AFSCME Joins Progressive Activists at Netroots Nation
by Mike Carvalho | June 16, 2011
Netroots Nation, the annual conference for online activists, takes place this week, June 16-19, in Minneapolis. As one of the premier sponsors of the event, AFSCME is part of a big presence from the union movement as we seek to work more closely with our progressive allies in the netroots community.
AFSCME will sponsor the opening reception on Thursday evening as well as hosting an exhibit booth (#800) where visitors can pick up a replica of the “Collective Bargaining is the American Way” sign from the 1968 AFSCME Memphis sanitation workers’ strike.
Here are some highlights of AFSCME’s participation in this year’s conference:
- At one of the more anticipated sessions happening on Thursday afternoon, “Bloggers Unite! How the Netroots Rallied in Wisconsin,” panelists will look at how bloggers in Wisconsin helped elevate the situation in Madison to a national level, rallying progressives around the country to stand in solidarity with workers. Blaine Rummel, AFSCME’s Associate Director of Communications, will join New Organizing Institute New Media Director Melissa Ryan, Wisconsin blogger Blue Cheddar, Uppity Wisconsin blogger Steve Hanson and dane101.com co-founder Jesse Russell. The session begins at 4:30 p.m.
- Brian Weeks from AFSCME’s Political Action department will moderate the panel “Reclaiming Our Middle Class State by State” on Friday at 10:30 a.m., featuring hands-on strategies for fighting state-level attacks. Panelists include Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), University of Wisconsin teaching assistant Alex Hanna, Missouri AFL-CIO communications staffer Cathy Sherwin, Missouri Jobs with Justice Director Lara Granich, and Change.org’s Director of Organizing for Economic Justice Jess Kutch.
- On Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m., Secretary-Treasurer Lee A. Saunders will participate in the keynote session: The Attack on America’s Middle Class, and the Plan to Fight Back. Sec.-Treas. Saunders will be joined by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), Wisconsin Education Association Council President Mary Bell, SEIU President Mary Kay Henry, UFCW President Joseph Hansen and economist Robert Kuttner. The panel will be moderated by Ari Melber of The Nation.
See a complete list of Netroots Nation labor highlights on the AFL-CIO Now Blog here and here.
