Progress Illinois

Earlier we covered the large march that started the third and final day of the Showdown in Chicago (catch up on days one and two here).  After making their way across the Chicago River, the thousands of protestors congregated in front of the Sheraton Hotel (home to the American Bankers Association annual conference), where they heard from an array of speakers, some locally-based and some from the national stage.  Among them were Change to Win chair Anna Burger and Tom Balanoff, president of the SEIU Illinois State Council (which sponsors this website).  "Did [the bankers] build anything? Create anything? Do anything?" Burger asked the crowd, which repeatedly responded "No!" Watch some excerpts from their remarks:

We'll have more video from the rally as the day goes on.  Be sure to check back.

3:06 p.m.: Here's a taste of the speech given by Angenita Tanner, a child care provider and member of SEIU Healthcare Illinois/Indiana.  "America bailed out the banks," she told the crowd. "But the banks aren't bailing out the people!"  Watch it: 

Here's more footage, courtesy of SEIU and National People's Action:

4:15 p.m.: And here is AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka addressing the protestors:

Finally, Action Now's Denise Dixon told the crowd that the bankers "had the nerve to have a party in Chicago and didn't invite us." "We came anyway!" a marcher yelled back. Watch it: