
Police Brutality.
On Tuesday morning people with disabilities led a disability rights
march. Later, laid-off and retired autoworkers led a march to the GM
Headquarters. CEO of American Axle, Richard Dauch, and
ex-Governor John Engler addressed the business summit on the future
of manufacturing.
Activists demanded that they Stop the Plant Closings by General
Motors, Chrysler and American Axle and Enforce the Full Employment
Act of 1978.
Later that day the people discussed strategies for keeping plants
open and stopping permanent lay-offs. They ended the day with a
rally to stop the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Throughout the summit,
there were videotaped testimony and people’s speak-outs on how the
crisis affected them. And people submitted ideas for the People’s
Stimulus Plan and Economic Bill of Rights.
The
People's Summit was endorsed by over 40 organizations from around
the US. People pitched tents at Grand Circus Park and set up
literature tables there.
From the Summit Press Release:
The
recent announcements that General Motors and Chrysler are utilizing
the tens of billions of dollars in government funds they have just
received to shut plants and lay-off tens of thousands of workers is
outrageous and illegal.
The Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1978 states
that the federal government must use all programs and policies to
promote full employment. The bosses and banks caused the current
economic crisis, not the workers. They should be axed.
Let the workers stay on their jobs via a short workweek to
spread the work. Or let them retool the plants for modern vehicles
or mass transit which is so desperately needed.
We need international solidarity of all workers to stop the
exporting of jobs by raising living standards worldwide.
Declare a State of Emergency
The
new wave of plant closings and lay-offs will deepen the economic
catastrophe that is already destroying Michigan. Governor Granholm
must declare a State of Economic Emergency in Michigan pursuant to
MCL 10.31. She must then use her emergency powers to place a
two-year Moratorium on all Foreclosures, Evictions, and Utility
Shut-offs. Such a moratorium existed for 5 years during the last
depression and was declared constitutional by the Michigan and U.S.
Supreme courts.
CONTACT: Moratorium NOW! Coalition to Stop
Foreclosures & Evictions
313.671.3715;
moratorium@moratorium-mi.org
Summer
2009