America in Solidarity - Events

4th Annual Tacoma-Pierce County Labor Day Picnic a big success

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 19:54:04 -0400

Despite the unseasonably cool weather, our 4th annual Tacoma-Pierce County Labor Day Picnic at Wright Park was a big hit. This year's event featured musical act Loose Gravel and the Quarry, along with the union tug-o-war contest, kid's games and a free bbq. The team from ILWU Local #23 defeated the Postal Carriers for the tug-o-war trophy and was a featured story in the Tacoma News Tribune. Local and state politicians including Darcy Burner, John Ladenburg, Jim McIntire, Steve Conway, Tami Green, Calvin Goings, Troy Kelley, Tim Farrell, Rob Cerqui, Debi Srail and Dawn Morrell were present. An estimated 400 people enjoyed the fun, music and free bbq.

Woolsey: "Grassroots is the key"

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:51:09 -0500

Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, called for a call to action for progressives to fill the vacuum with goodness.

"Grassroots action is the key, it must start on the ground," Woolsey said in her keynote address at America In Solidarity' s NW Progressive Convention on November 10. "We must be more visible and we must reach out to independents and Republicans that agree with us."

Woolsey's keynote hit on Iraq, poverty, war and moral leadership and set the tone for a day that included addresses by Congressman Adam Smith, retired General Paul Eaton, and panels and workshops on civil liberites, clean elections, trade, immigration and health care. Woolsey's and Smith's presentations were taped by TV Washington and can be seen online. In the presidential straw poll, Congressman Dennis Kucinich won 51% of the votes and far outdistanced John Edwards and Barack Obama who tied at 18%.

Great turnout for our 3rd Annual Labor Day Picnic

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:04:00 -0400

America In Solidarity's 3rd Annual Tacoma-Pierce County Labor Day Picnic might have been our best yet. A perfectly pleasant 70 degree day, clear skies, labor-based activism and a thrilling finale to the union Tug-o-War contest all added to a great day.

Clad in powder blue t-shirts, the tug-o-war team from NALC #130 (Postal Carriers) defeated the two-time defending champions from IBEW Local #76. The final match lasted for several minutes and could have gone either way, but the spirit and teamwork of the Postal Carrier team proved its worth.

An estimated 500 people attended the event at Tacoma's Wapato Park. Bob Wickline and his family band provided entertainment on the main stage while volunteers from ILWU Local #23 grilled hot dogs at the free bbq. Several politicians (and AIS pledge signers) including Councilmember Calvin Goings, Pacific Mayor Richard Hildreth, State Representatives Dawn Morrell and Steve Conway and Congressional candidate Darcy Burner signed a pledge to support the Employee Free Choice Act in a public ceremony.

May Day Rally, Event a Success

Sun, 14 May 2006 13:59:26 -0400

Nearly 300 people gathered in Tacoma’s People’s Park for a May Day rally about worker’s and immigrant’s rights.

Teaming up with Centro Latino, America In Solidarity helped promote the rally that drew from the labor, immigrant and faith communities to point out that all workers have rights and that the proposed legislation in Congress to address the growing immigration problem severely limits worker’s and human rights of millions.

“Immigrant rights are about worker’s rights which are about human rights,” America In Solidarity president told the crowd. Other speakers included Tacoma City Council member (and AIS pledge-signee) Bill Evans, Centro Latino’s Executive Director Julio Quan, Associated Ministries’ David Alger and Pierce County Building Trades President Mark Martinez along with several students that led teach-ins at the area high schools.

May Day Celebration and March

Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:31:51 -0400

Two great events will happen on May Day (May 1st) in Tacoma. There will be a march for worker's rights from 3-5:30 starting at First United Methodist Church (423 MLK Way) to the Federal Courthouse (21st in Pacific) to demonstrate solidarity among workers.

Then... America In Solidarity is proud to sponsor its third annual Tacoma-Pierce County May Day Celebration. This year's event will take place from 7-9pm at the ILWU Hall in Fife (1306 Alexander Ave between Highway 509 and Pacific Highway South).

This year's event will feature Congressman Adam Smith, performances by The Ragin' Grannies and spoken word artist Zeek Green and free food and drink. The event is free and will celebrate labor's past, present and future. For more info contact America In Solidarity at 253-471-1123. Come to one or both!

Town Hall Discussion with Congressman Adam Smith

Mon, 09 Jan 2006 10:59:57 -0500

Across the country on January 7 2006, town halls convened across the country to discuss America's occupation of Iraq. One of the largest turnouts occurred in Tacoma, WA as America In Solidarity was proud to host Congressman Adam Smith. Nearly 400 people turned out for the event that featured an hour-and-a-half discussion with the congressman followed by a series of "Action Workshops" and a concert featuring Bob Wickline.

The "Action Workshops" included a panel about labor and the war, a "Citizens Toolkit" (how to write your congressman, a letter to the editor, etc) and counter recruitment in our schools. The event took place at Tacoma’s First United Methodist Church and America In Solidarity wants to thank the church and Bob Collier for hosting us.

Special thanks to the Micah Project of First United Methodist Church and the Tacoma Progressive Roundtable in helping to organize the event and AM 1090 for helping publicize the event.

Living wages and sustainable communities

Sun, 20 Nov 2005 10:52:19 -0500

America In Solidarity co-founder Todd Iverson recently addressed the City Club of Tacoma about responsible companies and living wages. Read his speech here...

City Club Speech

November 10, 2005

Living Wages, Responsible Companies and Sustainable Communities

A living wage is more than a minimum wage; it could be defined as the minimum wage one needs to earn to escape poverty. In 2003, 36 million Americans were living below the established poverty line of $18,810 for a family of four. Included in those totals were 18 million children.

Town Hall Forum about the Iraq War and Its Toll on Working Families

Thu, 20 Oct 2005 12:01:43 -0400

Iraq War Forum

Over 700 people attended the America In Solidarity sponsored forum "Iraq War and Its Toll on Working Families" on Sunday, October 9. Congressmen Jim McDermott and Jay Inslee, Air America talk show hosts Thom Hartmann and Rachel Maddow, and Gold Star Families for Peace Nadia McCaffrey, Annette Pritchard and Karen Meredith all spoke about the war and its costs.

The event took place at Seattle’s Town Hall and was co-sponsored by AM 1090 and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The diverse, energetic crowd was responsive and enthusiastic and America In Solidarity is thrilled to further the debate about this quagmire in the Middle East. Perhaps the call to action in the state of Washington will rumble all the way to the other Washington.

As the war continues to linger, America In Solidarity has become more and more active in pointing out that the human and monetary costs of the war are devastating to working families. Imagine the level of health care that could be provided if we were spending money on medicine and bombs? The war has also distracted the public’s attention from the offensive the Bush Administration has leveled at working families through their attacks on unions, reduction in OHSA regulations, and legislative that weakens worker’s rights.

Labor Day 2005

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 11:42:17 -0400

Hamburgers, hot dogs, kid’s sack races and an old-fashioned union tug-o-war contest highlighted the first Labor Day celebration at Tacoma’s Wright’s Park sponsored by America In Solidarity. It was the first organized Labor Day event for labor in the Tacoma-Pierce County area in many years.

Over 400 people attended the event that also featured a free bbq, speeches from local politicians and roving music from Hot Cargo. Helping co-sponsor the event was the ILWU, IBEW, AFSCME, OPEIU and the Roofer’s Union.

The team from IBEW Local #76 proved victorious in capturing the first tug-o-war contest in which should start an annual tradition for working families in the Tacoma-Pierce County area.

Pictured is the winning tug-o-war team from IBEW Local #76.

May Day 2004

Thu, 20 May 2004 11:40:38 -0400

For the first time in generations, the Tacoma-Pierce County area celebrated May Day’s origin of labor with a rally at the ILWU Hall in Fife. Over 150 people attended for a volunteer-prepared dinner of bbq chicken and spareribs, to support the UFCW workers in their hour of need and to celebrate the past and future victories of labor.

The America In Solidarity-led event was co-sponsored by several local unions and featured several energetic speakers. Ottilie Markholt, an 88-year-old historian and local labor leader, discussed the origin of May Day. Tacoma Mayor Bill Baarsma then spoke about the past history of labor unions in the area.

The theme of the evening was to look at May Day’s past but also to look at the attack upon America’s working families on May Day 2004. Terry Qunell, a 30+year member of the UFCW talked about the current grocery worker struggle. He was then followed by thundering speeches from State Rep. Steve Conway and the ILWU’s Joe Wenzl about the current attack on labor. State Rep. Mike Cooper, who is running for Commissioner of State Lands and Pierce County Labor Council’s Secretary-Treasurer Patty Rose followed with rousing conclusions on corporate greed and what must be done to stop it.

Caucus Training

Thu, 05 Feb 2004 10:43:28 -0500

On February 2, 2004 America In Solidarity hosted a presidential forum and caucus training. Representatives from the Kerry, Dean, Clark and Kucinich presidential campaigns gave short presentations about why their man best represents America's working families. America In Solidarity’s Todd Iverson then presented a caucus training, demonstrating how the procedure works and how to best “politic” to maximize delegates.

The event which took place at the ILWU Hall in Fife, WA prepared future delegates for the Washington State Caucus on February 7th. NPR Radio covered the event and over 50 individuals participated. The “mock” caucus broke the participants up into two precincts that awarded a total of fifteen delegates. After some great debates and practice, the delegate total was determined to be 9 for Dennis Kucinich, 5 for John Kerry and one for Howard Dean.