Paul Ryan Ignores Meeting Request from Jobless Constituents, Locks Them Out

Giving Forward Lookout a sneak peek at this piece, which is running in Socialist Worker tomorrow. We socialists are cool and like to share like that. If you want to help out, there are demonstrations in Racine, Kenosha and Janesville tomorrow at Paul Ryan’s offices. Next Thursday there’s an unrelated but still important bus trip down to Janesville as well. Shanon, Scott, Geni and the rest are doing truly important, courageous work and they deserve all the support they can get. It would mean a lot to them if you could make it to a demonstration in person and lend your support.

Shanon Molina wants answers. “I’m tired of struggling to support my family. I’m tired of not having a decent job that provides benefits and I’m tired of being ignored by my congressman.” She requested a meeting with Congressman Paul Ryan to voice her concerns alongside several other unemployed and underemployed constituents. After repeatedly being denied a face-to-face meeting with her representative, Shanon and six others – now known as the Ryan Seven – sat down in his office to wait. And they won’t leave until they speak with Ryan personally.

On August 18th, the Ryan Seven participated in a demonstration outside Ryan’s constituent services office in Kenosha, Wisconsin organized by labor-community group Wisconsin Jobs Now.   Over 100 people picketed Ryan’s office, demanding answers to the unemployment crisis. Mid-morning, several moved inside and asked to meet with the Congressman.

“Our goal is a face-to-face,” said Scott Page, one of the Ryan Seven. “I just want a few minutes to explain to Paul Ryan how his policies are hurting me, directly, and put a face to this unemployment statistic we always hear.” They remained in Ryan’s office until the office closed. The Ryan Seven attempted to stay in the office past closing, but voluntarily left when police arrived. They vowed to return every day until Ryan agreed to the meeting.

On Tuesday morning – the fourth day of the sit-in – Ryan’s staff and the building owner turned up the heat. “We were told we had 15 minutes to fill out a request form for a meeting, and then we had to leave or be arrested,” Molina said. “Apparently our presence is distracting them from helping other constituents.” Ryan’s office called the Kenosha police, who declined to respond since the demonstrators weren’t committing a crime by sitting in the office. Staff also posted notices claiming all video, photography and audio recording inside the office was prohibited.

By Wednesday, the doors were locked and demonstrators were denied access to Ryan’s office altogether. Molina was not deterred. “Inside or out, we are not leaving!”

The demonstrators were also informed late Tuesday afternoon that only paying tenants were permitted to use the restrooms. Police arrived in the afternoon and let protesters know the building owner had decided to restrict parking, and that demonstrator’s vehicles would be ticketed or towed. When asked on what authority the police could prevent access to a public office, they responded that the lot and building are private property and the landlord has the right to do as he pleases with it.

Despite the intimidation, morale remained high. The demonstrators are prepared to be arrested if their demand isn’t met. “There’s nothing wrong with a little civil disobedience,” said Molina. The police have yet to make any arrests, but if necessary, the demonstrators may escalate.

Molina, a mother and long-time resident of Kenosha, was laid off in 2008 after ten years as an administrative assistant. She experienced 18 months of unemployment, was briefly employed again this year, and then laid off again. “[Scott Page] and I are already tapped out on our unemployment benefits. I wasn’t employed long enough to qualify for them again. I’m at the end of my rope, and Congressman Ryan needs to understand that,” she explained with tears in her eyes.

Her desperation quickly turned to anger as she focused on her economic situation. “We’re living on $353 a week. That’s as much as Paul Ryan spends on a single bottle of wine!”

Genevive Klimala, another member of the Ryan Seven, spoke to her frustration with the lack of prospects for trained alcohol and drug abuse counselors like her. “I’ve done everything from spin wrenches to spin on a pole…There just aren’t any jobs here for someone with my degree. I really wanted to get a job helping people. Instead I’m considering going back to school for criminal justice so I can get a job locking people up.”

Despite praise for their courage, the demonstrators remain modest. “This isn’t brave, this is comfortable,” said Phil Hamey, a veteran of the civil rights and anti-war movements. “You know what I think is brave? Those people in Syria, and Libya. I’ve been on the wrong end of a gun barrel more than once, so this is nothing.”

Molina called for a nationwide movement of sit-ins at Congressional offices across the country. “If you’re unemployed or underemployed, get the classified ads and go ask for a meeting with your Congressman, your state senator, your state representative, whoever. And if you’re denied, sit down until you get it.”

On Tuesday, a contingent of demonstrators began a similar action at Ryan’s Racine office. A Janesville demonstration was scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday afternoon.

She insisted that those considering direct action shouldn’t be afraid. “We put [elected officials] on this pedestal. But they’re just people from our communities that we choose to represent us…Paul Ryan went to college like I did, collected Social Security benefits to get through school just like I’m relying on public services now, and he’s not that much older than me. He’s just a guy from Janesville, so there’s no reason to be scared of him…We elected him and we can kick him out.”

Andrew Cole is a writer and member of UAW 1981, the National Writers Union. He lives in the Dudgeon-Monroe neighborhood of Madison, Wisconsin.