Photos: Truckers Protest at Capitol, on the Mall - National Shut Down #2- MAY 1st!!

[Breeze54]

Photos: Truckers Protest at Capitol, on the Mall

http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2008/04/photos_truckers_protest_at_capitol_on_th.php



THE PRECIPITOUS RISE in gas prices has affected nearly everyone who drives — but the impact
on those who drive for a living must be even more staggering. So it's easy to understand why
truck drivers might want to protest.

And so they did. With their trucks. Lots of them.

According to the Associated Press's Brett Zongker, around 350 vehicles were expected to circle
the Mall near the congressional campus before their drivers, part of a group called Truckers and
Citizens United, parked them at RFK Stadium and then held a rally on Capitol Hill.

There was the potential for a big traffic tie up — D.C. drivers + heavy rain + large trucks = ruh-roh —
but Zongker said traffic "was not significantly affected" despite the protest.

It doesn't sound like it was a pleasant afternoon for the senses up on the Hill, though.

Reported Zongker: "One passenger held a sign that read "Enough is Enough,"
and a driver used a bullhorn to yell at Congress as he passed by.

The sound of so many semi-truck horns blaring was deafening."













Raw Video: Truckers Protest Fuel Prices in DC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIj5dXtf0Fc

Truckers protest gas prices in Washington, D.C.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-04-28-truckers-gas-prices_N.htm

WASHINGTON (AP) — Horns blaring, truck drivers began arriving in Washington to protest high gasoline prices.

The group, Truckers and Citizens United, plans to circle the National Mall on Monday before parking at RFK Stadium. From there, they will march and take shuttles to the Capitol, where a rally is scheduled. Organizers say about 350 vehicles were expected.

The truckers are calling on Congress to stop subsidizing big oil companies, release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserves, and end exports of oil from Alaska, among other things.

Many of the truckers drove to Washington from Harrisburg, Pa., and other areas to the north. One passenger held a sign that read "Enough is Enough." The sound of so many semi-truck horns blaring was deafening.

http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct=us/1-3&fp=481684224f180302&ei=f4QWSOKbDKGGrAO6mJWpCg&url=http%3A//www.bangornews.com/news/templates/%3Fa%3D163579&cid=1154196395&usg=AFrqEzdkCootd6DkdbDN_Yne9fkAaejBwQ">Maine truckers hoping for Capitol 'miracle' Bangor Daily News

:applause: :applause:

:woohoo:

[OhioChick]

1. Good for Them!

:applause:

[liberal N proud]

2. Here is my take on this to support these people

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=125149&mesg_id=125150

[bluesmail]

3. Amen

:applause:

[SeattleGirl]

4. Thank you, Breeze!

I had heard the audio of all the horns honking on the radio news, but hadn't seen any video until now!

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Breeze54]

7. That's what got my attention, as well! - National Shut-Down" Round Three- May 5 !!

:hi:

"National Shut-Down"

Round Three

May 5, 2008

Professional drivers are asking American Citizens
to participate with us in this second "National Shut-Down"

This is an issue effecting all of us and we MUST take a stand NOW.

Our government IS a major contributing factor in the outrageous price of fuel,

and the struggle American citizens are experiencing making ends meet.

We must take this action to get their attention.

All other avenues has only fallen on deaf ears -

our government is ignoring the will,

and needs, of the American people.

***********************************

ALL DRIVERS COMPANY & O/O SHOULD PARTICIPATE

ALL AMERICAN CITIZENS SHOULD PARTICIPATE

LETS TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK!!

STAND UP, SPEAK OUT OR ACCEPT WHAT COMES!!!

www.theamericandriver.com
email:
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

http://www.theamericandriver.com/files/wp/nationwide_shutdown_flyer.html

[Breeze54]

5. Truckers AND Citizens United... Join them! - National Shut Down MAY 1st!!

Truckers AND Citizens United

We also ask that you contact your state legislative representatives through the
"Contact Elected Officials" link provided on this page, or by calling 202-224-3121,
and share your concerns with them in regards to the fuel price issue. Together,
as a whole, professional drivers and American citizens can get something done
about this financially crippling situation.

http://www.theamericandriver.com/files/TruckersAndCitizensUnited.html

National Shut Down MAY 1st!!

"National Shut-Down"

Round Two

-- May 1, 2008 --

this is only the beginning...

WE WILL GET OUR GOVERNMENT TO LISTEN AND ACT!

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!

Protest Message Board

http://truckersandcitizensunited.theamericandriver.com/modules.php?name=Forums

:D

[Catherine Vincent]

6. Kicking for a good cause!

:kick:

[lib2DaBone]

8. God Bless Our Truckers!

You Guys and Girls Go! WE LOVE YA.... How about a blockade around washington D.C.? When the Congress Critters and Senators don't get their fresh Caviar and Cristal... maybe they'll shut off Fox News and Listen?

The image shows a limited edition 12-bottle box sets of Perrier-Jouet champagne that will be priced at 50,000 euros, according to French drink firm Pernod-Ricard. The world's most expensive champagne goes on sale Thursday targeting a "super-rich" global elite

[Forkboy]

9. Love it!

:applause:

[Lint Head]

10. Right wing red necks put the criminal oil man in office. What did they

expect? Now they want to take him out. I say let em shut it all down and throw the criminal fucks occupying the White House into jail. :dem:

[Breeze54]

13. So all truckers are right wing? Are you daft?

:silly:

[aquart]

11. 350 trucks?

Sorry, but that's nothing.

They need to stop the country. They can do it. Maybe only they can do it. But I don't think they're desperate enough yet. Give it a month.

[Breeze54]

12. It was "expected" to have 350 but may 1st, they'll be more... they're just getting started!

Join them! All citizens are welcome and should join in!

This effects all of us!!

[aquart]

14. I wouldn't mind being saved by the Teamsters.

Come to think of it, there's a Teamster's hall on my block. If they pull this off, I will limp in and say thank you. But that's pretty much as far as I can go for a good long time.

My mama always said, "When you can, you must, because the day will come when you haven't the strength and someone else will have to do it for you." Right now, everyone else has to do it for me.

But I'm mean and I'll be back.

[Breeze54]

15. Maybe you can ride in a truck with them and yell on the bullhorn!

:D

[orleans]

16. or at least honk the horn! n/t (k&r btw)

[Breeze54]

17. Here... go chat with them about it....

Fuel Protest Message Board
http://truckersandcitizensunited.theamericandriver.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Forums&file=viewforum&forum=1

Report back! ;)

[Lugnut]

18. K&R n/t

[Breeze54]

19. Remember the saying: IF YOU BOUGHT IT, A TRUCK BROUGHT IT!

Remember the saying: IF YOU BOUGHT IT, A TRUCK BROUGHT IT!

http://truckersandcitizensunited.theamericandriver.com/

And the trucks cannot operate without filling their tanks with fuel. It now costs, on average, OVER $1,350 to fill an 18-wheeler's tank ONCE!!! This lasts 2-4 days!! That is THE TRUTH to why ALL your basic needs and supplies are skyrocketing!!! That is THE TRUTH to why YOU and ME are going broke! American Citizens, we need your help and all I ask is making telephone calls to pass on the message!!!

You can intensify this message by SWAMPING the Capital switchboard on Monday and every day this week. Pass this on to everyone you know at work, in your neighborhood, in your emails and in blogs! Call every name on the operator's list if you can! Tell them you have had enough and you support our quest to LOWER FUEL PRICES! Call into C-Span's Washington Journal Show, 7 am-10 or 11 am, (Monday's public call-in show is scheduled to be about the price of fuel!!!) I can pass on the 'registered' as Independent number, it's on my speed dial-202-628-0205! Call them and any and every talk show if you support the hard efforts of these Truckers and Citizens who sacrificed to make a long trip to Washington DC, Monday!

Call 202-224-3121--Talk to your own Representatives--you have 2 State Senators and 1 Representative, but do NOT stop there! Call the Federal Leaders, House of Representatives, Nancy Peolosi's "Speaker of the House" Office, Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid's Senate Majority Office, and any other "public servant" (to use their own words) via the same switchboard! Leave recorded messages or tell their staff that you KNOW they have the power to lower fuel prices and you DO NOT BUY their song and dance that the market determines the prices!!!

Fact: They DO have the power to lower the price of fuel, gasoline, home heating oils, et al, in many ways and these ways require them to hang up their Democrat and Republican Egos and Agendas at the door before entering the room, rolling their sleeves up and getting to work on REPRESENTING WE AMERICAN MIDDLE-CLASS CITIZENS!!!!!

Tell them you support the Truckers and Citizens who are protesting and that the US Government, The White House, The House of Representatives, and The Senate OWN and DESERVE the uprising and the outrage of the American Citizens!!!! Please, call and make our American Voices Thunder throughout the marble halls of Washington DC!!!

202-224-3121

Help Us Send the Message that the US Middle-Class American Citizen WILL be Heard!!!!

The momentum being generated needs to continue to build in order for professional drivers, as well as all American citizens, to succeed in speaking out and being heard. The American Driver website is here not only to provide pertinent information for professional drivers, assisting them in their daily activities, but to help bring solidarity back to the professional driver community and the American people.

We are proud to be able to assist getting information out to you regarding the Fuel Price Protest being organized. We don't want to lose the momentum developed to date.

If you have information which needs to get out to the American people... contact:
[e-mail]

We also ask that you contact your state legislative representatives through the Contact Elected Officials link provided on the "Web Links", or by calling 202-224-3121, and share your concerns with them in regards to the fuel price issue. Together, as a whole, professional drivers and American citizens can get something done about this financially crippling situation.

NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!

[nels25]

26. I agree with all of this post

I have contacted Congressman Ryan (1st district Wisconsin) yeah like that will do any good.

He is very free market and so called fiscal conservative (GOP).

We are going to need new leadership, and this problem needs to be a high priority item, come January/Feburary 09.

[Breeze54]

27. Good job ... but don't stop there!

Call or e-mail the rest of them and spread the word

to your friends and co-workers and everyone else you can!!

I hope Shultz is talking about this Shut Down!

:hi:

[Echo In Light]

20. K&R

[ThomWV]

21. I'd be willing to bet that a few thousand Bikers could be persuaded to join them

Easily provoked.

[Breeze54]

23. That would be awesome!!

Do you know any? Tell them about this! :D

:hi:

[Breeze54]

22. Press Conference about Big Oil on C-Span I now and the Senate floor C-Span II

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS

[marions ghost]

24. kick

:thumbsup:

[Breeze54]

25. House Energy and Commerce Subcmte. Hearing C-Span I - LIVE from Washington, DC

http://www.c-span.org/watch/cs_cspan_rm.asp?Cat=TV&Code=CS

Thanks! :hi:

[yurbud]

28. GREAT STICKER: ''America is going broke because of OIL''

[yurbud]

29. needs a mate: get big oil out of our government

[Breeze54]

31. Another good one! - here's the info.

Custom Products

http://www.foreamerica.com/shopcontent.asp?type=custom_main

If you are a retailer, online store, non-profit or political organization, check out our custom
product options. Enjoy great pricing, no minimums and quick turnarounds. Let us help you fundraise.

[Breeze54]

30. I'm surprised there isn't one out there already!

There's a place NovaMRadio advertises all the time

http://www.novamradio.com/live/

that will make Bumper Stickers for you!

http://www.foreamerica.com/default.asp

Unless you make them? I'm looking at your sig links.

[blondeatlast]

32. Go, independent truckers! The trucking family on my block is there and

I sent my support and a care package with them. They were due to be in the vicinity anyway; otherwise they simply could not have afforded to attend but were strongly supporting the strike, which how I found out about it.

[Breeze54]

33. Awesome! Are they going again on May 1st?

:yourock: for supporting them and sending a care package too!

I think the costs are the part that's going to be a problem getting a lot of people there.
Hopefully they're coordinating the trucks that are supposed to be in that area to do this
but truckers from Maine and other states went just for that purpose. We'll see on May 1st!

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

34. Anyone know why diesel fuel is so high? Diesel used to be cheaper than regular

For a long time, diesel was cheap, cheaper than any gas at the pump. And there were a lot of diesels on the road, especially Mercedes, Volkswagens, Peugeots, and Volvos as well as a few American makes like Oldsmobiles. Now, you hardly see any diesel cars in the U.S. except maybe for some VWs. But in the last four or five years diesel has become the most expensive fuel. I keep hearing the argument that it's because a lot of very small cars in Europe now are micro-diesels because of their high gas mileage and there's the question of international supply and demand. But isn't all diesel used in the U.S. refined by U.S. refineries? Don't they determine the amount of supply according to how much diesel fuel they intend to extract from a barrel of crude oil? Can someone please set me straight on why diesel has sky-rocketed in the last few years?

[Breeze54]

35. it's much more expensive to make... more info.

Diesel costs soar; truckers protest

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/heraldnews/business/872364,4_3_JO02_TRUCKS_S1.article

snip-->

Paying the price

Diesel prices are rising because the fuel burned in trucks today must abide by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel Program, said David Sykuta, executive director of the Illinois Petroleum Council.

Years ago, a gallon of diesel spewed 3,000-4,000 parts per million of sulphur into the air. The new blends slashed the amount to 15 ppm.

"Environmentally, they're fabulous fuels, but it's much more expensive to make," he said.

In addition to more expensive diesel formulas, taxes on diesel fuel are higher than regular gas, and the price of crude oil is rising. Also, diesel consumption is "blasting" up every year, Sykuta explained. Worldwide use is skyrocketing, especially in Europe, where manufacturers are producing more vehicles with small, high-compression diesel engines that get better gas mileage.

"They get the same mileage as hybrids without all the extra cost," he said.

No matter what the reason, however, Sykuta said he was sympathetic to the plight of owner-operated truckers who either didn't get a surcharge for rising diesel prices or had to wait a long time for reimbursement.

"It's a sad story."

[Duppers]

36. how many of these blue collar folks voted

for the asshole twice?

In the past haven't they kept their AM dialed to Rush Slimebaugh?

[Breeze54]

37. Yes, every single trucker in the USA voted for *

:sarcasm:

You're kidding, right?

Perhaps you also don't listen to progressive radio because if you did, you'd know
truckers call into the shows and AGREE with the Progressive hosts all the time!

Maybe you should start listening....

Here's a good place: The Mike Malloy Show

Coming up at 9 PM EST http://www.novamradio.com/live/stream.php

snip--> http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/feature/2003/05/13/malloy/index2.html

Those who do locate Malloy can hear him ridicule "President Dazed and Confused" and the "Bush Crime Family,"
playing songs like "Thick as a Brick" or "Pencil-Necked Geek" for sardonic punctuation. They hear regular
callers ranging from the Cincinnati trucker nicknamed Gizmo to Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota.

more...

-------

Malloy devoted one whole show recently to truckers and fuel issue's.
Many of them said they couldn't stand * or the RWers.

[Duppers]

39. did not say that...and thanks for the info

Sorry, the only half-way progressive radio I've been able to get is NPR. I'll ck the stream. Thanks for the link.

I was speaking from experience...my brother drove independently for 6 or 7 yrs., listened to Rush all the time, and voted for the asshole twice. Needless to say, I've stopped even trying to communicate with him; our communication resulted in some intense exchanges. I can only hope he's seen the light by now, but since I don't talk to him at all, I don't know.

Hope this explains my remark.

[Breeze54]

43. I was just kidding back with you...

(* note the sarcasm tag I posted) and I know what you mean but I think, truckers mostly are people just trying to make a living, at least that's what they were saying when they called into the show. It's pretty rough out there and even if they are freepers, maybe this crisis will wake those that are freepers up and they'll join us and vote Democratic this November! :D

:hi:

[Duppers]

42. Breeze

I know the more informed truckers know that some of their fellow truckers are RWers and voted for the asshole. But even the wingers will have no choice but to think about who is responsible for the high price of their petrol. Too bad that and that alone is the wake-up call for some.

[Breeze54]

44. Whatever it takes to wake them up is fine by me!

Usually it's a life crisis that does wake people up! Fear, pain, anger and desperation
has a way of getting people informed... fast! I think they're called 'reformed rethugs'! :P

[texastoast]

38. This could be an opportunity

to welcome some newly enlightened folks under the big Democratic tent. I say we shouldn't squander it.

[Duppers]

40. you are so right.

I'm afraid to even approach my brother and his idiot wife, however. I couldn't be civil.

:(

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. Problem is, we need to join them, not just applaud them

[Breeze54]

45. hence, the reason for this thread...

;)

You going to DC May 1st?

I'm totally broke or I'd do it, if there was a convoy near me!

I have a lot of trucks going by my house daily.

I could hold up a sign to tell them about this! :D