Chet Nettestad and I just returned from a fairly successful health care reform rally ("Go Back and Get 'er Done") at the Fargo Dome parking lot in Fargo, ND. Over 800 activists attended the event co-sponsored by: AFL-CIO, SEIU, AFSCME, People's Alliance (CWA, USWA, UAW, IFPT), Faith for Reform, Nurse's Association, AFT, North Dakota Farmers Union and several Fargo-Moorhead area community organizations.
The North Dakota Farmers Union brought a bus of members to the rally.
Attendees were given the use of cell phones and tablets and pens and provided numbers and addresses for phoning and/or writing members of their U.S. Congressional Delegation.
I coined the following slogans at the rally: "No highway to health is a highway to hell" and "Public Option not Coop-tion." The first slogan is a riff on the AFSCME slogan, "Highway to Health care," which decorated their green kerchiefs.
Speakers included Joel Heitcamp, who replaced Ed Schultz on KFGO's News and Views radio show, and his sister, activist Heidi Heitcamp who once ran for Governor of North Dakota.
Photos by Ted Fiskevold: North Dakota activist and breast cancer survivor Heidi Heitcamp (above); Hundreds rallying in Fargo Dome parking lot (below).
Ted Fiskevold is a member of the National Writers Union/UAW Local 1981/ Twin Cities Local 13.He lives in Detroit Lakes.
More photos below the fold. The Fargo Forum covered the rally here and Workday Minnesota has posted a report as well.
Dan Peterson, Home Health manager; Chet Nettestad, President, CWA Local 7219; Ted Fiskevold, NWU/UAW. (right)
A diverse coalition of labor, faith, and farm communities rallied in Fargo. (below)
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