Each year during Netroots Nation, a smaller gathering happens across town in our host city--a sad attempt by the right to steal some of our spotlight. This astroturf conference of conservatives, called RightOnline, is organized by Americans for Prosperity, a front group funded with millions of dollars from the Koch brothers.
I can still remember when we discovered what they had planned for Austin in 2008, the first year of RightOnline. They were far across town at a hotel in the suburbs of Austin, and Bob Barr even came by NN downtown at the convention center, which was kind of fun. The next year, in Pittsburgh, they were downtown and a bit closer at the Station Square, but still across a river. In Vegas, where each hotel is an island, they were pretty far away at the Venitian, which is owned by a guy who funds Freedom's Watch.
This year, they aren't just across town. They are holding their conference in one of our hotels--a union facility.
So we want to thank them for supporting a labor property, will you join us? We want to thank them for standing in solidarity with our working brothers and sisters in labor by booking their convention at a union facility.
Click here to Tweet your thanks: #nn11 and #MPLS workers thank @afphq for choosing a union facility for @RightOnline conference #tcot #p2, RT to add your thanks.
Conservatives across the country have been hard at work trying to dismantle the middle class by ending collective bargaining as we know it, so we think it's encouraging that AFP is supporting labor by booking at the Hilton. Not only are they having their meetings at the Hilton Minneapolis, but they have also reserved a small block of rooms there for attendees.
That also means if you haven't booked your accommodations for Netroots Nation 2011, you should reserve your room now. If you prefer to keep your distance, you can book at our other hotel, the Millennium Hotel Minneapolis (same link). Both are conveniently close to the convention center.