- AmyJo Brown
- Protesters outside the Duquesne Club Downtown Monday.
About 20 members of local union organizations, including the SEIU, and members of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee have gathered outside the Duquesne Club Downtown to protest U.S. House Speaker John Boehner's stance on immigration reform.
Boehner is speaking to local Republicans at a luncheon today at the private social club, starting at noon, says Jim Roddey, chairman of the Allegheny County Republican Committee. The fundraising event is $1,000 a plate, according to the Post-Gazette's Early Returns.
Holding signs urging "It's time to lead" and "Fix our broken immigration system NOW!", the protestors gathered as part of a national strategy by Democrats to pressure Boehner into allowing a House vote on the Senate's proposed immigration reform bill. Boehner has taken the position — publicly, at least — that the bill won't be voted on in the House unless the majority of Republicans are on board.
The protestors Monday at the Duquesne Club chanted, drummed on empty water coolers and handed out flyers outside the doors of the club, but allowed pedestrian traffic through, standing on both sides of the sidewalk. At least three Pittsburgh Police officers were monitoring the protest.
The director of club house services for the Duqesne Club declined to answer questions about the protest or the club's response. A spokesman for Boehner was not immediately available.
