Ilya Sheyman is a organizer and bold progressive running against a Blue Dog in the Democratic primary for the chance to beat tea party Republican Robert Dold. Ilya was a grassroots organizer for Democracy for America and MoveOn. He supports Medicare for All and holding Wall Street accountable. Ilya says, “I am sick and tired of Democrats who refuse to stand up and fight back for progressive values that make a difference in people’s lives.”

Seven liberal House candidates in town this week for Democratic meetings plan to deliver more than 20,000 petitions to Speaker John Boehner’s office this afternoon from people saying they “stand with the 99%.” Participating in the rally, organized by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, are Eric Griego (NM-1), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Ilya Sheyman (IL-10), Marko Liias (WA-1), Franke Wilmer (MT-AL), Wenona Benally Baldenegro (AZ-1) and Lori Saldana (CA-52). This is part of the broader effort among would-be elected officials on the left to both channel and lay claim to the energy of Occupy Wall Street activists.

Draft Warren organizers in Northampton hosted a house party for Elizabeth Warren and over 200 Warren supporters. Organizers said her appearance at the home of Margaret Lucey and William Noel on Bridge Road drew a crowd who spilled out onto the lawn in front of the home.

A small handful of people made a final transaction with Bank of America on Thursday. They came to close their accounts, to protest debit card fees the bank will start imposing in 2012. “It’s not just the fee, it’s a tipping point as far as their greed,” Cheryl Anderson said. “It’s unbridled and I think that we gotta vote with our dollars and that’s what I’m doing.” The account-closing protest was organized by a group called Progressive Change Campaign, and although other banks are planning debit card fees, they targeted Bank of America as the worst of the worst.

With help from national fund-raising groups, Elizabeth Warren has already raised $3.15 million for her United States Senate campaign, catapulting ahead of her Democratic primary opponents. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has raised more than $400,000 on Ms. Warren’s behalf so far.