For Immediate Release:
February 29, 2012

Contact: Blair FitzGibbon
202-503-6141

If Romney Wins

Statement by Communication Workers of America Union

"Gov. Romney barely won the Michigan primary, said CWA President Larry Cohen. "He probably doesn't know it, but he’s had a hard time hiding his contempt for working people. He’s been working hard to alienate a big part of the Michigan electorate. And I think he succeeded. Where was Romney on the issues important to families in Michigan? Nowhere. From still insisting that we should have let Detroit “go bankrupt,” despite the amazing success of saving jobs and the industry, to supporting every possible attack on workers’ rights and bargaining rights, Romney makes it clear where he stands. It’s not with rebuilding the middle class. It’s with the 1 percent."

###

CWA, the largest telecommunications union in the world, represents over 700,000 men and women in both private and public sectors, including over half a million workers who are building the Information Highway.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 28, 2012

CONTACTS:
Brett Abrams : 516-841-1105 : brett@fitzgibbonmedia.com
Guillaume Bonnet : guillaume@allout.org

Major Protests at Russian Embassies Around the World As St. Petersburg Adopts Anti-LGBT, Anti-Expression Law

300,000+ Urge St. Petersburg Governor Poltavchenko Not To Sign the Bill Into Law

**LINK TO PHOTOS**

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.377889628905236.99154.169042736456594&type=1

New York, NY — Today, lawmakers in St. Petersburg adopted a bill that would impose fines of up to $16,700 for the “promotion of homosexuality.” The bill, if signed in to law by the City Governor in the next 14 days, will criminalize reading, writing, speaking or reporting on anything related to gay, lesbian bi or trans (LGBT) people. Pride parades, literature, theater, or NGOs that openly serve LGBT people will be criminalized, and pushed underground. Several ruling party's officials have also voiced their interest to push the law nationwide.

On Tuesday, AllOut.org members were joined by dozens of human rights organizations around the world in demonstrations at Russian embassies in Argentina (Buenos Aires), USA (New York), France (Paris), Germany (Berlin and Hamburg), Italy (Milan), Portugal (Lisbon), Belgium (Antwerp) and Brazil (Rio de Janeiro).

In solidarity with the coalition of Russian human rights organizations opposing the law, the flash-mobs delivered 300,000 signatures collected worldwide that demonstrate the level of global opposition to this proposed law, and employ creative visuals sending a loud and clear message to the Governor of Saint Petersburg, who has the power to veto the law: “Don’t Go There Saint Petersburg.”

“This radical law undermines the great legacy of our city’s past and future. If it passes, it would be illegal to mention that famed Russian composer of the 1812 Overture, St. Petersburg native Tchaikovksy, was gay,” said Polina Savchenko, director of Coming Out, an LGBT organization based in St. Petersburg. “This law installs a culture of censorship in what was once Russia’s most cosmopolitan city and is a huge blow to the freedom of expression in Russia. At a time when people all over the world are opening up and coming out, this law puts Russia back in the closet.”

Conservatives in Saint Petersburg insistent on passing the "gay gag rule" have ignored calls from world leaders and the country's own international treaty obligations respecting freedom of expression. But Russia is not immune to global public opinion. The government recently announced that it wants to spend $11 billion dollars in five years to attract international tourists, and Saint Petersburg, Russia's second largest city, thrives on its reputation as Russia's cosmopolitan "window to the west" to attract visitors from around the world.

“This reputation can’t coexist with a new law that will muzzle artists, writers, musicians and regular citizens who live in - or visit - the city,” says AllOut.org Executive Director Andre Banks. “This bill, which would violate Russia's own constitution as well as any number of international treaties, is an outrageous attack on the freedom of expression for all Russians - straight and gay. It must not be allowed to stand.”

PARIS, FRANCE: Guillaume Bonnet, AllOut.org - “Today was a great day of global solidarity for LGBT rights. More than 60 people gathered at the Stavinsky Fountain in front of a giant piece of art, representing a man making a sign of silence. Today we showed, in the face of persecution, we will not be silent.”

PARIS, FRANCE: François Zimeray, the French Ambassador for Human Rights. "I never understood how public figures in the world would decide to forbid people to be who they are and love who they want. Our century is facing other stakes and challenges, and it deserves better! France publicly called the Saint Petersburg's Assembly to ask them to respect the International treaties that Russia signed. It's our honor and duty to closely insure that they are respected."

ANTWERP, BELGIUM: Björn Pius, Outrage - “In Belgium, we are lucky to have protection by law against discrimination. But what happens in Saint-Petersburg shows us that we have to stay vigilant about our rights, for they can be taken away again when we let down our guard. Today, we have not only shown support for the LGBT in Russia, shown our outrage to the policy makers there, but also made a clear sign that we will keep on fighting for our rights and we will not back down.”

NEW YORK, USA: Joseph Huff-Hannon, AllOut.org - “"Two dozen of us dropped in on the Russian Mission to the United Nations at lunchtime, and delivered a strong message with a soundtrack from Tchaikovsky (via boombox), a one-time Saint Petersburg resident - and gay man. Extremists around the world should take note -- our solidarity is global too, and together we will fight tooth and nail for full equality for everyone, everywhere."

MILAN, ITALY: Yuri Gualana, Segretario - “Human rights know no borders and that was what we demonstrated in Milan. There were many passers of different nationalities, genders and ages who stopped to ask why we were there and when we explained them our reasons they decided to join us in support.”

RIO DE JANIERO, BRAZIL: Flavia Sosinho, AllOut.org - “ It was a great moment when the Ambassador himself came downstairs and spoke with us. He was trying to convince us that this anti-gay law was " good for children". But when I asked him if my stepdaughter, who was in this protest with me, would become a lesbian for supporting human rights, he was muted. We delivered him All Out big poster, but it was clear that Russia is still believing in censorship for LGBT people."

The “Gay Propaganda” bill inspired an international outcry when first proposed in the fall of 2011, and over 270,000 around the world have signed AllOut.org’s petition denouncing the initiative (http://www.allout.org/russia_silenced), resulting in European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton committing to take up the issue with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

In less than a week over 65,000 have signed AllOut.org’s “I won’t go there” letter to the Governor of Saint Petersburg: http://www.allout.org/stpetersburg-dont-go

# # # # #

Media Advisory For:
February 29, 2012

Contact: Blair FitzGibbon
202-503-6141

Occupy Wall Street with Occupy Groups in 70 Cities Nationwide Stand up to Corporate Greed and ALEC National Day of Action to Resist the Selling Out of the 99%

On February 29th, concerned citizens, students, and occupiers in over seventy cities across the nation, including Occupy Wall Street (NYC), are standing up to the corporations and legislators involved in American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The biggest corporations in America, including ExxonMobil, Bank of America, BP,Monsanto, Pfizer, and Wal-Mart use ALEC to buy off legislators and craft legislation that puts corporate profit over the well-being of ordinary people. Responding to a national call from Occupy Portland, this will be the OccupyMovement’s largest coordinated action this year and will confront ALEC corporations in the cities in which they do business throughout the nation.

“ALEC, a registered nonprofit with a board of trustees that reads like a Fortune 500 list, allows 1%ers to push legislation representing corporate interests,” said Dana Balicki of Occupy Wall Street. “This is legislation laundering.”

ALEC is comprised of state and federal government legislators and many of America’s biggest corporations. In ALEC task-forces and committees, lobbyists work directly with legislators to draft and advance cookie-cutter “model” bills that serve the interests of the corporations rather than people. ALEC is responsible for some of the most anti-democratic, repressive, and discriminatory legislation to pass through the halls of government. Wisconsin Act 10, attacking public employee unions, mirrors ALEC’s anti-union agenda and was introduced by Governor Scott Walker, an ALEC member from 1993-2002. Arizona’s widely criticized Racial Profiling bill (SB1070) also has roots in ALEC model legislation.

“The public is never informed that a group representing the most privileged people in America are drafting the legislation that disempowers the most vulnerable. The decisions affecting our communities should be made democratically, not through a corrupt system that hides the influence of the very corporations that benefit at our expense. ALEC is representative of a failed system in which profit and greed are dominant over everything else,” said David Osborn of Occupy Portland.

Actions in several of the cities responding to Occupy Portland’s call to Shut Down ALEC Corporations are listed below. For a full list visit http://bit.ly/alecactions.

Coordinated Southern California Action – (LA, Long Beach, Orange County and Riverside)

▪ Actions will target one of the largest Wal-Mart distribution centers in the country in support of non-union warehouse workers.

Occupy Wall Street

▪ Pop-up Occupation at Bryant-Park starting at 9am with teach-in with Matt Taibi; March leaving Bryant Park at noon with creative actions targeting Bank of America, Pfizer, and Koch Brothers

Occupy Salt Lake City

▪ Actions focusing on private prisons, racism, and anti-union aspects of ALEC including a Utah replica of Arizona’s SB 1070; Actions will include a Debutant ball in the capitol.
Coordinated Connecticut Action – (New Haven, Hartford, Darien, New London, Shoreline, Danbury and Willimantic)

▪ Creative actions to target Pfizer and draw attention to the way in which it serves the interests of the 1% while ignoring the health and well-being of people, animals and the earth itself.

Occupy Portland

▪ Rally at SW Ankeny and Waterfront at 11:30; March leaving at 1:00 with creative direct actions targeting ALEC corporations throughout the city.
Occupy Phoenix

▪ There will be a rally at State Capitol focusing on union-busting and anti-immigrant bills then a march on FreeportMcMoRam and “museum” style tour of ALEC corporations.
Stay up to the minute on twitter using #F29 and follow @F29pdx.

Occupy Wall Street is part of an international people powered movement fighting for economic justice in the face of neoliberal economic practices, the crimes of Wall Street, and a government controlled by monied interests. #OWS is the 99% organizing to end the tyranny of the 1%. For more info www.occupywallst.org and nycga.net.

# # #