With a bipartisan bill needing to be passed before the end of the year to avoid a gap in unemployment relief, unemployed workers and members of Step Up Louisiana are going to rally outside of Senator Kennedy’s office today and bring our bills to show the Senator what we are going through.
NEW ORLEANS, LA | December 9, 2020—On Thursday, December 10, at 1 PM, unemployed workers with Step Up Louisiana will continue their campaign for dignity and relief. Senator Cassidy is campaigning at the federal level for a bipartisan piece of legislation that includes $300 weekly unemployment benefits.
Step Up Louisiana supports this compromise.
We also recognize that Congress can go further including a longer extension of benefits and higher weekly dollar amount to provide the immediate and substantial relief that unemployed workers need. We believe that nationally the Congress in a place to be able to pass these extended benefits in part because of Louisiana’s unemployed workers, Step Up Louisiana’s, and our partner organizations’ campaigning and leadership ultimately moving Senator Cassidy to do the right thing and negotiate extended relief.
Step Up will be encouraging rally participants to bring their bills to show Senator Kennedy what we are dealing with.
Unemployed workers will be available for interviews before, during, and after the demonstration.
More than 350,000 Louisianans have lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic and over 68,000 are still unemployed in the Greater New Orleans area alone according to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics.
Step Up Louisiana is a community based organization committed to building power to win education and economic justice for all. We work with multiracial and intergenerational Louisianans to “Step Up” by campaigning, organizing from a racial justice perspective, and holding public officials accountable. We organize with parents, workers, students, and community members to disrupt systemic oppression in our schools and workplaces through voter education, advocacy, and action.
Who: Step Up Louisiana with unemployed workers, faith leaders, and elected officials
What: The Bills Don’t Stop Rally
When: Thursday, December 10, 1PM
Contacts:
Ben Zucker, Co-Director Step Up Louisiana, ben@stepuplouisiana.org, 504-444-5825
