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Protesters: Rescue Main Street, not Wall Street

By Blackwell Thomas, The Southern

Thursday, September 25, 2008 11:08 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - Drivers moving west down Main Street between 5 and 6 p.m. Thursday had more than the sun in their eyes as about 20 enthusiastic protesters gathered in opposition to congress' proposed $700 billion Wall Street bailout.

On the sidewalk beside the Town Square Pavilion members of the group held their signs and many drivers greeted their messages by tapping their car horns.

The signs were indignant in tone and to-the-point in message:

"Congress, helping bankers rob the people."

"Let a judge choose the bail, not congress."

"Let the robber barons fail. No taxpayer bail."

"WE need the bailout."

"This is not the way to go," Energy native Mike Wright said of the proposed plan to revive what the Associated Press called America's crippled financial system. "If they want a place for the money to go, how about education or health care."

Celeste Williams, a former real estate agent who lives in Murphysboro, said she saw firsthand how irresponsible lending and the trading of mortgage debt were leading to a calamity.

"They've known this was coming," she said of financial and banking industry officials. "You could see it coming. They knew about (failed mortgage giants, and recent government buyouts) Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae for years."

Williams was wearing a shirt with "$2,333 Each" embossed across the front.

Lori Senteney, of De Soto, said she simply didn't want to pay back money for financial losses not related to her.

"That's all I have to say about it," she said.

blackwell.thomas@thesouthern.com

351-5823