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'Rat' protests at church

An inflatable rat, similar to that used in the protest.
An inflatable rat, similar to that used in the protest.

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JOLIET, Ill., Nov. 19 (UPI) -- An Illinois roofers' union parked its inflatable rat outside of a Joliet church to protest the facility using non-union workers to do roof work.

The Rev. Matthew Robinson of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Joliet said members of the Local 11 roofers' union have been picketing in front of the church and placed a giant inflatable rat -- nicknamed Scabby -- in front of the facility, the Joliet Herald-News reported Friday.

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"It's just ugly, and all people are seeing right now is a big yellow rat in front of our church," Robinson said. "Golly, we don't need that. That's not who we are."

Church members said the roof has been in need of work since it was damaged by a July fire caused by an electrical fire.

"We're a little church with aging members," Robinson said. "It's hard economic times right now."

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