United Steelworkers union trolls Trump with ‘bat light’
Members of the United Steelworkers union brought their traveling “bat light” to Chicago overnight Friday to project their endorsement of Joe Biden onto Trump Tower.
The words “Biden-Harris” were shown in blazing blue letters over President Donald Trump’s name on his hotel and condo building overlooking the Chicago River at 401 N. Wabash Ave. The endorsement also made appearances on Wrigley Field, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Chicago Theatre.
A representative for the Trump Organization could not be reached for comment Saturday.
“This election is obviously very important and there’s a lot at stake for workers,” said Jess Kamm Broomell, spokeswoman for United Steelworkers, which represents about 850,000 members. “A lot of issues facing working people are on the ballot this year: Affordable healthcare ... retirement security, workers’ rights, health and safety on the job, all of these things are at stake.”
The “bat light,” as the steelworkers’ union calls it, travels with a group of four women who go state-to-state shining messages in support of Biden and his running mate Kamala Harris on various landmarks, Broomell said.
Launched just over a month ago, the campaign has already moved through Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota, with rank-and-file union members joining the group at each stop.
“The bat light project was born out of our existing political work, we wanted to be able to spread the message in a way that was COVID-friendly,” Broomell said. “Mostly to let people know how important this election is, how important it is to make a plan to vote and start some conversations about these really important issues facing workers.”