Minnesota State House Rally 06/30/2011

Steve’s a bus driver. His green Paul Wellstone t-shirt and the boxing glove signed by Al Franken tell the story of years of commitment.

Yesterday, I attended a political rally at the Minnesota State House. As a shutdown of state government loomed, Minnesotans from around the state gathered to show their support for keeping programs that invest in Minnesota and opposing Republican budget cutting plans. Despite a heat index of over 100 degrees, people representing all facets of Minnesota’s diverse culture stood in the withering sunlight to voice their disapproval of how the Republican legislature wants to balance the state budget.

Political events, particularly public rallies and protests, present the common face of our democracy: the people who passionately believe that their voices matter and that they can make a difference.  It doesn’t matter what political philosophy is being supported or opposed, the faces of the protesters tell powerful American stories.

Here are a few portraits from yesterday:

Members of Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Teamsters surrounded by faces of Minnesota.

International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Local 645

Members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Local 647, holding a sign that emphasized the reason for the rally. Invest in Minnesota rather than tear it down.

 

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