Ed Markey

The crowd chanted "They say cut back, We say fight back" before the speakers came to the podium.

Congressman Ed Markey addressed the crowd to remind them what caused the financial crisis (and it wasn't public public sector workers.) Next, Congressman Mike Capuano announced, "I am a cheesehead" to communicate his solidarity with the working people of Wisconsin fighting for the right to bargain collectively for wages, benefits and work conditions. Mike foretold of similar attacks on worker rights by Republicans soon to come in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania. He said it was a fight for the middle class.

Health Care For All, HFCA, organized a Labor Day rally and march in support of health care reform, which started with speeches at the gazebo on the Boston Common and ended after a march and more live music at Copley Square.

To set a festive tone at the gazebo, a funk band followed by a rag time band played as the crowd of thousands gathered. Speakers on the gazebo included Rep. Michael Capuano, AG Martha Coakley, Rep. Stephen Lynch, Mayor Thomas Menino, Rep. Ed Markey, Rep. John Tierney, Betty McGuire from SEIU, a representative from Doctors for America, and a woman who told her story about needing surgery and being uninsured.

Lisa Williams links to more comments on the end of the station and says it wouldn't have been possible without the Telecom Act of 1996, which our own Ed Markey helped write:

... Markey's Telecom Act of 1996 lifted ownership limitations on media companies, clearing the way for those juggernauts of bland Clear Channel and Infinity Radio, each of which now own hundreds of radio stations across the US, many of which have been converted to robo-programmed format stations with no live or local DJs. Oh, that bill was supposed to lower your phone and cable bill by introducing competition. Has yours gone down? No? ...