Jobs vigil held at Federal Building

SPRINGFIELD, MASS (WWLP) - It was billed as a "jobs" rally. But it looked and sounded a lot like an anti-war rally in front of the federal building in Springfield.

An estimated 50 people in support of the organization "Jobs with Justice" marched from Springfield's old federal building to the steps of the new federal building, where Congressman Richard Neal's office is located.

Progressive Democrats of America co-founder Tim Carpenter told 22News he hopes Congressman Neal hears their message. "To call on our congressman Richard Neal to join the majority of Americans to ask them to put our citizens to work. With unemployment now skyrocketing, it's time to bring our troops home and bring our war dollars back here, and put them to work here at home."

Longtime Northampton peace activist Frances Crowe said, "No more funding for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. We want the money brought back home to be spent here. To meet the needs of the people. To put people to work here."

"Jobs with Justice" has held nine of these so-called "Brown Bag Vigils" where they ask to meet with Congressman Neal.

They say so far, he has not met with them, but they leave a letter for him each time.