Why we're protesting SugarHouse
This week, Casino-Free Philadelphia was honored to win Citypaper's choice award for activism. The honor is a testament to your hard work, and our collective victory in keeping casinos from opening in Philadelphia for more than three years.
Next Tuesday morning, we hope you'll continue this proud record of activism and join us in a citizens' protest of any construction at the SugarHouse site on the Delaware river.
It's time for us to put our bodies on the line for what we believe in. Time and again, it's been demonstrated that Philadelphians don't want predatory slots parlors in their neighborhoods, they don't want an industry that will result in a net loss of jobs and revenue, and they refuse to support politicians who look the other way when undemocratic laws are passed in the middle of the night.
The action on Tuesday morning will be comprised of both nonviolent direct action and a supporting rally. For those interested in being a part of the direct action, you must attend the training this Sunday afternoon. If you plan to participate in the support rally, you aren't required to attend the training, but we strongly recommend it. The action and rally will begin Tuesday morning at 6AM, in front of the SugarHouse site at Frankford and Delaware Avenues. View map and get directions.
Dozens of people are already signed up for the action, and we wanted to share some of their reasons with you:
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"I will be there because I object strenuously to the placement of casinos in our neighborhoods and I want the supporters of this to know how I feel." --Andrea Preis, South Philly "I believe that the legislation that enabled the development of casinos in Pennsylvania was the result of a corrupt process. I believe that local economies suffer and fail when casinos extract and divert local income. I believe that the predatory practices of the casinos entice persons to take risks with income originally intended to pay bills, put food on the table and provide and provide opportunities for personal, family and community growth." --Rev. Robin Hynicka, Arch Street United Methodist Church |
Nearly three years ago, in one of Casino-Free Philadelphia's first direct actions against casinos, 14 Philadelphians served a "citizen's search warrant" to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for access to documents about casinos that were rightfully subject to public review. The action, Operation Transparency, was a milestone in building public support for Philadelphians' control over their own city. Norma VanDyke, a long-time Casino-Free supporter, talked about her experience and how it relates to Tuesday's action:
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"The day prior to the action, 14 of us met to be trained in civil disobedience, just as you will be doing. I found it to be a comforting and enlightening experience, which helped me feel both prepared and supported." |
