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Hands Around The Capitol
Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024
Iowa State Capitol Rotunda
1007 E Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA
11:30: check through Security
12 Noon: Join hands for two minutes of silence, followed by speakers

On Jan. 6, 2024, citizens from around the state will join hands at 12:00 noon for two minutes of silence around the rotunda inside the state Capitol building in Des Moines. This is to show solidarity and support for forward-thinking policies that help regular citizens of Iowa. The silence will represent the way in which Iowan’s voices have been suppressed.

The majority of Iowans have common-sense views on a majority of issues. They might not agree on everything, but they want the state to move forward, not backward. (See poll data below)

“For years, the conservative-controlled Iowa Legislature and Governor’s Office have
passed and signed bills that favor corporate interests, while ignoring middle class Iowans,
making the rich richer, and taking rights away from Iowans.” said Charlie Wishman, President of the Iowa AFL-CIO.

“Like me, many progressives have participated in marches or rallies demonstrating for a particular cause, such as fair wages, strong public education, reproductive rights, voting rights, or gun safety,” organizer Becky Sisco said. “But our attention has been divided, and our voices have gotten lost. We need to act as one and show our strength.”

“We want this event to spark further activity among Iowans, whether that be contacting law makers, posting information on social media, supporting progressive candidates or taking other action,” said Sue Dinsdale, Executive Director of Iowa Citizen Action Network. “This is meant to be more than a one-off proposition. It will take persistent, on-going work to bring Iowa government in alignment with the citizens of Iowa.”

Iowa Citizen Action Network is part of a wide coalition supporting this event.

For more information and issue papers click this link

• Poll numbers

– 61% believe abortion should be legal in most cases (Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa, Aug. ’23)
– 52% opposed scholarships for private schools (University of Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab, May ’22)
– 66% are worried about the effects of climate change (University of Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab, March ’22)
– 85% think the minimum wage should be increased (University of Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab, May ’21)
– 65% want undocumented immigrants to have a clear path to citizenship (Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa, Feb. ’18)
– 71% approve of labor unions (Gallup, Sept. ’22)
– 79% support background checks for all gun sales (Public Policy Polling, Sept. ‘20)
– 53% opposed the reduction in corporate income taxes (Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa, March ’22)
– 54% of those who’d heard of critical race theory support teaching it (Iowa Policy and Opinion Lab, March ’22)
– 52% opposed shortening the early-voting period (New York Times, March ’21)
– 71% oppose allowing parents to sue school districts for distributing books they believe to be obscene (Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa, March ’22)
– 53% oppose requiring parental consent for checking out a book (Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa, March ’23)
– 53% opposed cutting benefits to laid-off workers (Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa. March ’23)