Poor People's Campaign: Hundreds Arrested Amid Call To Action

WASHINGTON, DC — Hundreds of demonstrators across America were arrested Monday as low-wage workers, faith leaders, civil rights organizers and liberal activists kicked off 40 days of nonviolent protests to renew a call for action first organized by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

In 1968, King planned the so-called "Poor People's Campaign" to fight economic and racial inequality and reject American militarism. The campaign brought together thousands of low-income and impoverished Americans.

King was assassinated months before the campaign could get off the ground, but activists and demonstrators followed through on his vision. Thousands of protesters headed to the nation's capital and formed Resurrection City for six weeks. The shantytown featured wooden tents constructed on the national mall.

On Monday, the movement relaunched.

The new effort has been dubbed the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.

For more than a month protesters will focus on various issues, starting with children and women and people with disabilities living in poverty. The renewed campaign demands higher federal and state living wages, more public housing and the repeal of last year's high-profile GOP-led tax cuts. The group wants America to end militarism and stop diverting resources to the military budget. It also seeks to end systemic racism.

In Washington, D.C. on Monday, the group congregated on the lawn near the Capitol as speakers declared that something is "wrong in America," The Guardian reported.

“We are here to have a reconsecration and a re-engagement because you do not commemorate the death of [a] prophet,” said movement co-chair William Barber. “You go to where they were killed, reach down in the blood, pick up your baton and carry it the next round of the way. Now who’s ready?”

“Our children are denied health care, struck by poverty and end up dying... I am here to push forward the #PoorPeoplesCampaign “ - Kelly, a mother who lost her daughter because of a lack of healthcare. pic.twitter.com/fLeRtfcW7e
— AFSC (@afsc_org) May 14, 2018

Barber then helped lead a crowd of singing and chanting activists toward police officers who had formed a blockade, the newspaper reported. Barber and others were among those arrested.

Fellow supporters called gathered at dozens of locations around the country, according to the group's website, which is raising money to cover legal costs for demonstrators.

Plans for the coming weeks include waves of action in various cities raising awareness about systematic "evils."

The U.S. Census says nearly 41 million people live in poverty, though organizers say that number is about 100 million people short.

If you'd like to learn more about the campaign or how to get involved, a conference call is planned Wednesday at 7 p.m. Eastern Time as well as Saturday at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Both calls will cover the same information.

Those interested should fill out this form at least 12 hours beforehand.

Thousands of people joined the #PoorPeoplesCampaign in nonviolent moral fusion direct action & hundreds have been arrested across the country standing up for truth & justice. Help us bail them out by donating to the legal defense fund: https://t.co/rTFLlV3PUV pic.twitter.com/sYZhwyEUd5
— Poor People's Campaign (@UniteThePoor) May 14, 2018

Photo credit: wellphoto/Shutterstock