Thousands Tell Super-Committee Member Sen. Kerry, ‘No Cuts!’ at Boston Rally

Posted by Noelle Swan

More than 3,000 activists and senior citizens joined voices in a downtown Boston rally entitled “Stop the Attacks on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.” Participants fear that a bipartisan congressional “Super-Committee” tasked with finding $1.5 trillion in federal budget cuts will do so by recommending drastic cutbacks in social services.

Flossie Webb, an executive committee member from the Mass Senior Action Council, opened the afternoon rally. “We’re here to join together as one voice to stop cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security,” she told the cheering crowd. “We’ve got to tell them, ‘Hands off! You cannot balance the budget on the backs of seniors and their families.’ ”

Crowd participants echoed this refrain.

Retiree John Hinkley of Chesterville, Maine, said he depends on his $300 Social Security check each month to supplement his pension. “You can’t cut Social Security. A good many of us are low income. It’s the only way we can survive.”

Another retiree, Maryann Honore from Lebanon, Conn., volunteers with AARP providing tax preparation assistance to the elderly. “I work with people whose income is so low that I wonder how they manage at all. People can’t afford more cuts.”

While rally speakers did not offer ideas for alternative budget cuts, many participants suggested that the Super-Committee cut the defense budget and increase taxes on the wealthy. Others simply said cut wasteful spending.

Following the rally, a couple hundred people marched through Downtown Crossing and Government Center to the office of Sen. John Kerry (D) at One Bowdoin Square. Senator Kerry is one of 12 members of the Super-Committee.

On the way, Kate Villers of Concord, Mass., said she came to rally and march because the public has to demand what it needs. “We need to make sure officials understand that they work for the people.”

Elaine Marie-Ruff of Roslindale, Mass., marched with a banner for Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants. She said she fears that cuts will extend to subsidized housing. “You can’t live on Social Security without a roof over your head. Housing is a human right.”

Later Marie-Ruff began chanting, “We are the 99 percent,” echoing the call of the Occupy Boston protesters, who have camped out in Dewey Square for the last six weeks. A smattering of Occupy Boston regulars peppered the crowd, but unions and longstanding community organizations dominated the group.

Brendan Curran, a local divinity student, is active in Occupy Boston and learned about the march through an announcement at a morning meeting at the campsite. “Right now, Occupy Boston is becoming too focused on internal issues…” he said. “That’s part of the reason I decided to come here.”

As the march reached Kerry’s office, Curran joined in chanting, “Senator Kerry and Senator Brown, no more cuts,” and melted into the group.

The crowd peered up at the dark windows, calling, “Senator Kerry, look out the window at the people who put you there!” The crowd received no response.

Steve Tolman, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, delivered a letter to Kerry signed by the 70 labor and community organizations represented at the rally. “We urge you to protect the hard earned benefits that workers have paid into for years,” the letter read in part. “Please do not cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.”

When Tolman emerged from the building, he told the awaiting crowd, “The Senator was not available. His staff said that they heard us loud and clear.” He then led the crowd down the street to Sen. Scott Brown’s office in the John F. Kennedy Federal Building.

The crowd continued chanting briefly before Tolman addressed the crowd once again. He thanked participants for coming out and said that although they were dispersing, “This is where the work begins. The work doesn’t end.”

After the rally, Tolman told New England Post, “I thought we sent our message loud and clear in a peaceful and respectful manner. It’s time to tax wealth, not work. Seniors and the disabled shouldn’t have to choose between paying for prescriptions, food, and heat.”

Related posts:

1. Thousands to Rally in Boston in Protest of Proposed Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security Cuts
2. Tensions Rise as Occupy Boston Engages Police in a Standoff at the Charlestown Bridge
3. Sen. Kerry Urges Obama to Provide $5.1 Billion in Home Heating Assistance; Cites Rising Oil Prices
4. Occupy Boston Protesters Continue to Forge Bonds with the City’s Homeless
5. Occupy Boston Protest Begins to Solidify into an Organized Movement

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