US activists demand debt ceiling increase without cuts to services or programs

By Servet Gunerigok

WASHINGTON (AA) - Activists from various parts of the US converged on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to demand that the nation's debt ceiling be raised without any cuts to services or programs.

Their call came amid ongoing negotiations between Democrats and Republicans over the federal government's borrowing limit, which could result in a default on the nation's debt if it is not raised soon.

Activists with the Center for Popular Democracy Action chanted "no justice, no peace" and carried banners reading "Default=Death" and "Save our safety net."

Activists are urging Congress to find alternative ways to balance the budget and not burden hardworking Americans.

"I'm here to ask you not to balance the budget on the backs of hardworking Americans like me, hardworking grandmas and moms who need their Social Security...There are other ways to balance the budget, not on our backs," said one activist.

The US is slated to run out of funds to pay its bills on June 1 if Congress does not raise the debt ceiling.