Working families across the country will participate in a Candlelight Campaign on Dec. 10 to urge Congress to end tax cuts for the richest 2% and to say "no" to benefit cuts for Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. The candlelight rallies, town halls, vigils and other events will coincide with International Human Rights Day. 

The Candlelight Campaign is the latest in a series of events and actions in which working families have asked Congress to do the right thing in the "lame-duck" session. On Nov. 8, more than 100 events took place outside congressional district offices, health clinics, Social Security offices, construction sites and other community locations. Nov. 27-28, local labor leaders and other working family advocates from 32 states traveled to Washington, D.C., to lobby representatives on Capitol Hill. This week, Georgia activists delivered symbolic lumps of coal to Sens. Johnny Isakson and Saxby Chambliss.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka explained the significance of the events:

In one of the most prosperous countries in the world, everyone should be able to retire with health and dignity. Working families across the country have made it clear that we need to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security benefits. Millions of working people, jobless people and retirees shouldn’t have to sacrifice their health care and retirement security so that the richest 2% can continue getting more tax breaks. It’s time for our elected leaders to focus on creating an economy that invests in jobs, health care and education for all.

Find a Dec. 10 event near you.