“Unrig Our Economy” Launches To Fight for an Economy That Works for Working People

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 30, 2022

PRESS CONTACT:
[email protected]

“Unrig Our Economy” Launches To Fight for an Economy That Works for Working People

New seven-figure campaign is fighting for working Americans and holding corporations, their wealthy executives, and the politicians who enable them accountable. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, a coalition of community groups and economic advocates announced the launch of Unrig Our Economy, a new multi-year, seven-figure national campaign to rewrite the rules of our economy to take power back for everyday Americans. The campaign is led by an advisory board of economic experts, advocates, and community leaders — including from Tax March and Health Care Voter, which will merge under the Unrig Our Economy banner, uniting the campaigns’ nearly one million members. The campaign is kicking off with a virtual event featuring keynote speakers Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), along with a panel of experts, including Matt Morrison, Alex Harman, and Sa’Ra Skipper (RSVP here). 

“Massive corporations and their allies have rigged the economy, the rules the rest of us are playing by, to enrich themselves at the expense of working people, and Republicans have helped them every step of the way,” said Sarah Baron, Unrig Our Economy Campaign Director. “This campaign will go on offense to make the case that progressive solutions, which we know are popular — from making corporations and the rich pay their fair share in taxes to lessening corporate power — are what will actually help everyday Americans.”

Through paid media and grassroots engagement calling out corporate bad actors and their enablers in Congress, Unrig Our Economy will fight for working Americans who are being held back by economic policies that funnel the benefits of a growing economy to the already wealthy, and prove to elected officials, policymakers, and the American public that progressive economic populism is what’s needed to return economic power to working Americans and build a strong and vibrant middle class.

A key component of this national effort is working within key House districts including NY-11, IA-02, NE-02, and CA-22 to uplift the stories of hardworking district residents and shine a light on where their representatives stand — with working people or with corporations and the rich who’ve rigged our economy.

The campaign’s advisory board is made up of respected economic experts, leaders, and advocates, including:

  • Vasudha DesikanPolicy Director of Action Center on Race & Economy
  • Domenica Ghanem, Director of Public Relations at Community Change/Action
  • Indi Dutta-Gupta, Co-Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality
  • Alex Harman, Director of Government Affairs, Antimonopoly and Competition Policy at Economic Security Project Action
  • Matt Morrison, Executive Director of Working America
  • Lindsay Owens, Executive Director of Groundwork Collaborative
  • Laura Packard, Executive Director of Health Care Voter
  • Maura Quint, Campaign Director of Americans for Tax Fairness

Vasudha DesikanPolicy Director of Action Center on Race & Economy said: 
“When we talk about the economy and the needs of working people, we must center communities of color who continue to bear the brunt of a rigged system. Corporations, Wall Street, and the wealthy prey on working people of color to grow their profits. We at ACRE are proud to stand beside those fighting to fix the rules of our rigged economy to address structural racism by holding the financial sector accountable.”

Domenica GhanemDirector of Public Relations at Community Change/Action said: 
“The power working people hold is stronger than billionaire greed. We cannot return to a status quo where millions have to choose between buying groceries and filling up their gas tank. It’s time for us to flex the power that comes with being essential and fight for long term solutions for an economy that works for all of us.” 

Indi Dutta-Gupta, Co-Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality said:
“Working and middle-class people continue to struggle after decades of economic policymaking tilted toward the wealthy and well-connected. Even today, as families are left with high costs for essentials and a shortage of quality jobs, large corporations and the rich continue to profit. As long as our economy continues to favor powerful corporations and the wealthy, we cannot achieve economic or racial justice. I’m excited to join the fight alongside Unrig Our Economy to finally level the playing field and make our economy work for everyone.”

Alex Harman Director of Government Affairs, Antimonopoly and Competition Policy at Economic Security Project Action said:
“As the largest corporations continue to grow and amass record profits while keeping wages low, many of us are left to figure out how to make ends meet amid rising costs. It is undeniable that we are witnessing an unsustainable pattern of just a handful of mega corporations that increasingly exert unprecedented control over our entire economy. It’s not just a trend, it’s a sign of a broken system that needs to be rebalanced, urgently.”

Matt MorrisonExecutive Director of Working America said: 
“Working class people from Philadelphia to Phoenix, and everywhere in between, see and feel everyday that this economy is not built for their lives and families. When the basics like secure housing skyrocket while working class wages (even with recent increases) stagnate, it is no wonder that we recognize that the system is only serving the richest among us. If our challenge is to build a politics that puts forth shared prosperity ahead of factionalized grievance, I like those odds — millions of working class people against billions of dollars — because every night the large majority of people tell us they want to join in this fight — they just need the invitation.

Laura Packard, Executive Director of Health Care Voter said:
“Greedy corporations and Republican lawmakers have blocked health care reform in America for years, and undermined every attempt to improve health care access and affordability. This means people like you and me pay more for everything from doctor visits to prescription drugs. It’s time to hold them accountable.”

Lindsay OwensExecutive Director of Groundwork Collaborative said:
“The economy does well when we all do well. But for decades, we have allowed megacorporations and the wealthy to strengthen their chokehold over our economy — while workers, consumers, and small business owners foot the bill. It’s time to hold the corporations, their wealthy executives, and the leaders who enable them accountable.”

Maura Quint, Campaign Director of Americans for Tax Fairness said:
“On April 15th, 2017, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets to protest an unfair tax system that placed the demands of the wealthiest over the needs of the rest of us and Tax March was born. The movement has only grown stronger since that historic day, as the injustices built into our economic system have been laid bare and we have grown to take them on. Tax March is thrilled to join Unrig Our Economy in the fight for a truly fair system that works for all of us.”

To learn more about the campaign, visit UnrigOurEconomy.com or contact [email protected]