Built out of wood in 1934, the crumbling foundation of the Evan’s Street Bridge in Downtown Syracuse created a symbolic backdrop as a cross section of the Central New York community, the grass roots foundation of society, came together on November 17 to demand that Congress pass the American Jobs Act, repair our badly damaged infrastructure, and end corporate greed.



Over a hundred people representing unions, faith-based and progressive organizations, and the Occupy Syracuse movement, held signs that read “We are the 99%” and listened to speakers who stressed the importance of forcing big banks to pay their fair share so we can begin to rebuild the bridges that will carry us and our children to a better future.



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The demonstration in Syracuse was part of the nationwide National Day of Action for good jobs and a fair, democratic economy taking place in major cities across the country. The bridge location was chosen as part of a citizen inspection of ten local bridges that have been deemed structurally deficient. Last November, State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli reported that more than 40 percent of the state’s roads and bridges are substandard or obsolete, almost double the national average.



“There is a need for long-term transportation infrastructure that would create thousands of jobs. Why are we allowing our elected officials to protect the rich by not passing a millionaires tax or eliminating tax incentives for the rich, while the other 99% of citizens struggle to survive, waiting for a jobs bill that would put Americans back to work?” asked Pastor Kevin Agee of Hopps Memorial CME Church.



Gail Stubbs, a healthcare worker at Loretto Nursing Home, braved the cold to hold a banner at the rally, “I’m out here because I am part of the 99 percent,” she said, “and so are you.”