The Poor People's Campaign - A Revival That’s Too Big to Fit Under One Tent!

June 23, 2018 Poor People's Campaign rally in Washington, D.C., Jose Luis Magana/AP

I am ready for a rousing revival meeting! I want to be uplifted! 

I want a revival that inspires all of us to fulfill our moral obligation to end the racial, economic and social disparities that keep millions in poverty across our country.  

The good news is there’s one coming up right away!

It’s big, bold, and happening on June 20, 2020: Mass Poor People’s Assembly & National Moral March on Washington, DC: A Digital Gathering – organized by The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival.

There are two key reasons why we’re supporting the revival and the organization through our "One for All" Campaign:

• Their revival tent is biG

  Purposefully made large enough to include the voices of those affected most by disparities -- poor and low-wealth black, brown, indigenous, and white people of all cultures, perspectives, and even political persuasions.

• It is built on a high and accessible platform

  So that all of the country can see and listen to stories about the impact of poverty on our fellow Americans and learn more about ways in which we can take action.

This intersectional and inclusive gathering, and the organization behind it, was formed by two inspiring leaders, the Rev. Dr. William Barber, II and the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis

They’ve rekindled the flame of the original PPC started by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr in 1968 around a single idea: that it’s time to do something about the systemic racism and poverty that causes the suffering of millions of poor and low-wealth Americans.

Already, word is out that this is expected to be the largest gathering of moral and religious leaders, and poor and low-wealth people, since the civil rights movements of the 60s. 

 "That's the power of the movement," Rev Barber says. "We have white women from the coal mines of West Virginia standing together with black women from Alabama."

Momentum for the Poor People’s Campaign (PPC): A National Call for a Moral Revival

Since its launch in 2017, the organization has engaged 40 states in grassroots rallies and demonstrations, prompting one of the nation’s largest waves of nonviolent protest in the 21st century. They’ve also completed a must-read foundational study, “The Souls of Poor Folk,” that examines the scope and trends of poverty over the past fifty years.

The PPC estimates that 140 million people live in poverty in the United States, approximately 43 percent of the nation. Its aim is to engage poor and low-wealth people and moral leaders, and people of conscience to create a grassroots movement to inspire federal, state, and local government officials to address inequality at all levels.

A Mass Assembly & Moral March to Lift Us Up

The June 20 march that was originally planned would have brought many to Washington, DC. To keep people safe, the organizers quickly shifted to make the event digital to enable broad participation, especially for communities hardest hit by the pandemic. 

The program will unite communities of faith and bring together grassroots organizations in 45 states and the District of Columbia to advocate for needs such as paid sick leave, and access to quality healthcare, voter protection, and more for the nation’s 140 million poor and low-income people. More than 100 organizations will participate, along with national figures and celebrities including Al Gore, Danny Glover, Wanda Sykes, Deborah Messing, and Jane Fonda.

What I think is most important is that we will get to hear from the people most impacted: service workers who have worked through the pandemic without PPE, families impacted by police brutality, coal miners from Appalachia, and mothers who’ve lost children, partners, and parents because they did not have the healthcare services they needed. 

Something’s happening here.

And what it is, has become clear. If we don’t close the gaps in racial and economic disparity, and work toward equality, we cannot call ourselves a just and moral country. It would be understandable to feel overwhelmed by such a huge mission. 

But none of us are doing it alone.

For the first time in a long time, we are aligned enough to start the work needed to end the disparities that have caused so much despair

Join me and others on  June 20,2020. to listen, learn and better understand how to play your part.

Visit the Poor People’s Campaign website for more info.