St. Louis Tea Party/GOP operatives Accusing SEIU of "thug" violence. [View All]

St. Louis Tea Party
Demand Justice! Denounce Violence! Saturday at SEIU Office

by admin on August 7, 2009
in ACTION

DATE: Saturday, August 8, 2009 (tomorrow)

TIME: Noon

LOCATION: SEIU Headquarters, 5585 Pershing Ave., Suite 130, St. Louis, MO 63112

The protest is to demand justice for Kenneth Gladney, an African-American conservative who was brutally beaten by 4 individuals, at least 2 of whom were identified as SEIU representatives. The beatings included racial slurs and required hospitalization of Mr. Gladney.

As videos show, the attack was unprovoked and no one retaliated against the union thugs.

~snip~

Dear Emit,

Things are turning ugly. Town halls, which typically serve as open, safe environments to ask questions of elected officials, have degenerated into violent shouting matches.

Last night in St. Louis, Missouri, a reverend and staff member of SEIU was assaulted at a town hall. The incident, along with a town hall in Tampa, Florida, has been all over the radio and cable news shows. GOP operatives are rushing to paint it as SEIU "thug" violence. That couldn't be further from the truth.

Watch the video with footage from these events: http://action.seiu.org/townhall

Cable news channels are broadcasting images of neighbors turning against one another in chaotic, sometimes frightening town hall meetings. Incited by extremist radio and TV hosts, "teabagger" protesters are yelling and chanting talking points that span from radicalism to racism.

Click here

Enough is enough. Click here to sign a pledge for civil, honest debates about health care reform: http://action.seiu.org/townhall

It is extremely discouraging to see people treating one another like this. And it's a reminder of how GOP scare-tactics ("the government will kill the elderly,!" "the government will choose your doctors!" or "the government will ration care!") use fear to overpower the truth.

We are at a turning point. To succeed, we will continue to elevate this conversation, distinguish ourselves from the opposition, and speak to our fellow Americans with respect and dignity. Where we disagree, we'll invite discussion. And when we agree, we'll work together toward a solution.

That's the only way we're going to solve our nation's health care crisis. When it comes to quality, affordable health care, the stakes are too high to let shouting run the show.

Thanks for standing up,

L. Toni Lewis, MD
SEIU Healthcare

Town hall meetings are a pillar of American democracy. Unfortunately, some members of the radical fringe and naysayers of reform are using disruptive tactics in an effort to hijack democratic forums. It's time to reclaim our democracy and have a civil debate on how to fix our broken health insurance system.