Poor People’s Campaign Continues Strong in North Carolina (Live Blog)
Activists and civil rights advocates gather in Raleigh and other cities around the U.S. for the third week of action against poverty, war and income inequality.Activists and civil rights advocates have gathered for the third week of action by the Poor People’s Campaign, an effort to relaunch Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight against poverty, war and income inequality. The campaign’s goals include federal and state living-wage laws, an end to anti-union and anti-workers’ rights efforts, welfare programs for the poor, equity in education, Medicaid expansion and accessible housing.
Truthdig correspondent Michael Nigro is reporting from North Carolina. Scroll down to see Truthdig’s live multimedia updates and take a look at Nigro’s photo essay below.
3:00 p.m. PDT: The Poor People’s Campaign is asking for donations to help bail out those who were arrested while peacefully protesting:
Hundreds have been arrested across the country today standing up for peace against the #WarEconomy – many more are still taking action! Help us bail them out: https://t.co/rTFLlV3PUV #poorpeoplescampaign pic.twitter.com/EBQI3cr6RE
— Poor People’s Campaign (@UniteThePoor) May 29, 2018
In Frankfort, Kentucky, the figures of bodies were outlined in chalk to represent the lives lost to militarization in communities:
#PoorPeoplesCampaign at the Governor’s mansion in Frankfort today. Bodies outlined in chalk to represent the millions of lives lost to the weaponization of our communities every day. @UniteThePoor pic.twitter.com/vPacYLqU7O
— Laurel Mayes (@LaurelMayes) May 29, 2018
2:00 p.m. PDT: Protesters have occupied the rotunda of the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing:
After being refused entrance to the House Floor, #PoorPeoplesCampaign occupies the Capitol Rotunda #WeAreNotAfraid pic.twitter.com/SEWSeXCvMl
— Michigan Poor People’s Campaign (@MichiganPPC) May 29, 2018
1:30 p.m. PDT: At least five arrests have reportedly been made at the North Carolina protest in Raleigh:
David is the 5th person arrested in North Carolina with the #PoorPeoplesCampaign today. You cannot fight poverty in this nation while spending so much on the war economy #FightFor15 pic.twitter.com/0qfWNjeb7K
— Fight For 15 (@fightfor15) May 29, 2018
1:00 p.m. PDT: The action at the New York state Capitol in Albany continues as a teach-in is held on U.S. militarism:
Holding a teach-in and discussion on US #militarism in the “War Room” of the NYS Capitol building now. @nysppc #PoorPeoplesCampaign pic.twitter.com/uen084GXOw
— Kairos Center (@Kairos_Center) May 29, 2018
In California, veterans are sharing their stories. “The war economy is immoral,” says Antonio Palacios:
“I joined the Navy because I needed money to finish college, I just had to hide who I was for four years… My supervisor joined because it was the military or prison… The war economy is immoral” @TonePalacios, Los Angeles @VFPNational #PoorPeoplesCampaign pic.twitter.com/06RMG3NI73
— California Poor People’s Campaign (@CaliforniaPPC) May 29, 2018
12:30 p.m. PDT: In Washington, D.C., a crowd delivered a folded flag and list of demands to the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell:
#PoorPeoplesCampaign just delivered a folded flag, a prayer of demands and flowers to Sen. McConnell’s office. End militarism and war, feed children, honor all people. pic.twitter.com/9OvuVkEXk6
— Camille D Holmes (@CamilleDHolmes) May 29, 2018
Noon PDT: A satellite protest, focusing on the war economy, is happening at the New York state Capitol:
“I’m glad that we’ve got ‘Ain’t gonna Study War No More’ down, and I hope the people passing through here will get it too.” Rev Claudia De la Cruz #PoorPeoplesCampaign pic.twitter.com/Uxv8T6qeqA
— Kairos Center (@Kairos_Center) May 29, 2018
11:40 a.m. PDT: The protesters unite in song, singing “Somebody’s taking our freedom and we won’t be silent anymore.”
Theomusicologist leads the #PoorPeoplesCampaign in song. “Somebody’s taking our freedom and we won’t be silent anymore.” #40DaysofAction pic.twitter.com/hvclhC8Z9x
— Poor People’s Campaign (@UniteThePoor) May 29, 2018
11:20 a.m. PDT: Michael Nigro leads a Facebook Live broadcast from the ground:
11:00 a.m. PDT: Michael Nigro reports from the ground:
Truthdig correspondent @Nigrotime is on the ground in North Carolina for the third week of action with the #PoorPeoplesCampaign @UniteThePoor @RevDrBarber @liztheo @fightfor15: pic.twitter.com/lIFJjtqVu0
— Truthdig (@Truthdig) May 29, 2018
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