At the O W S Tribunal….

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Commentary by Chippy Dee, Photos © by Bud Korotzer

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There was a Russell – style tribunal on the super-powerful investment house Goldman-Sachs. All of it appeared live on Democracy Now (WBAI). First Chris Hedges gave a brief description of the enormous power and influence of the company and the role they play in shaping economic policy in the U.S. When he finished Cornell West talked about how these policies had destroyed the lives of so many Americans and people in other parts of the world as well, for example in the manipulation of food prices. Then, one after another, people gave testimony as to how their lives and security were put in jeopardy by the current financial situation. They spoke of lost jobs, lost homes, lack of healthcare, insecurity on jobs they’ve held for many years because there is a very active effort to destroy unions, unemployment insurance running out and not being able to feed their families. Basics, like a free public education are being threatened by privatization. Some made the point that things like education and healthcare should never be private because the only way to profit was to cut out what children and sick people need. All agreed that the only thing that we the people could do at this point was unite and fight back. No other course of action would resolve this disaster.

When the tribunal was over a large group of people marched to the Goldman-Sachs Headquarters to tell them that they had been found guilty on all counts.

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The speakers…

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