Retired people add their voices to anti-Rauner upsurge

CHICAGO – The Illinois Alliance of Retired Americans, SEIU Healthcare Illinois, and several other community and labor retiree organizations held a rally on June 10 to protest Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner’s state budget proposals.

The rally took place in the plaza outside of Rauner’s Chicago state office. Rauner would not meet with the rally organizers. Instead he sent two staff members to receive petitions against the cuts to social services and programs. (story continues after video)

The staffers refused to come outside and said only a few could come into the building. (The Thompson Center is a large public building with shops and a huge public mezzanine. There are separate security check-points to get on the elevators to the state office floors above.) The staffers also said that only five people could come in to see them and that cameras and media would not be allowed. However, several dozen demonstrators entered.

Some media and folks with cameras were threatened; told that they were violating the Homeland Security Act. Really.

Photo: Video snapshot.