Occupying Congress: Seven Progressive House Candidates Deliver Jobs Petition From The 99 Percent To Boehner

Wednesday, the Progressive Change Campaign Committee teamed up with seven progressive Democratic Party candidates for the House of Representatives to occupy Congress by delivering petitions from thousands of members of the 99 percent to Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH). The petition asked Boehner to pass the Jobs Act and to stand with the 99 percent, not the richest 1 percent of Americans.

“We need people in Congress who have the right priorities. Who don’t let Wall Street destroy Main Street,” said Franke Wilmer, who is running for an at-large seat in Montana, as the candidates gathered to enter the capitol. “Workers didn’t fire themselves and senior citizens didn’t cause this recession.” When the seven candidates got to Boehner’s office, Brittany Brammell, Boehner’s press secretary, did not allow them in but did promise to take the petitions. She did not tell them when Boehner would take up the jobs bill. Watch it:

“We’ve come to the conclusion that this really means, ‘Welcome, one percent, please come in,’” remarked House candidate Markos Liias of a welcome sign outside Boehner’s door. “Speaker Boehner and the Republicans in Congress ignore the 99 percent at their peril.”