10 O'Clock News | [Welfare recipients protest at the State House]

Senator Jack Backman at a rally for welfare recipients

[Welfare recipients protest at the State House]
Original Airdate: 3/10/1986

Length: 00:15:50
Item Type: newstape - original footage

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Full Description

1:00:13
Visual: Welfare recipients protest on the steps of the Massachusetts State House. Snow covers the sidewalk and the steps. Two protesters hold a banner reading, "Up to poverty." A white female protester addresses the crowd. The protester says that she has worked all of her life; that she is now on welfare due to bad health; that she wants to be treated with respect; that she cannot live on $212 per month. The crowd of protesters cheers for the woman. The protesters in the crowd carry protest signs. Two of the signs read, "Welfare is no fair" and "Poverty is the pits." There are many white, middle-aged women among the protesters. Jack Backman (State Senator) addresses the crowd. Backman welcomes the crowd to the statehouse. Backman notes that there are Congressional candidates present to support the protesters; that other politicians need to support them. Backman says that Massachusetts has the lowest unemployment rate in the nation; that Massachusetts is a wealthy state; that there are 80,000 mothers and 154,000 children who are on welfare and living below the poverty line. Backman says that he hopes to pass legislation to change this. The audience applauds.
Shot of a banner representing a welfare check.

1:03:02
V: Darlene Ellis (welfare activist) addresses the crowd.
Shots of Joe Kennedy (candidate for US Congress) and George Bachrach (candidate for US Congress) on the steps with the protesters. Shots of protesters with signs.
Ellis says that she works with an organization supporting the rights of the poor; that welfare recipients and the poor need to know their rights. Ellis says that there are many misconceptions about the welfare poor; that the welfare poor do not "drive cadillacs."
Shot of the demonstration from the top of the State House steps. The speaker is not audible.

1:04:44
V: The protesters applaud. Mel King (candidate for US Congress) stands at the edge of the crowd. Tom Gallagher (candidate for US Congress) stands at the edge of the crowd. Bachrach addresses the crowd. Bachrach has a red ribbon tied around his left arm. Bachrach talks about the economic priorities of the government. Bachrach says that the government must spend less on defense and more on social policy. Bachrach says that the state government spent its surplus on tax cuts last year; that the state government needs to put money into welfare, housing and daycare.
Shot of a sign reading, "Up and beyond poverty. Women of East Boston. Shots of the protesters.
Bachrach says that there is a bill before the legislature to increase welfare benefits by 25%; that supporters of the bill are going to fight to get the bill passed. The crowd applauds. Gallagher addresses the crowd. Gallagher says that he did not support tax repeals in the state legislature; that surplus money needs to be given to the poor. Gallagher says that not all residents are sharing in the recent economic prosperity; that the state can afford to bring its welfare recipients up to the poverty level. The crowd applauds.

1:07:55
V: Kennedy addresses the crowd. Kennedy says that too many children are growing up in poverty; that the recent economic prosperity has not brought these children out of poverty. Kennedy adds that the protesters are asking for $1.80 per day to bring them up to the poverty line. Kennedy says that the poor must have money to pay for food, heat, and clothes; that the poor do not have enough money to pay for these necessities. Kennedy applauds the protesters for coming out to fight for their rights. Kennedy says that he is glad to be fighting alongside them. The crowd applauds.

1:09:29
V: The crowd applauds loudly for King as he begins to speak. King has a red ribbon tied around his left arm. King says that poverty is a "moral disgrace." King says that the state's elected officials suffer from a "poverty of spirit and a poverty of mind." The crowd applauds. King says that the demonstrators must demonstrate their power; that they have the power to make the officials change the welfare policy. King says that the debate is not about statistics; that the debate is about "values and power." King adds that the elected officials are accountable to the voters; that the voters need to hold the legislature accountable for their policies. The crowd applauds loudly.
Shots of women standing behind a banner reading, "Welfare Rights Organization. Malden - Medford - Everett."

1:11:13
V: David Magnani (State Representative) addresses the crowd. Magnani says that the demonstrators are the leaders of this movement for change; that "the leadership stands on the sidewalk and not on the steps."
Shots of children among the demonstrators.
Magnani encourages the protesters in their struggle for increased benefits.
Shots of a sign with a handrawn picture of a box of macaroni and cheese. The sign reads, "#1 meal."
Magnani asks for a pen so that he can sign a check, symbolic of the increased benefits.
Shots of the protesters applauding.
A woman circulates among the crowd with a jar for donations. Some protesters put money into the jar. Two children mount the State House steps with a big banner representing a welfare check. The children smile for the camera. The protesters slowly mount the steps up the State House with their protest signs. There are many children among them. Some of the protesters sing as they mount the steps.
Footage of protesters mounting the steps.
The protesters gather at the top of the State House steps.

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