The Line

[From Caron Atlas]: This is a great project coming up soon in NYC on Jan 17 - it was presented on the OWS call we hosted (at Arts and Democracy).  They are looking for collaborating organizations, organizers and participants!  It isn't a big time commitment but will help contribute to a powerful collaboration and a striking visual representation of employment. 

[From Kristin]: Thanks so much for being willing to help spread the word about the Line. We are making some progress getting groups on board, but haven't reached 5000 yet - Here are the details:

The Line
A number of artists, activists and unions are planning The Line for January 17, 2012 at 8:14am. The Line will be the world's longest unemployment line stretching over three miles along Broadway, from the bull at Wall Street to Times Square. It will include 5000+ people holding pink slips over their heads for 14 minutes—one minute for each of the million currently unemployed in the USA. More about what we are doing can be found at : http://theline2012.wordpress.com/

History
This is a reanimation of a project that was originally created in 2004.  At 8:13 am on September 1, 2004, thousands gathered along three miles of Broadway, from the bull at Wall Street to the Republican Convention at Madison Square Garden. Standing silently for eighteen minutes, they held in their hands pink slips representing the millions of unemployed who were being left behind.  This was organized by The Imagine Festival of Arts and Ideas, People for the American Way,  artists, activists, unions, church groups, and social service organizations.  A number of us working on the 2012 action were the main organizers of that action. Here’s a link to some photos from the original action: http://www.wastedirony.com/linephoto/.  It was well covered in all the media – here’s a link to a NY Times piece : http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/01/nyregion/01CND-PROT.html

What we need
* We are looking for collaborating organizations to turn out people for this demonstration.
* We are also looking for experienced organizers, though we already have a number on board.
* We are looking for people willing to stand in for the unemployed for 14 minutes on January 17.

Contact:
Kristin Marting
Artistic Director, HERE
kristin@here.org
212-647-0202 x320

THE NEXT PINK SLIP MIGHT BE YOURS!

Imagine being one of the 14 million Americans who lost their job during the last four years.

Since December 2007, the American economy has suffered a loss of 6.3 million. Millions more have given up hope of finding a job and are not even counted in current unemployment statistics.

With the U.S. economy slowly recovering from one of the longest and deepest recessions since the end of World War II, we are still facing a 9.1% unemployment rate – compared to a 4.7% rate in November 2007.

The Economy should have been gaining 1.8 million jobs a year, not losing jobs. In other words, the economy is down 10 to 12 million jobs from where it should be.

More people were living in poverty last year than in any year since the Census Bureau began keeping records half a century ago. In the meantime, the richest 1% has tripled its wealth.

We stand in this unemployment line to recognize those who have lost their jobs and their ability to support themselves and their families.

The line stretches through Manhattan for miles – from Wall Street to Times Square. There are more than 6,000 standing here today, each representing over 1,000 Americans who have lost their jobs in the past years.

Stop the spread of pink slips!

… the next pink slip might have your name on it.

___________________________________________________________________________________________
UNEMPLOYMENT: BY THE NUMBERS

• 14 million: total number of Americans currently unemployed (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 09/2011)
• 6.3 million: number of people who have become unemployed since December 2007 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
• The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was 6.2 million in September. These individuals accounted for 44.6 percent of the unemployed. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 09/2011)
•  The number of persons employed part time for economic reasons (sometimes referred to as involuntary part-time workers) rose to 9.3 million in September. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 09/2011)
• The ratio of unemployed workers to job openings has been for three years straight at or above 3-to-1. (Economic Policy Institute, 10/2011)
• The number of job openings decreased by 157,000. The general trend shows no net improvement in the number of job openings since March 2011. (Economic Policy Institute, 10/2011)
• Since June 2011, 28 states and the District of Columbia have seen their unemployment rates rise, and 22 states have lost jobs. (Economic Policy Institute, 10/2011)
• More Americans filed for bankruptcy protection in March 2010 than at any time since federal bankruptcy laws were overhauled in 2005. (Reuters, 2010)
• About 20% of American adults who have jobs are earning only $10.65 an hour or less. Even at 40 hours a week, that amounts to less than $22,314, the poverty level for a family of four. The federal minimum wage currently stands at $7.25 an hour (18 states set their own rates above the federal level, maxing out at $8.67 an hour in Washington State). (CNNMoney, 2011)