This weekend, as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day celebrations cry out in pain and joy, we offer a short recording of a presentation led by Waterspirit’s Public Policy & Justice Organizer, to amplify the work of the modern day Poor People’s Campaign movement. NJ Poor People’s Campaign 2024 mapping for March 2, 2024!
The grassroots movement being built empowers individuals to become agents of change in their own communities and contribute to the larger struggle against poverty and injustice across the land.
Mass assemblies are a great way to demonstrate collective power, much as the workers who organized to form what was the original Poor People’s Campaign. Listen to the recent article “A Golden Dome Above ‘Street Corners’ for bathrooms.” by Bob Hennelly. Unions and workers are organizing at record rates and we applaud the efforts of all the states in connecting a broad network leading up to the simultaneous convenings in early March.
The Poor People’s Campaign of today emphasizes the interconnectedness of poverty, systemic racism, healthcare disparities, environmental justice, and the erosion of voting rights. By highlighting these interconnected struggles, the movement seeks to build solidarity across different groups and foster a comprehensive understanding of the complex factors contributing to poverty. A related 3rd Reconstruction Resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives last June following the Poor People’s Campaign Moral Poverty Action Congress. Register for 3/2/24 HERE!
The significance of this modern day campaign lies in its ability to mobilize people, amplify marginalized voices, and challenge the status quo. By organizing at the state level and collectively advocating for comprehensive policy reforms, this movement strives to create a more equitable society where every person, regardless of their socio-economic background, has access to basic human rights, dignity, and opportunities for a secure future. To learn more, please connect with us by emailing newjersey@poorpeoplescampaign.org
Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote: “Justice is like water; it flows where it is needed most and quenches the thirst of those who have long been denied.”