Last week was a good week for democracy in the United States. Thousands of grassroots activists, including many 1199SEIU members, converged on Washington for Take Back the Capitol, a weeklong series of actions that brought people power to D.C.The week featured worker visits to the offices of 99 Senators and congresspeople—ensuring that the 99% were heard on the Hill—and an intense day of demonstrations on K Street, the stomping grounds of the corporate lobbyists that have been dominating and distorting the nation’s politics."The energy was amazing, said Melissa Thompson, an 1199er and dietary worker at Lutheran Care Center in Poughkeepsie, NY. “This is the first time I’ve seen the process in action. We met several elected officials who were clearly not with us. Now I know who they are and I am going to talk to my co-workers about how we can push back.”A broad coalition organized the week of action, including MoveOn.org, the American Dream Movement, SEIU, Occupy Together and many other groups. In the spirit of the Occupy movement, the coalition set up a tent city on the National Mall on Monday, December 5, and then the week’s activities began in earnest on Tuesday as the activists fanned out to the congressional offices.Idris Mustapha, an environmental services worker at Laurel Regional Hospital in Maryland, visited with Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) to share his experiences with short-staffing and explained how devastating cuts to Medicare and Medicaid would be.“I want to make sure our patients are taken care of and have what they need,” said Mustapha. “When our workload keeps going up, it’s harder and harder to give our patients the quality care they deserve.”After his visit to Capitol Hill, Joe Strattford, a maintenance plant operator at Poughkeepsie’s Lutheran Care Center, said, "I have a new understanding of how the political process works and why it’s so important that we’re involved.”“When the elected officials who spend so much time in Washington see us and hear our stories, they understand us better,” Strattford continued. “And if we don't stay in touch and keep reminding them who we are, how can we hold them accountable?"On Wednesday, the activists shifted their focus from Capitol Hill to K Street, as thousands of protestors marched from the tent city to the offices of D.C.’s high-power lobbyists. Marching peacefully through the heart of downtown D.C., the protestors chanted, “People over profits” and “This is what democracy looks like.” Hundreds of onlookers showed their support by chanting along.Then, just as the lobbyists have been blocking action on the president’s jobs bill and other progressive priorities, groups of protestors blocked the entrance to lobby shops up and down K Street. The protestors focused on firms that serve companies like Verizon and General Electric, which have made billions in profits but paid nothing in taxes in recent years.Agnes Moore, a certified nursing assistant at Rock Glen Nursing Home in Baltimore, was thrilled to be a part of the protests. “This shows if we all stick together, we can actually make a difference,” Moore said. “People know what’s happening in our economy isn’t fair, and it’s time for us to fix it.”The week closed with a prayer vigil on Thursday. With more than 20 million Americans unemployed or unable to find full-time work, potent prayers are welcome. The ministers who led the service urged the assembled activists to supplement those prayers with powerful actions when they return home.Mary Ives, a CNA at Glendale Nursing Home in Schenectady, NY, said she’ll definitely take the energy of the week back home with her. "Making our voices heard in Washington was great,” said Ives. “And what I appreciated most was meeting union members who do the same thing we do, and live on the West Coast. Their issues are no different. It made me realize how much power we really do have in our numbers."- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/1199ers_help_take_back_the_capitol#sthash.9OPAUDmS.dpuf