Press Release

'Toxic Trader' Puppet Confronts Mark Souder
Monday, July 28, 2008

FORT WAYNE, Ind., July 28, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Republican Congressman's job killing policies exposed

The United Steelworkers' gigantic "Toxic Trader" puppet will visit U.S. Rep. Mark Souder's Fort Wayne office Wednesday to protest his support of free trade deals that destroy jobs and poison Indiana families and the environment.

The oversized puppet will appear at Souder's office in the Federal Building at 1300 S. Harrison St., Ft. Wayne, for a press conference to be followed by a rally and street theater involving the three masked "Toxic Avengers."

In addition, protestors will deliver to Rep. Souder a copy of the recently released report, "The Toxic Truth: Unfair Trade Kills," by the United Steelworkers showing exactly how toxic trade kills and injures American consumers, workers, communities, security and the environment.

The puppet, created by artist Tavia La Folette, whose gargantuan three-dimensional caricatures have toured Europe, Eastern Europe, South America and Japan, will then lurch along sidewalks to the County Courthouse, joined by a cadre of protestors from the United Steelworkers, the Northeast Indiana Central Labor Council and others.

Rep. Souder, a Republican, has repeatedly voted for free trade agreements at the behest of the Bush administration, most recently the Peru and Chile Free Trade deals. These agreements lack protections for indigenous workers and the environment. The Central Labor Council and the USW are working for Fair Trade agreements that prevent foreign workers from sweatshop labor and, as a result, end the race to the bottom for all workers globally.

Also, the Central Labor Council and USW are seeking Fair Trade agreements that respect international environmental regulations. If companies operating in the U.S. must obey these rules, then it's unfair competition when foreign firms don't.

What: Toxic Trader Street Theater

When: Wednesday, July 30, 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where: Federal Building, 1300 S. Harrison St.

Who: Toxic Trader Puppet and Toxic Avengers

Why: To protest U.S. Rep. Mark Souder's free trade voting record that destroys U.S. jobs and poisons Indiana families and the environment.

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)