Time to Act

Abolitionist Frederick Douglass said, “Power concedes nothing without a demand… Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or both.”

During Douglass’ time, the institution of slavery created immense wealth for a small few white men, who fomented racism against black Americans as a way to maintain that wealth. It took incredible courage and risk to stand up against slavery, and it took unprecedented bloodshed to finally end the horrific practice.
For decades, the chasm between the have’s and have not’s has been widening in our state and nation. The Great Recession has served to accelerate this transfer of wealth from the poor to the very wealthy. We are now unraveling the social safety net and cutting nearly $7 billion from our state’s budget, including cuts to everything from kidney dialysis for immigrants to health care for the working poor, from dental care to basic education. Meanwhile, corporations are basking in the highest quarterly profits in history.

Today, the wealthiest 1% of the nation earns more than the bottom 90% combined. And in pursuit of even greater profits, big corporations like Chevron, Bank of America, Pepsico, and a litany of other multinationals funneled millions into Washington State to pass initiatives like I-1053, which effectively eliminates the state’s ability to close corporate tax loopholes.

In social movements before and since, Douglass’ statement has rung true. Whether it is movements for labor, civil rights, women’s suffrage, or immigrant rights, it has been the courage of individuals, standing up to power and against injustice, that has catalyzed social change. And today, big corporations and the very wealthy have been waging an unrelenting war on the poor and the middle class. They will continue to win until ordinary people stand up and take extraordinary action together, and directly confront corporate power.

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 17th, hundreds of people are gathering in Olympia to fight for an equitable state budget. If you can join us, please contact Nathan at 206-409-5051, or register online at www.mlkday2011.eventbrite.com. Then on Saturday, January 22nd, we are convening a training to fight back for people and against corporate power. If you are interested, call Washington CAN! at 206-389-0050 to get more information. If not us, who? If not now, when?

Rachel Berkson is Associate Director of Washington Community Action Network & a PSARA member