An open letter to Chester residents about Beat the House

The following letter was sent to organizations and news media in the Chester, PA area.

Dear Chester residents,

On Saturday, June 6, Casino-Free Philadelphia will conduct a series of peaceful actions at Harrah’s Chester to call attention to the predatory practices of the casino industry. The event, called Beat the House, is part of our mission to stop casinos from coming to Philadelphia.

We are hoping this letter reaches you before Harrah’s and its friends in government have a chance to misrepresent our intentions. The facts are these: We are a grassroots organization funded by member donations. Our actions during Beat the House will be conducted in an orderly fashion and will pose no harm to casino personnel, patrons or property.

We are staging Beat the House at Harrah’s Chester because it is close to Philadelphia and is the sort of business that we believe will harm our city. Our intention is to send a message of defiance to the predatory gambling industry and of support to Philadelphians whose interests are being betrayed by a corrupt partnership between politicians and executives at casino companies.

We believe the benefits of casinos can never outweigh the social and economic costs generated by an industry that preys on the poor, the elderly and the addicted.

It is a privilege to live in a country where we are free to demonstrate our opposition to the expansion of this destructive industry.

Please accept our best wishes and goodwill and, if you are able, please join us on June 6 as we Beat the House, www.BeatTheHouse.org.

Sincerely,

Casino-Free Philadelphia