Statement of George Gresham, President, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East On the Removal of Occupy Wall Street Protesters From Zuccotti Park

November 16, 2011

"This is NOT what democracy looks like.

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East strongly condemns the violent removal of peaceful protesters from Zuccotti Park by the City and the NYPD. The military style operation executed in the dead of night against ordinary Americans was a direct assault on democracy.

As a union that represents healthcare workers of the 99%, we stand in full solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement in their fight for corporate accountability, economic justice and good jobs for all.

The City trampled the protesters' First Amendment rights in their effort to shut down the epicenter of a vibrant popular movement that has grown across the country and around the world. A movement that has made the 1% increasingly fearful that a revolution of this nature could impact their bottom lines.

Oppressive tactics will not stop this movement. We will continue to support OWS with the full force of our organization in this struggle – a struggle that is being fought on behalf of all working-class Americans, our children and our grandchildren.

It is more important than ever that we mobilize and make our voices heard at the massive march and rally on Thursday, November 17th. 1199 has re-doubled our efforts to turn out thousands of our members so we can show the world that this movement and this fight will continue."

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With over 350,000 members in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida and Washington D.C., 1199 SEIU is the largest and fastest growing healthcare union in the country. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all.

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