Live coverage: N.J. public workers to protest Gov. Christie's budget cuts at Statehouse rally

Above, a protest from 1990, one of the largest ever in Trenton

John O'Boyle/The Star-LedgerTax protest in front of the Statehouse in Trenton, July 1, 1990. TRENTON — State workers, teachers, firefighters, laborers and others with gripes about Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed budget cuts will descend on Trenton today for a massive rally.

Organizers estimate a crowd of up to 30,000, which would make in the largest protest ever staged in Trenton.

“You’re going to see thousands of citizens from across New Jersey gathering in Trenton. Over 100 community organizations have endorsed the rally, and they’re all going to be out there with a very clear message to the governor and Legislature: that we’ve got to stop those cuts and restore the tax on those earning over $400,000 a year,” said Bill Holland, spokesman for Better Choices for New Jersey, one of the groups organizing the rally.

Holland said the rally is also aimed at Democrats, who control the Legislature. Some of the groups spearheading the protest are not satisfied with the Democrats’ millionaires tax bill on households making over $1 million a year, which Christie vetoed Thursday. Instead, they want to reinstate the surcharge on households earning over $400,000 a year that expired last year.

“It’s the only balanced approach to this crisis,” said Matt Shapiro, President of the New Jersey Tenants Organization.

Powerful public employee unions behind tomorrow’s protest — the New Jersey Education Association and the Communications Workers of America — say the rally will be about all Christie’s budget cuts, not just their fight with him over pensions and pay.

The rally will center around a stage in front of the New Jersey State Museum, where a series of speakers will begin around 12pm.

Star-Ledger Statehouse Bureau reporters Claire Heininger, Matt Friedman and Peggy Ackermann are Tweeting live from the event. Follow the latest updates on NJ.com, or through Twitter at NJ_BreakingNews.

To join in the Twitter conversation, use the hashtag #njrally.

Also check our Real Time News and Politics blogs for updates throughout the day on Saturday.

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More coverage:

• N.J. rally against Gov. Chris Christie's budget cuts could draw 30K, organizers say

• Public worker unions plan massive rally in Trenton against Gov. Chris Christie's budget cuts

• Hundreds of N.J. librarians protest $10.4M proposed budget cuts

• Complete coverage of the 2010 New Jersey state budget

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