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Hundreds of Union Members Practice Their Chants Ahead of Mich. Capitol Protest: ‘We Are Not the Violent Ones…’

Dec. 8, 2012 9:04pm
Union Members Practice for Upcoming Protests at Michigan Capitol Building | Lisa Fithian

Community organizer Lisa Fithian, left, teaches SEIU Healthcare Michigan member Frank Shaft, 26, of Lansing, and other attendees how to interact with police Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012 at UAW Local 600 union hall in Dearborn, Mich. (Photo: AP)

(TheBlaze/AP) — More than 200 activists attended a training session Saturday to prepare for an upcoming protest at the Michigan Capitol, where lawmakers are putting the final touches on legislation that would allow workers to stop paying union dues.

Between chants, cheers and applause, organizers warned those at the training to be prepared for insults and obstruction Tuesday in Lansing. The volunteers lined up on opposite sides of a long hall at UAW Local 600 in suburban Detroit and took turn turns portraying protesters and union critics.

“Humanize the situation. Be clear with your intentions. Introduce yourself,” national labor activist and longtime community agitator Lisa Fithian said through a megaphone. “They’re going to do everything they can to criminalize us.”

Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature passed legislation Thursday that would allow workers to opt out of paying union dues at businesses where employees are represented by a union. The final version is expected to win approval soon and be signed by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. Protests and possible civil disobedience are planned because the law would pose a major financial blow to organized labor.

“We are not the violent ones,” Fithian told the crowd. “What is it that the police are going to do? What is it that the governor is going to order? … We have to remember: The police are not our enemy in this fight. They’re doing a job. It’s our job to convince them that they should put their guns down and join the people.”

Fithian was also involved in training Occupy Wall Street protesters, and her tactics have been featured on TheBlaze before.  Back in May, she told a gathering that they were “building a new world” and instructed them on how to mob cops in order to avoid arrest.  In an expletive-filled speech, she said it didn’t “fu**ing matter” if she gets arrested.  One of her most well-known protégés is anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan.

Union Members Practice for Upcoming Protests at Michigan Capitol Building | Lisa Fithian

Union workers fill the entire of the Capitol rotunda in Lansing, Mich. , Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. (Photo: AP)

The meeting, which was attended by UAW President Bob King, lasted more than two hours, but reporters were only allowed to watch a portion.

Mark Coco, 27, a graduate student at Wayne State University, said he would protest in Lansing, having recently worked on a failed campaign to put collective bargaining rights in the state Constitution.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been involved in this. I’m trusting that it pay dividends,” Coco said in an interview. In his opinion, the legislation “is a way to divide workers, divide colleagues.”

Katie Oppenheim, the head of a union local that represents 4,500 nurses at University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, said workers whose pay and benefits are negotiated by a union should pay dues.

She believes her members appreciate the fruits of collective bargaining and will keep paying. But she acknowledged “the reality that people like things for free.”  Outside observers might point out that it may not be that they want the benefits for free, but that they don’t want to be forced to pay for something they don’t agree with.

The legislation has already been challenged in court by a union activist who claims the state Open Meetings Act was violated when Michigan State Police barred the doors to the Capitol on Thursday. Ari Adler, a spokesman for Republican House Speaker Jase Bolger, told the Detroit Free Press the lawsuit was “baseless and frivolous” and “more about receiving attention than getting justice.”

A hearing on the lawsuit has been scheduled for Thursday, but union activist and Highland Park school board member Robert Davis told the newspaper he would request an earlier date.

Here is video from their last protest, which was so disruptive it shut down the Capitol building:

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Comments (112)

1 2 3
  • tcs316
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:54pm

    What a bad 40 days for the unions in Michigan. They lost their bid to alter our state constitution to enforce collective bargaining in a landslide and now this. I almost feel bad for them… almost

    Report this comment

    tcs316  
  • nighttrainno9
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:53pm

    The day of the unions is over,they are just like the parasites living
    on welfare in this country and it’s killing us economically. All the
    industry will be moving to “right to work” states. Between having to
    deal with obummers govt. and the unions, it makes more sense to
    lock the doors and walk away.

    Report this comment

    nighttrainno9  
    • JustMeHere_01
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:04pm

      @nighttrainno9
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:53pm
      The day of the unions is over,they are just like the parasites living
      on welfare in this country and it’s killing us economically. All the
      industry will be moving to “right to work” states. Between having to
      deal with obummers govt. and the unions, it makes more sense to
      lock the doors and walk away
      ————————————–
      I wish you were right but remember that the people just re-elected a President that has his roots as a community organizer. He is a big supportr of public unions. If I am not mistaken he is in support of the TSA being unionized.

      Why would someone that gets their power from unions then not take actions that fully supports them.

      Report this comment

      JustMeHere_01  
    • wordsofwisdom
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 1:38am

      Unions strangle companies until they are no longer able to survive then blame the rich for not giving them all their money as well. All the while making it almost impossible to get rid of non productive employees that only
      bleed them dry because of the union protections against getting fired. They force people to pay union dues that are used to re-elect politicians that are destroying the country systematically which will destroy your job & your future. But you people keep helping them destroy your life like good little lemmings. How stupid is that? Makes me wonder if “The End Times” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_10381143 are really here as this song says.

      Report this comment

      wordsofwisdom  
    • warloch
      Posted on December 10, 2012 at 11:12am

      Never count the unions out. Remember they are Communists with no morals, conscience or ethics like the rats they are they will do anythng to survive.

      Report this comment

      warloch  
  • demsrtraitors
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:50pm

    take a good look at these people. They are your enemy and traitors to America, capitalism and freedom.!! typical liberals, marxists, socialists and democrats.

    Report this comment

    demsrtraitors  
    • mpoconnor7
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:50pm

      We all saw how these Union people behaved in Wisconsin with the brouhaha with Scott Walker and the Teachers Union.

      Report this comment

      mpoconnor7  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 5:52am

      And don’t forget the free Obama-Phone slime that want their share of the profits…

      Report this comment

      RepubliCorp  
    • JACKTHETOAD
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 6:09am

      This is a head shaker if I ever saw one. The only topper would be is if it was in Wisconsin. Talk about ‘divine symmetry’ there. …hoo-boy.

      Report this comment

      JACKTHETOAD  
  • Stiggs
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:42pm

    They’re not the violent ones like I’m the Queen of England.

    Katie Oppenheim, the head of a union local that represents 4,500 nurses at University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, said workers whose pay and benefits are negotiated by a union should pay dues….they don’t want to be forced to pay for something they don’t agree with.

    Gee, Katie…and taxpayers don’t like paying higher taxes for something they don’t agree with either.
    The days of union power are over, there’s no more money to be had….get it? Oh, that’s right, the unions backed Obama in the last election….ironic, eh?

    Report this comment

    Stiggs  
    • Conservative2
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 12:07am

      It’s Ironic too, it takes a page right out of the liberals book of destroy from with in!

      Now I’d like to see the state take the next step too, just like Wisconsin did and let the Unions collect their own dues too.

      In this economy I’d bet many cash struck union employes would make the choice not to pay dues in the end, 40% made that choice in Wisconsin!

      Report this comment

      Conservative2  
  • RonThundrEagle
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:30pm

    We are NOT the Violent ones and if you keep saying we are we will kick your ass………..
    Sure they aren’t and if you believe that I have some AZ Ocean front property to sell you. They bully people and destroy property all the time and force people to walk off their jobs no matter what they think yet they say they are NOT the violent ones.. BS… And Unions are in it for the big wigs leading them not for the workers.

    Report this comment

    RonThundrEagle  
    • Zipit
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:54pm

      Thunder! Maybe these idiots should swing through Dearborn with a couple of busses, and pick up some of their Muslim Brotherhood buddies for the protest! All of those non violent types, paired with the religion of peace, how could they go wrong? Great for their image, and Obama could fly in for a photo op with all of his peeps!

      Report this comment

      Zipit  
    • Stiggs
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:54pm

      Let’s not forget the introductory remarks by the teamsters’ Hoffa, ““President Obama, this is your army, we are ready to march,” Hoffa said. “But everybody here’s got to vote. If we go back, and keep the eye on the prize, let’s take these son of a b#*^ches out.”

      Lovely, peaceful union members…sure, right…

      Report this comment

      Stiggs  
  • noslave
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:13pm

    shut down the country,dont give obama a blank spending check,these are some of the people he keeps supporting with your tax dollars,while screwing your family out of things you worked hard to give to your own??he calls it re-distribution??i call it kick-backs to his supporters

    Report this comment

    noslave  
  • JustMeHere_01
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:10pm

    Mark Coco, 27, a graduate student at Wayne State University, said he would protest in Lansing, having recently worked on a failed campaign to put collective bargaining rights in the state Constitution.

    “This is the first time I’ve ever been involved in this. I’m trusting that it pay dividends,” Coco said in an interview. In his opinion, the legislation “is a way to divide workers, divide colleagues.”
    —————————————
    Of course. Put it in the constitution so that the people can be forced to pay higher taxes to give you your just dues. Unions, especially public unions will support candidates that promise to give them anything and everything that they want. All the politician has to do is vote for higher taxes to appease the unions. This is great isn’t it.

    Report this comment

    JustMeHere_01  
  • RANGER1965
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:06pm

    The collective intelligence of a union mob is the IQ of it’s lowest member.

    As the numbers grow so does the violence. The irony will be watching union thugs attacking dissenters while chanting they are not the violent ones.

    Report this comment

    RANGER1965  
    • Eastinfection
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:43pm

      I was thinking the same thing RANGER…

      Who is dumb enough to protest when someone REMOVES your obligation to pay a mandatory fee?

      NO! I WANT TO PAY IT!!!

      OK… so pay it,moron. You can still pay your dues if you want. No one is stopping you.

      Report this comment

      Eastinfection  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:50pm

      Hi East,

      What do you think will happen to those who chose not to pay?

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  
    • Silversmith
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:56pm

      Hi Monk

      In this economy, I think a whole lot of them will opt not to pay. I also think, at first, there will be some trouble for those folks. I also think that if there is, it will backfire on the Unions.

      Goodness, I never go that far into the future. Makes me tired!

      Silversmith

      Report this comment

      Silversmith  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 12:21am

      Hi Silversmith,

      I hope you’re right and it does backfire. I remember all those union “scab” remarks and paintings on cars. : (

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  
    • DMENTED
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 7:06am

      How can you practice a sucker punch? …the mind boggles. Pure evil.

      Report this comment

      DMENTED  
  • stopprintn
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:06pm

    This is a result of the big Tea Party push in the 2010 midterm, we may not win all the battles but it sure feels good when something goes our way. Keep it up…..eh!

    Report this comment

    stopprintn  
  • Katielee
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:05pm

    Fithian told the crowd.… We have to remember: The police are not our enemy in this fight. They’re doing a job. It’s our job to convince them that they should put their guns down and join the people.”

    Sounds like she’s planning a revolution.

    Report this comment

    Katielee  
  • pissantno.10
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:55pm

    it all ways seems to be the goverment unions haveing a problem.

    Report this comment

    pissantno.10  
  • Maxim Crux
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:54pm

    You would think that after they destroyed the place the last time that they would not let them back in.

    Report this comment

    Maxim Crux  
  • Leveraction3030
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:46pm

    Unions no longer serve a purpose other than to shut down the businesses that pay them. Wonder why China does so well? As much union work as possible has gone to them because we can not afford union shake downs. What do these idiots think will happen to their golden goose when the US comes crashing down. Communists countries don’t have unions you idiots!!!

    Report this comment

    Leveraction3030  
    • JustMeHere_01
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:36pm

      @Leveraction3030
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:46pm
      Unions no longer serve a purpose other than to shut down the businesses that pay them. Wonder why China does so well? As much union work as possible has gone to them because we can not afford union shake downs. What do these idiots think will happen to their golden goose when the US comes crashing down. Communists countries don’t have unions you idiots!!!
      ——————————–
      If I am not mistaken these are public unions. These are the people that fund the politicians campaigns and they in turn promise them what ever they ask for. It is easy for politicians to remain in power when they have the unions funneling the money back to them and all they have to do is find a reason to raise taxes to give back to the unions.

      Yes Public unions are great aren’t they.

      Report this comment

      JustMeHere_01  
  • circleDwagons
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:32pm

    LOL! people like things for free

    Report this comment

    circleDwagons  
    • SUNTZU
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:59pm

      FINE PRINT = But the price may be more than you can pay

      Report this comment

      SUNTZU  
  • Fitzzz
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:31pm

    Are all community organizers gay ?

    Report this comment

    Fitzzz  
    • pissantno.10
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:00pm

      i dont even think she probly ever has had sex with any one other than her self. there is not enough paper bags you could put over your head.

      Report this comment

      pissantno.10  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:30pm

    Revolution from within – this is what the progressive communist leadership of the unions, in coordination with Obama are achieving one step at a time.

    They claim and try to appear before the media (also leftist in league with the union) as “peaceful protest for the freedoms being denied to the masses by the oppression of a few capitalist elitists.”

    Learn well people what we is growing step by step, an explicit combination of propaganda, controlled violence (often staged) for the purpose of intimidation and terror and coercion, and the controlling of the ‘useful idiots’ of the lower ranking union-members who believe ‘that we are in the right even if we have to use violence.’

    Consider how fast and hard Obama will crack down on the unions (read: scapegoats, expendable) when someone crosses the line and blood is shed in violence? How long until the pressure mounts and someone does just that – which is what Obama wants to happen?

    Remember, Obama, the admin, the Democratic leadership, the radicals and the union are an alliance of convienence with one purpose: crush the Republic and impose a communist regime. They are not a truly united force, faction vies with faction, and ultimately this will lead them to defeat against a united PEOPLE of FREEDOM LOVING AMERICANS.

    Report this comment

    Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • BODYBAG
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 11:30pm

      @SNOWLEOPARD {GALLERY OF CAT FOLKS}
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:30pm
      Revolution from within – this is what the progressive communist leadership of the unions, in coordination with Obama are achieving one step at a time.
      ——————————————————-
      And you know what? He’s alot smarter than I ever gave him credit for.
      I knew from the beginning he was all about “fundamental transformation” and I knew exactly
      what that meant —- however, I never thought he’d be able to pull it off. My thinking was that
      the people of this country in the end would never go for it.

      He is pulling it off. They are transforming the country. And they’ve bought off enough dopes
      to support the whole thing.

      Report this comment

      BODYBAG  
    • barber2
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 9:45am

      Body: My thoughts exactly. “While America Slept ” the international Left was silently planning…

      Report this comment

      barber2  
  • Mutiny
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:30pm

    This is all coming to a head soon. When the dollar collapses and we have people dying of starvation we will see who the violent ones are.

    Report this comment

    Mutiny  
    • Eastinfection
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:47pm

      Yes.

      Yes we will.

      Report this comment

      Eastinfection  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 10:49pm

      Sup East…..

      Besides Turtle Soup.

      Are those real recipes you post that you know or do you look them up?

      Report this comment

      The-Monk  
    • Eastinfection
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 6:40am

      hi Monk,

      I stumbled on one when researching some animal story i found here. It made me laugh so i looked for more. I couldn’t believe what people actually eat. I saved the links & “go fishing” whenever an odd animal story pops up. I mostly do it for my 8yr old son. They make him laugh til he has tears running down his face. (he’s a vegetarian BTW)

      Report this comment

      Eastinfection  
  • barber2
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:28pm

    Hey, folks, these guys are just the ” proletariats” that the International Left drags out for their revolutions and their chaos. Nothing unusual. Especially during Obama II. The Mask can come off. Nothing to lose now….

    Report this comment

    barber2  
  • Fitzzz
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:27pm

    Yes thanks to unions, no more Hostess cup cakes

    Report this comment

    Fitzzz  
    • Lt_Scrounge
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 8:19pm

      Yep, and the head of the Teamsters union is p#$%^& off at the head of the Bakers’ union. Three of four unions agreed to concessions that would’ve kept those jobs intact. The Bakers’ union ordered a strike instead of even discussing the concessions with the membership. Hostess responded by beginning liquidation of assets. The Bankruptcy judge required that they go into mediation. The union refused to give, and mediation failed. So the Bakers’ union members have lost their jobs, but the head of the union is still collecting his 6 figure income. Who really benefited from being unionized?

      Report this comment

      Lt_Scrounge  
  • MDECKER
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:26pm

    I hope that Michigan won’t put up with the same delinquent behavior we in Wisconsin, still endure.

    Report this comment

    MDECKER  
  • barber2
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:26pm

    ” We are not the violent ones.” Hmm. What an interesting little sentence. Sounds so Alinsky Radical Left ! Sounds so much like the Chicago radical Democrats , like Bill Ayers, and those who studied at Alinsky’s knee. Like Obama, who learned his community agitation skills there before he became a lawyer for ACORN ! Such obvious connections. ( cannot believe people gave this radical another four years to destroy American capitalism and our economy. Or did they ? Like his school records, will all of this remain another American historical mystery ? )

    Report this comment

    barber2  
    • WaterTheTree
      Posted on December 9, 2012 at 8:24pm

      That phrase is being given to the union folks to ‘justify’ their own violence. They’ll say “*WE* aren’t violent, we are just protecting ourselves from the violence of unfair laws that will free people from having to pay to be in a union they don’t support.” “It’s not violence to burn a police car if the police were violent first by ordering us to stop overturning trash cans and smashing windows.” “It’s not violence to beat somone half to death if he snears when we chant pro-Communist… er… Union slogans.”

      Report this comment

      WaterTheTree  
  • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:22pm

    Yeah, we’ll find out who are the violent one’s during the protest. It was never anyone else, but union who were violent in Wisconsin last year.

    Report this comment

    Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
  • FANGS
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:19pm

    Hey, Hey , Ho, Ho, Union trash has got to go.

    Report this comment

    FANGS  
  • EveF.Destruction
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:14pm

    Unions are great and worth the few cents you have to pay, so everyone will want to join in, so what’s that problem?
    Could it be that people will discover that they can get the same wages and benefits without lining the pockets of thugs? Oh, no!

    Report this comment

    EveF.Destruction  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:11pm

    “It’s our job to convince them that they (Police) should put their guns down and join the people.”

    Yeah right, good luck with that. And why does she think the Police will have their guns out?

    Report this comment

    The-Monk  
    • TORCH9
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:20pm

      Excellent point!! They have always proven to be the brainwashed, violent ones. It’s wild how the unions have shifted over the years to becoming the actual enemy and huge contributors to violence. They try to pose as a pilar of reason to their followers/contributors, like the Democrat/Liberals try to, but actually creating less benefits in the end.

      Report this comment

      TORCH9  
    • freeberty
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:27pm

      Actually the police and fire unions are exempt from any right to work legislation, as long as these parasites gets their’s I’m sure they’ll do whatever they’re told. It also means that you as a taxpayer will still be paying union dues.

      Report this comment

      freeberty  
    • DadRocked
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:32pm

      Actual, and factual, of forcing folks to drink the Kool_Aid.

      This is so so lame…

      Report this comment

      DadRocked  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on December 8, 2012 at 9:34pm

      @Torch:

      That is their master plan in action: appear passive and that they are ‘being oppressed by the elite rich and capitalists and wealthy (read: 1%rs)” and that soon enough they will demand Socialism or a true Communist system of governance.

      What these union ‘useful idiots’ (as with the Occupy bands) is that they are expendable as far as Obama is concerned. When the day comes they are no longer needed, they will be summarily disposed of – literally the first to face the wall.

      Remember, among radicals and revolutionaries such as the Unions and Obama, what matters in the end is not which side wins, just that their particular faction wins the final battle and comes out on top in the end.

      For among radicals as with communists, second place means death (and often literally).

      Report this comment

      Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
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