Poor People's Campaign Congress in DC in June: Report by Rowan Sept 20

Poor People's Campaign Report from Washington DC meeting

In 1968 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King launched the Poor People’s Campaign. After his assassination, a gathering in Washington DC drew over 50,000 people. But with Dr. King's death and the death of campaign supporter Sen. Robert Kennedy, the movement fizzled.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber. Jr., and Rev. Dr Liz Theoharis and others have revived a Modern Poor People’s Campaign. Dr. Barber says, “You cannot separate systemic racism from systemic poverty from ecological devastation from the war economy from the distorted moral narrative of Christian nationalism...”. With bus tours, demonstrations and civil disobedience and working on a moral vision based on the constitution and world religious values they have campaign committees in 41 states and are fighting to bring their intersectional agenda to the country.

In 2019 the Poor People’s Campaign Congress engaged presidential candidates and presented a moral budget to the Congressional Budget Committee. Next year, on June 20, 2020, the Poor People’s Campaign is planning a Poor People’s Mass Assembly & March on Washington. WILPF-US is encouraging members to go to Washington next year for the march! Come and learn about the Campaign (past and present) and how to get involved.

Presentation by Rev. Rowan Fairgrove, attendee at the People’s Campaign Congress