Chicago
Hello fellow 99ers from Chicago! This page is our bulletin board for activity & announcements for 99ers events specific to the Chicago area. My name Is Brenda and you can reach me or my husband Jim via phone or e-mail at:
*CONTACT:*
*Jim Eichelberg=262-347-9777*
*Brenda Eichelberg-610-568-4162 *
*Brendae06@gmail.com -www.99ers.net/chicago*
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
National March for Jobs-Saturday, April 2, 2011 At Millennium Park in Chicago, 12:00pm
The National March for Jobs on April 2, 2011 is a national effort coordinated locally to bring attention to the staggering unemployment numbers in the U.S, as well as bring attention to three bills currently in the House of Representatives: HR 6556, HR 589, and HR 1113. The unemployment epidemic is not receding despite media reports that the recession is over. Over 13 million Americans remain unemployed, while jobs are shipped overseas and companies who do remain do not rehire. The long-term jobless are being discriminated against as being unemployable. The amount of jobless people over age 50 that have been unemployed 27 weeks or longer is well over 50%.
We want the government to know that they must do something. We want Congress to hear that their constituents are not going to sit back quietly on unemployment [or lack thereof] while the problem is ignored. We are tired of nothing getting done, of being trampled on and forgotten about, and we are tired of not having our voices heard. We want to work. We want jobs. It is time for us to stand up and fight for the right to work and earn a living wage. We refuse to be silent any longer.
About the coordinators:
Jim Eichelberg has been laid off since April 2009, and officially becomes a ‘99er’ on 4/18. Father to 3, and stepfather to 4, the 53-year old sends out over 10 resumes a week. A mechanic and factory worker, Eichelberg hopes to find employment soon so he can provide for his family once again. He is tired of being ignored.
Brenda Eichelberg saw a page on Facebook about 99ers, and that lead her to find the link for the National March. Deciding that now was the time to finally do something, she and the webmaster of www.99ers.net created a page for Chicago, so that she could begin advertising the march to the Chicagoland area and beyond. Mom to 5 and stepmom to 2, Brenda is employed but has grown increasingly tired of the lies, bias, and unfairness that’s grown from what she calls ‘the 2nd Depression.’
Jim and Brenda are not professional protesters and not professional community action workers. They are two American citizens and parents who want better for themselves and their children in this land of promise.
To find out more, please visit www.99ers.net/chicago
Currently in the works is a Saturday, April 2, 2011 rally to bring attention to the plight of the 99ers and long term unemployment debacle we are currently enduring. This will be the Midwestern ‘version’ of the march in Washington DC. The plan is to meet at Millennium Park and go from there.
I am new to the ‘movement’ scene, BUT enough is enough and it is time we make our faces known and our voices heard! People have said, “what good is marching? That won’t bring you jobs!” Marching attracts attention to the problem at hand and puts a real face on the suffering. Our government needs to do something! It doesn’t matter what political persuasion you are, race, etc because ALL are affected by this Depression. Even if we just show up and let it be known that we are not the silent majority and we aren’t going to fade off into the sunset quietly-we will have done a lot. I am just a mom with an unemployed, nearly 99er husband and 7 children so if you have any ideas or suggestions you can contact me or leave comments below in the comment box for publishing to the Chicago area 99ers and attendees.
Things you need to know:
http://99ersmovement.webs.com/
http://fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/
http://www.yelp.com/topic/chicago-national-march-for-jobs-april-2-2011
http://www.thenation.com/article/158280/ten-step-guide-launching-us-uncut
http://www.unemploymentextensions.org/
http://www.jobscampaign.org/
Our April 2nd Experience in Chicago
Brenda & Jim Eichelberg
The rest of the Eichelberg Crew
Michigan Ave in Chicago, directly across from Millennium Park
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Thanks for your efforts. Be nice if we could get a organizer who knows how to get bus rides or trains to downtown for us in chicagoland.
Hello! My name is Jannie, I became a 99er as of Sept 28,2010, and I am still looking for a job. Yes I will be there 4/2/2011.We must keep fighting..
Yes I will be there!
Hi all,
I will reply very shortly.
For travel downtown: http://www.transitchicago.com via CTA buses and trains.
For the Metra, http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home.html. If you need specific transit help, shoot me an email.
Thanks,
Brenda
Ill be there have to hitch a ride since my was rebo used all my 401 to keep house lost it then the car then he husband life s===
Hi Lori,
Where are you coming from? Perhaps we can help in some way?
Brenda
IF YOU WANT TO MAPQUEST A ROUTE TO THE PARK FROM YOUR LOCATION, THE ADDRESS OF THE PARK OFFICIALLY IS:
Millennium Park
55 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
I will try to make it on Saturday because I feel the 99ers have been unfairly forgotten by our governement.
Thanks Danielle! We look forward to meeting you!
Hi,I live in Dallas texas so I cant make it to Chicago or Washington but we will be holding our own march in Dallas.I hope and pray alot of people show up in Washinton(anyone hear of the number expected there)and I hope alot show up in Chicago,Dallas,Boston,New York,Los Angles etc….We are all in this together as one family.Lets get out there and be heard!Be safe everyone and lets keep it peaceful but do not allow them to shut us down.We will not be silenced,we are fighting for our lifes and our families lifes!Lets roll Americans we are 25 million strong so make it good!
JOHN-That is awesome news! I am printing up flyers and saw your post. Please report back as to how things went in Dallas. We truly need to stick together to create change. We need help, we need jobs, and we cannot be forgotten about while corporations get richer and richer.
Best to you tomorrow!
brenda
Hi Brenda,I just read your comment and thought I would send you a quick reply.Things are looking pretty good here,we have alot of people who will be marching on cityhall tomorrow.I had high hopes for a large gathering in Washington but judging by the lack of peoples comments on the internet I highly doubt it.I hope Im wrong but it doesnt look like too many people are going to Washington to march.How are things looking in Chicago?Do you expect a large turnout?I am going to bed we have an early start tomorrow and plan to be out all day.I will look for your reply in the morning or tomorrow night.Be safe up there and lets take the message to them.I hope people in every state and city will be marching tomorrow and are carrying the fight to them.Good night and God bless you Brenda along with your family and friends.
We are across the street at Mil park-we got kicked out!
What are you talking about?I havent heard one thing about the march on washington today.I guess this nation wide protest was nothing but alot of hype.
Hi John,
Email me so we can chat. We were at Millennium Park in Chicago, but pretty much 5 mins after we arrived, we got kicked out because we wanted to ‘protest’. We have signs on sticks, flyers to hand out and 5 children in tow. We were told we would have to go across the street on Michigan Ave. So we did! Gave out 200+ flyers and met a lot of great people! No negativity, lots of support, and only one weird guy [he said it all starts with birth control, I still don't get it.] I will have some pictures soon for 99erman to possibly post. Am sending it to Michael Moore’s folks too. I did send press releases to the news media here and Chicago CBS 2 did call me, BUT there was a Libya rally right down from us, and they had about 75-100 folks, so……
How did yours go, John?
Hi Brenda,it sounds as if you were there alone?Where were all the other unemployed people?Hardly noone showed up here but we had alittle march and handed out some information about the unemployed plight so it was okay.I still have not seen or heard one thing about this so called unemployment march on Washington today.All this talk on the internet about how the unemployed need to march then nothing happens.Thats kind of annoying if you ask me.Where is the passion from the unemployed?2o million unemployed and they didnt even try to march on Washington.I dont know if Im angryier at the government or the unemployed who wont even try to bring attention to whats going on.Im going out Mary,Ill talk to you later.
Hey,what happened with the unemployed shuting down D.C. yesterday?You lazy idiots couldnt even protest for yourselfs?This is probably the same way you look for jobs by sitting on your fat butts hoping a job would be offered to you lol.Your all pityful!
Jerry,
Thanks for your eloquent and well-written response.
I am sure you would not be so bold if you had to say that to me in person, and not hide behind a computer.
Jim
Wow,I just viewed the photos of the’march’ in Chicago.What a shame the only people who showed up were the Eichelbergs and their children!I hope the Eichelbergs receive an extension but the rest of you unemployed in Chicago who wouldnt bother with marching do not deserve a thing.
Thanks John! Tell us about Dallas!