Thousands rally against right-to-work at state Capitol - FOX 35 News Orlando

Thousands rally against right-to-work at state Capitol

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Protesters in the state Capitol Rotunda (Credit: Fox 2 News) Protesters in the state Capitol Rotunda (Credit: Fox 2 News)

By Amy Lange
Fox 2 News


LANSING, Mich. (WJBK) -- There were protesters from the top of the rotunda to the sit-in being staged down below.  Hundreds of people packed the Capitol holding signs, wearing red and chanting hoping right-to-work would not pass.  It did.

The Reverend Jesse Jackson joined Senate Minority Leader Gretchen Whitmer and Lansing Mayor Virg Bernaro at the sit-in.

76 years ago the Flint Sit-Down Strike emboldened the UAW.  Now that same union and every other are fighting to survive.  Workers say they'll fight back with their voices and their votes.

"We're totally against this.  We never thought that it would come to this.  He always said it wasn't on his agenda to the last minute," said Melvin Lofton from Dearborn Truck UAW Local 600.

"The governor has to recognize the working families in this state," said Nick Kattalis from Dearborn Truck UAW Local 600.

"We're going to continue to fight.  We're all about fighting," Lofton said.

Whitmer is calling the Republicans cowards for pushing the bills through in a lame duck session knowing they wouldn't have the votes if they waited for the newly elected legislators to take office.

"The governor did an about face after telling people for two years he wouldn't do this.  He changed his position.  He cut the public out of any hearings, out of having any voice, locked them out of the capitol, and even tried to take our legislative voices away.  I think it is a traversty that these guys who drape themselves in the flag have trampled over all of our constitutional rights," Whitmer said.

Several thousand also rallied outside the captiol.  Watch the first video report above for more on that aspect of the story from Fox 2's Maurielle Lue.

Also See: Boisterous protesters swarm Capitol on labor bills

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