Populism 2015: Citizens Insist On Trade Deals That Work For All Of Us

On the same call, Neil Sroka, communications director for the million-member Democracy for America, said:

"The progressive movement could not be more united, more focused and in particular more committed to holding our leaders accountable than when it comes to fast track and TPP. ... The fact is, you can be a progressive committed to fighting for working families or you can be for this massive job-killing trade deal written by hundreds of corporate representatives, but you can't be both. And, if you stand with the wrong side in this fight, the progressive base of the Democratic Party stands ready to hold you accountable at the ballot box."

Murshed Zaheed, deputy political director at CREDO Action (3.5 million members) said progressives are united, citing over 1 million petition signatures opposing the treaty. "Time and time again, so-called free trade agreements have been bad for American workers, bad for the environment and bad for the United States. We don't expect the TPP to be any different."

Ben Wikler, Washington director of MoveOn.org, said, "MoveOn's 8 million members across the country stand ready to do whatever it takes to kill fast track before the TPP kills jobs. And you'd better believe that grassroots progressives will remember who voted for and against the middle class when it comes to the 2016 primaries."

Rafael Navar, national political director, Communications Workers of America said that every single union is opposed to TPP -- which is unprecedented. Navar said, "Progressives from unions, environmental groups, good government organizations, consumer and citizens' rights groups, students and many more have put together the biggest coalition ever to stop 'fast track' trade promotion authority for bad trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Across the country, members of our coalition are taking this message to their senators and representatives right now: Stand with working people and our communities and vote no on Fast Track. There is no wiggle room on this issue."

That's a lot of people represented by these groups, and it's just a start.

Populism 2015 Conference April 18-20

CAF co-founder Robert Borosage explains the overall importance of the Populism2015 conference in "The Populist Challenge: Moving On Up":

"On April 18-20, CAF will join with National People's Action, the Alliance for a Fair Society, U.S.Action and dozens of other organizations to lay out a populist platform and map out strategies for driving reforms at the city and state level. As cities across the country move to raise the minimum wage, to crack down on payday lenders, to empower workers, clean up elections and drive new energy and energy efficiency, the movement will grow. And politicians will be forced to respond." (To read more and register to attend, go here)