For Immediate Release
Contact: UE Communications Director Jonathan Kissam, jkissam@ueunion.org, (802) 343-1745
The Musk-Trump Agenda isn’t just in Washington, Chicago’s own billionaires are wrecking Social Security and raising the cost of living
What: Labor Protest Outside Sonder Ontarie
Where: 446 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL
When: 12:00pm Monday, August 25th
Who: UE, Chicago Teachers Union, Grassroots Collaborative, ICIRR
Trump’s recent budget bill diverts $213 billion from the public good. Working people in Chicago are shining a light on the role of Valor Equity CEO Antonio Gracias in engineering this transfer of resources from Medicaid, Social Security, public education, and other programs that benefit the public good into the pockets of corporations and the wealthy.
During the UE’s national convention they will rally outside of Valor Equities investment, Sonder apartments. Speakers will include Chicago Teachers Union Vice President Jackson Potter, Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, rank-and-file UE members from around the country, and representatives of Grassroots Collaborative and the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR).
Gracias, a friend of Elon Musk, is not just reaping the benefits of cutting government services but wielding the knife. Gracias served in Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) until recently, specifically targeting Social Security for cuts.
During his time at DOGE, the Social Security Administration began implementing plans to cut 7,000 jobs, roughly 12% of its workforce, sparking widespread concern over service delays, staffing shortages, and closed field offices. DOGE worked with federal agencies to build systems that accelerate deportations, revoke parole, and target asylum seekers. They also revoked the social security numbers of thousands of immigrants, preventing them from working or accessing financial services like banking or credit cards.
The protest is part of momentum building for Governor Pritzker to address Illinois’ own $10,000,000,000 worth of tax breaks and follow the example of other states in taxing the rich in order to invest in public transition, education, health, and more.
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