Hometown Hero
Senator Obama campaigns for President close to home
 |
| Presidential hopeful Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) speaks at rally for workers rights on March 3, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images/NewsCom) |
March 5, 2007
Workers’ rights were the focus of a campaign appearance by Illinois Senator Barack Obama in downtown Chicago recently. He was joined by fellow Democrats from Illinois, Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Jan Schakowsky. Both elected officials gave their support to Obama’s bid for higher office.
Obama is a frontrunner in the race to become the Democratic Party’s candidate for President in 2008. In popularity polls, he is currently second to Senator Hillary Clinton of New York.
The rally was held to protest Chicago’s Resurrection Hospital’s refusal to allow its workers to form a union. It was also in support of proposed legislation to make it easier for workers to create unions.
"We will pass the Employee Free Choice Act. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when," said Obama. "We may have to wait for the next President to sign it, but we will get this thing done." President George W. Bush has said he will veto the bill if it is approved by Congress.
Workers say that unions help guarantee them basic privileges that they are now being denied, such as safe working conditions and regular work breaks.
“In this land of value and opportunity, we value the labor of every American,” Obama told the 1,500 workers activists at the rally.
Obama also spoke about the hardships many working Americans face and how he would work to change their lives for the better. While delivering his speech, he was briefly disturbed by anti-war protesters who were quickly escorted out. Obama pointed out that he is also against the war.
After the Chicago rally, Obama traveled to Alabama for an event commemorating the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery voting rights march.
Scholastic Kid Reporters are on the campaign trail. Keep up with the latest election news in this special report.
Joe Wlos is a member of the Scholastic Kids Press Corps.
- Teacher Store
-
Presidents: Fact & Fiction
The Teacher Store 
Presidents: Fact & Fiction
During this election season teach your students about our country's history and its leaders with this outstanding collection of classroom books.
$53.00 You save: 33%
Paperback Book Collection | Grades K-2
Grades K-2 $53.00
- Scholastic Store
-
Candidates, Campaigns and Elections 4th Edition
The Scholastic Store 
Candidates, Campaigns and Elections 4th Edition
by Linda Scher, Mary JohnsonHelp students understand the election process and get excited about upcoming elections! Through engaging activities such as role-playing, interviewing, debating, and graphing students will learn how our government is organized, investigate and analyze how politicians present themselves and are covered by the media, and much more. This revised and updated edition also includes literature links, a colorful poster, and a reproducible "My Election Journal" that students can personalize and then use to keep track of the 2008 presidential election.
For use with Grades 4?8.
$12.79 You save: 20%
books;teaching resources;paperbacks | Ages 9-12
Ages 9-12 $12.79
ONLINE ACTIVITY
