Marlborough MoveOn.org Group Holds Protest in Westborough

Although there were strong emotions, a peaceful protest was held on Wednesday, Aug. 10 in the Westborough Rotary by members of a new Marlborough council of MoveOn.org. This gathering was part of a nationwide protest, "Jobs Not Cuts," organized by the group.

In an e-mail to its members, MoveOn.org stated, "Disgust, frustration, and anger. That's what the country is feeling over the debt ceiling deal."

"Congress has to stop us from falling into a tea party recession — we need to create jobs and invest in America instead," according to another e-mail circulated by MoveOn.org.

This past July 16, Laura Wagner, of Marlborough, hosted a We Build the Dream gathering at her home. The attendees formed what is now the Marlborough council of MoveOn.org. Wagner and David Rubenstein of Westborough are co-chairs.

Rubenstein told Patch that he was new to protesting. "I felt like I had to do something. I'm not happy."

Wagner said, "I am angry with the manipulation by the oligarchy - the few privileged elite - that hold the majority of the wealth and they manipulate our government and policy at the expense of everyone else."

According to Wagner, a representative from MoveOn.org contacted the Westborough Police Department and was told that if there were less than 20 people involved in the protest, a permit was not needed. She said that a total of 40 people signed-up to join the protest.

Starting at noon, close to 20 protesters fanned out around the rotary. Traffic slowed, and a few cars honked their horns. There were very few other people on the streets, and no one was willing to comment on the protest.

By 1:30 p.m., there were a handful of protesters in the center of the rotary, away from traffic.

Wagner said that Wednesday afternoon, many participants from the Marlborough group would be travelling to Boston to join a protest at the Tia's Boston, a restaurant where Senator Scott Brown will be holding a fundraiser. Several hundred people are expected to participate.

Signs at the protest were varied but were all targeted to the same point, "Jobs Not Cuts." Wagner gave Patch a copy of the group's Contract for the American Dream. Here are the major issues:

1. Invest in American's infrastructure.
2. Create 21st century energy jobs.
3. Invest in public education.
4. Offer Medicare for all.
5. Make work pay.
6. Secure social security.
7. Return to fairer tax rates.
8. End the wars and invest at home.
9. Tax Wall Street speculation.
10. Strenghten democracy.

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