RE: Gratitude for 8/28 and What's Next?
Franklin Garcia
It was great to see the many leaders that came together for DC Statehood, Voting Rights and so many other causes, this past weekend. These are trying times, but for them we gave thanks to God on Sunday http://dcireporter.com/dream-march-interfaith-service-and-prayer-vigil/ at the same location (Freedom Plaza) we were Saturday demanding DC Statehood with DC Mayor Bowser, Senator Brown and Rev. Barber http://dcireporter.com/dream-march-on-washington-for-dc-statehood-green-earth-and-justice/.
At the vigil, hosted by Rev George Holmes, we honored the last fallen 13 young U.S. Military service members President Biden received at Dover Air Force Base earlier that day, by reading their names. A reminder of the price of freedom.
I am thankful for so much, but as Rev Barber highlights below, I recognize how difficult it is for so many. I hope you all continue to motivate all of us to stay in the struggle.
Thank you
Franklin Garcia
Douglass Commonwealth Coalition
http://douglasscommonwealth.us/
From: Rev. William J Barber II [mailto:revb...@breachrepairers.org]
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2021 7:49 PM
To: Rev. Mark Thompson <m...@marchonwashington.org>
Bro Mark thank you for you unifying presence and purpose
The Poor People’s Campaign National Call for Moral Revival was humble and grateful to participate. The interlocking injustices of our time as in all times requires a intersectional response. Before we came to sat event we were in west va with poor low wealth miners in the hollers black people from the hood Catholics Christians Muslims Jews young old gay and straight United in challenging Manchin’s modern day interposition and nullification. The week before we were in Texas on a 27 mile walk from Georgetown to Austin Where at the end Mark and I saw 10000 people of all races creeds and colors gather in Texas in way some say they had never seen.
Some of those same people came to say event.
Beginning next week the PPCNCMR will turn all of our attention to mobilizing for the Poor people low wage workers assembly and national moral March on Washington as a part of and entire year of mobilizing from the bottom up across the country among the 140 million poor and low wealth people 65 million voters in this nation with our 47 state coordinating committees 300 partners and 2000 member prophetic clergy council.
Most people don’t know that poor and low wealth people now make up 30 percent of the electorate and in 15 states if poor and low wealth people who have not voted because they never hear poverty and low wealth being addressed voted between 1 and 25 percent more (1 % in Michigan 4% in Florida 19% in NC 7% in Ga etc) they could determine who gets elected in primaries and general elections in Gubernatorial Senate and Presidential elections.
Many of you have worked with us over the last 3 years to build this network
The assembly will put the voice stories and demands of poor and low wealth people center place not people speaking for them. The focus will be drawn from our deepest moral and religious values. We will stand firmly that the five interlocking injustices of systemic racism poverty ecological devastation/denial of health care the war economy and the false moral narrative of religious nationalism must be simultaneous fought and addresses as the ultimate threats to not just America but the world. And poor and low wealth people are the key to a moral revival. Our agenda is clearly spelled out in the Third Reconstruction: Ending Poverty and Low Wealth from the Bottom Up.
I hope many of you hear will help us mobilize
Not for a day as Mark says but for a movement.
Blessings to you all
Forward Together
Rev. Dr. William Barber, II
Pastor Greenleaf Christian Church Office: 919-735-9059
President and Senior Lecturer Repairers of the Breach, Inc
Co-chair, Poor People's Campaign
National NAACP Board Member
Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters and Righteousness Like a Mighty Stream.
Website: www.breachrepairers.org
On Tue, Aug 31, 2021 at 4:08 PM Rev. Mark Thompson <m...@marchonwashington.org> wrote:
I know there are many expressions to come, so I will neither be the first, nor last, to say this, but please allow me to express my gratitude and my profound admiration for the roles each of you and your organizations played in the Make Good Trouble Rally. Whether you played a large or small role, made a large donation, a small donation or no donation, whether you spoke, sent a video, or did not get a chance to speak, whether you volunteered in the hot sun, or pushed out our social media message, each of you representing 150 + organizations played a powerful and significant role.
Dr. King always sought unity, and was taken from us trying to build a Beloved Community. That sacred space where we gathered Saturday offered an opportunity to be recharged (!with real heat!) toward the goal of unity in our collective struggle.
Each of the 10 principles we agreed upon are of equal priority. For example, even though Kerene Tayloe spoke last on climate change, she reminded us that the reason it was so hot is because of climate change!
I pray we can all go forward together, and support one another throughout the year and not just for one event. We do not necessarily go to the sacred space every 8/28. The circumstances we face every year usually make that decision for us. I do not know yet if we will return in 2022–that is up to all of us—but some of you have already raised the possibility of returning in 2023 and marking the 60th Anniversary. Whatever decisions we make collectively about years to come, let us, in the meantime, work collectively toward the principles we raised Saturday.
To that end, I would be happy to set up a group email thread open to all to hold discussions, share ideas, and to mobilize unity and collective struggle. Let’s let all of us know what all of us are doing so we can support us all! Everyone is also welcome to express their thoughts about the Make Good Trouble Rally, and how we can organize better as a movement now and in the future.
Simply reply to this email, with an email address of your own, your organization’s or your staff’s that you don’t mind sharing with others and one you do not mind having in an open thread discussion. Also, if you would like to share an immediate expression about Saturday with everyone involved, please let me know in your reply, and I will share with others immediately.
Also, here is a DropBox link to download the full video from Saturday. https://www.dropbox.com/s/zb7kem129qdtto0/Make_Good_Trouble_Rally_8_28_21_restream.mp4?dl=0
Once again, thanks to all of you, your organizations and your staffers. I pray Saturday was a beginning towards unity between us. God bless you all!
M
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