Phila. crowd protests Gingrich's platform

Hundreds of protesters surrounded the Mellon Bank Center at 1735 Market Street yesterday to protest U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Newt Gingrich's views regarding Medicare and abortion, among other issues. Gingrich was in Philadelphia yesterday to attend a $5,000-per-plate dinner to raise funds for the Republican Party. The dinner took place in the Mellon Bank Center. The crowd yelled phrases such as, "Go home Newt," and "We the people will never be defeated," while carrying signs reading, "Give Newt the boot," "Tax the rich" and "Silence the salamander." Groups represented at the rally included the National Council of Senior Citizens, Citizens for Environmental Rights, National Abortion Rights Action League and members of local labor unions. Member of Local 542 of the Operating Engineers Bill Heaton said much of the crowd was made up of tradespeople, carpenters, operating engineers and electricians, most of whom are unemployed. "Ninety percent of the people here are probably out of work," he said. He added that middle-class workers do not earn fair wages. "Gingrich is the parasite of the working-class people," he said. Philadelphia Police officers prevented the protesters from entering the building, standing between the doors and the crowd. At times, police formed a line and forced the vociferous crowd away from the entrance to the building. Uniformed and plainclothes police officers also lined the one-square-block area between 17th and 18th streets and between JFK Boulevard and Market Street. David Cottrill, a member of Act Up Philadelphia, said various organizations helped to organize the protest. "A coalition was built among disparate groups such as Citizens Action, Act Up Philadelphia and United Way," he said. "Several groups were notified, and unions made an especially strong showing. "The protest addresses a variety of issues that affect members of every group represented here," he added. He added that members of Act Up Philadelphia said they feel the government should devote a significant portion of the budget to finding a cure for the AIDS. "He supports major cuts in Medicaid," Cottrill said. "Gingrich has affected the change in Congress on a national scale, and the change has trickled down to Pennsylvania." Other signs criticized Republicans' cuts in college loan programs, the "Contract With America" and legislation abolishing the 40-hour work week. Member of the Socialist Party Nancy Cole criticized government's determination of public policy based on the international economy. "Gingrich is an example of what is wrong with our political system," she said. "He is extremely anti-working class."