(28 Feb 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Detroit – 28 February 2025
1. Various of a rally for federal workers outside a Veterans Affairs medical center
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Debbie Dingell, (D) Michigan:
“We cannot go backwards. Do you know how many -- we had another veteran that committed suicide at the VA in Ann Arbor. There are people that deserve to get the help they need. And we need to be there to provide it for them, not cut the services that they are getting.”
3. SOUNDBITE (English) Rep. Rashida Tlaib, (D) Michigan:
“Thank you for speaking up for our veterans. Again, this is not just – this is health care. This is so cruel at how they’re doing it.”
4. Various of rally attendees chanting about and displaying a flag of the American Federation of Government Employees
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Everett Kelley, American Federation of Government Employees:
“People really don't notice us when their Social Security check is arriving on time. People don’t notice us when all the veterans’ claims are being processed, and they are processed correctly. People don't notice us when the skies are safe for us to fly in. People don’t notice -- they notice us when it goes awry. And I assure you, it's a matter of time before it goes awry. Federal employees do their job, and they do it well.”
6. Rally-goers on the move
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Andrew Lennox, former federal worker:
“I think it was political expediency. And they found an easy way to terminate people. And that was by doing it to people that were probationary employees, instead of actually doing a reduction in force, where they'd have to give people possibly severances or continuation of pay or health care.”
8. Rally attendees march and chant
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Nicole Rice, former federal worker:
“I was fired last night. Thirteen years of federal service. I was promoted last year. I'm disabled. So, I was on a probationary period. Had the rug ripped out underneath me last night."
10. Attendees cheer when a passing vehicle honks in solidarity
STORYLINE:
Dozens marched and chanted in front of a Veterans Affairs medical center on behalf of federal workers who have lost their jobs as part of the White House’s government downsizing efforts.
“I was fired last night. Thirteen years of federal service. I was promoted last year. I'm disabled. So, I was on a probationary period. Had the rug ripped out underneath me last night,” former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employee Nicole Rice told fellow rally-goers Friday in Detroit.
Some rally attendees directed their ire at President Donald Trump and billionaire businessman Elon Musk, who is empowered by Trump to downsize agencies and eliminate thousands of federal jobs.
“People really don't notice us when their Social Security check is arriving on time. People don’t notice us when all the veterans’ claims are being processed, and they are processed correctly. People don't notice us when the skies are safe for us to fly in. They notice us when they go awry. And I assure you, it's a matter of time before it goes awry. Federal employees do their job, and they do it well,” said Everett Kelley, national president of the American Federation of Government Employees.
Also on hand were Michigan Democratic U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell and Rashida Tlaib (tuh-LEEB’).
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