Jesse Jackson, ATU International President Warren George to Speak at ATU - RPC Rally for Public Transit, March 27, in Chicago

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rev. Jesse L. Jackson will join ATU International President Warren S. George at a rally in support of public transit, from 9:30 – 11:00 am, Saturday, March 27, in front of Rainbow Push Coalition headquarters at 930 E. 50^th Street (50th & Drexel), in Chicago, IL.

“The public transit that Americans rely on to get to work, school, church, the store, or to a doctor will run less often, or not at all.”

The event, sponsored by the Amalgamated Transit Union and the RPC, will bring together union, transit, and green activists from the Chicago metropolitan area in support of Congressional legislation which would provide federal funding for the operating expenses of all U.S. transit systems, regardless of size.

The rally is the first of several which will be held in support of public transit in major cities around the country.

Federal law currently prohibits the U.S. government from providing operating assistance to most urban areas where transit systems are now experiencing budget deficits, fare increases, and crippling service cuts.

“In the coming months thousands of riders will face the mobility crisis that Chicago is experiencing right now,” explained George, adding, “The public transit that Americans rely on to get to work, school, church, the store, or to a doctor will run less often, or not at all.”

“Without federal operating assistance,” George warned, “America’s recovery from recession could be stalled or halted.”

The ATU is urging support for a bill introduced in the House by Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-MO, which would allow transit agencies in areas with populations over 200,000 to use up to 50% of their federal transit funding for operating assistance, depending on the size of the area.

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