Social Justice Rallies Planned For Concord, Nashua On Oct. 11

NASHUA, NH — Rev. Jason Wells is planning for a day of great consequence in his own life and he believes the lives of New Hampshire residents next Friday. In the morning, he is organizing a rally outside Concord District Court prior to the trial of six members of the New Hampshire Poor People’s Campaign — including himself — who are scheduled to stand trial on misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges for blocking traffic during a 2018 protest.

That night, Wells intends to help lead a march from Greeley Park in Nashua to the First Baptist Church for another rally to spread the Campaign's message on poverty, racism, voting rights and what he calls the consequences of the "the military economy."

Wells and five others were arrested last May after they blocked traffic on State Street in Concord in a protest to bring more attention to the poverty crisis in America.

"There are 140 million people living in poverty or near-poverty conditions in this country," Wells told Patch during a Wednesday phone interview. "We believe that statistic does not get the attention it deserves. We needed to get the message out, so we stopped traffic."

Wells said efforts to reach a plea agreement were not successful, so he and five others will go to trial on Friday on the Class A misdemeanor charges. There is rally planned in support of those charged — with speakers and musicians — at 11:30 a.m. outside of Concord District Court. Those supporting the New Hampshire Poor People's Campaign are invited to attend the trial and "remain quiet, but be present" in support of those who call themselves "moral witnesses" in the battle for truth on poverty in the state.

At 5:30, the New Hampshire Poor People's Campaign will convene at Greeley Park on Manchester Street in Nashua for a march to the First Baptist Church where National Poor People's Campaign Co-Chairs Rev. William J. Barber II and Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharris are expected to speak.

Wells said the public is invited to attend both the events in Concord and Nashua as the New Hampshire Poor People's Campaign attempts to build a broad coalition in search of social change.

"A lot of activists are stuck in their silos," Wells said. "Veterans activists work on veterans issues. Environmental activists work on environmental issues. Voting rights activists work on their issues. We're saying that we're all here to work together. I am not saying we've worked against each other in the past. But we we've mostly worked alone and that's limited the effectiveness. By working together we can unleash the power of the people."

Wells said the New Hampshire Poor People's Campaign has a membership of about 800 residents and next weekend's events are part of the 25-state national tour ahead of the Mass Poor People's Assembly and Moral March on Washington scheduled for June 20, 2020.

"This event is to celebrate how far we've come and build enthusiasm for next year," Wells said. "We are going to hear from the people of New Hampshire on racism, the war economy and people who have been affected by poverty in the state. It's powerful."

Wells said the social-justice campaign is interfaith and non-partisan.

"There will be no politicians on the stage," he said. "This will not be a presidential campaign rally. We're changing the narrator and giving the microphone to the people really affected by these things. We thinks that's the way of the future."

Those interested in attending either rally are asked to RSVP here.