Philadelphia protesters go to Washington to send message on ‘fiscal cliff’

Several hundred people packed onto buses in Philadelphia this morning to join protests in Washington about the “fiscal cliff.”

Denise Ripley of North Philadelphia boarded the bus wearing a shirt with a picture of the president and first lady. She wants to send a message in person.

“President Obama, would you continue working for the people, the middle-class people and just work for all the people so we can live a decent tolerant life in this country, because we all deserve the same thing, quality of life,” said Ripley.  “It doesn’t matter where you live. Rich people should pay their fair share.”

Peppi P. Davidson says she’s worried about potential spending cuts that would come as part of a deal.

“Also to remind the politicians that they are there because we put them there,” said Davidson. “We have voted we have tried to let them know in every way what we want, they don’t seem to be hearing it so we are taking the message to them.”

The busloads of people will join larger protests urging lawmakers not to cut Medicare or Social Security to avoid the “fiscal cliff.”