Salt Lake City, UT – On July 25, members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) arrived at the Natural History Museum for their annual conference. ALEC is the brain trust behind the Arizona anti-immigrant law SB1070 and the Wisconsin union busting laws of Governor Scott Walker. Two dozen protesters confronted the lobbyists at the entrance of the ALEC conference. The action was organized by the Revolutionary Student Union, a group that is a member of the ALEC Welcoming Committee.

Enraged by ALEC’s secretiveness and history of writing laws that benefit business instead of people, the protesters carried signs against ALEC policies, particularly demanding a halt to cuts on education. They chanted slogans such as “Shame on ALEC, shame on you,” “Money for jobs and education, not for wars and occupation,” and “Education should be free, not just for the bourgeoisie.” Several protesters, including students and teachers, gave speeches expressing their outrage at ALEC for attempting to turn the educational system into a money-making tool.

The protesters were restricted to a small area near the entrance of the building; however the ALEC members themselves showed no respect for the setup. On several occasions perturbed ALEC members physically moved the barriers set up by police, attempting to provoke the protesters. The protesters held their ground and continued to disrupt the ALEC conference with their chanting and picketing, shining a light on these right-wing lobbyists.

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