Documenting the Poor People’s Campaign

The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival is on a mission to eradicate some of the most serious problems facing America: poverty, war and income inequality.

The campaign kicked off May 14 with thousands of activists and civil rights advocates gathered in Washington, D.C., to relaunch Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight against the evils of racism, militarism and materialism—a fight derailed by his assassination 50 years ago. The protest in the capital was the beginning of 40 days of action across the United States.

Among the campaign’s goals are federal and state living-wage laws, welfare programs for the poor, Medicaid expansion, affordable housing, equity in education, and ending assaults on union and workers rights.

The Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and the Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, who are the founders and co-chairs of the movement, say the agenda includes demands for a massive overhaul of voting rights laws, new programs to lift up the 140 million Americans living in poverty, immediate attention to climate change, measures to curb militarism and an end to mass incarceration.

Truthdig is documenting the Poor People’s Campaign. Thanks to a reader-funded project, correspondent Michael Nigro and other reporters are providing original word, photo and video reports on the people, groups and activities involved in the effort to put the nation on a new path.

Here are the themes for each week of the campaign’s 40 days of action. Click on the hyperlinked headlines to read Truthdig’s coverage.

Week 1, Washington, D.C. Somebody’s Hurting Our People: Children, Women and People With Disabilities Living in Poverty

Poor People’s Campaign Kicks Off in Washington, D.C.

‘Poverty Is Violence’: First Day of Action of the Poor People’s Campaign (Audio Photo Essay), Michael Nigro

Building Morality From the Ground Up, Michael Nigro

Week 2, Chicago and Springfield, Ill. Linking Systemic Racism and Poverty: Voting Rights, Immigration, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, and the Mistreatment of Indigenous Communities

A Struggle Rising From the Streets

An American Movement Hidden in Plain Sight (Audio Photo Essay), Michael Nigro

The Art of Resistance: A Look at the Poor People’s Campaign’s ‘Justice Art Movement,’ Clara Romeo

Week 3, North Carolina The War Economy: Militarism and the Proliferation of Gun Violence

Poor People’s Campaign Continues Strong in North Carolina

Protesting a Country That Values Killing Over Caring (Audio Photo Essay), Michael Nigro

Week 4, Lansing, Mich. The Right to Health and a Healthy Planet: Ecological Devastation and Health Care

This Peaceful Army Can Wage a ‘Revolution of Values’

Every Human Has a Right to Health and a Healthy Planet (Audio Photo Essay), Michael Nigro

Week 5, Jefferson City, Mo. Everybody’s Got the Right to Live: Education, Living Wages, Jobs, Income, Housing

Truthdig Correspondent Michael Nigro Arrested While Covering Poor People’s Campaign in Jefferson City, Mo.

Everybody’s Got a Right to Live (Audio Photo Essay), Michael Nigro

Week 6 A New and Unsettling Force: Confronting the Distorted Moral Narrative

Poor People’s Campaign Protests Against Mistreatment of Immigrants

The Poor People’s Campaign Sixth Week of Action (Photo Essay), Michael Nigro

Saturday, June 23, 10 a.m. EDT Global Day of Solidarity and Sending a Call to Action: Mass Rally in Washington, D.C.

The Poor People’s Campaign: Big Finish at the Capital

D.C. Rally Ends the Initial Phase of Poor People’s Campaign (Photo Essay), Michael Nigro

Poor People’s Campaign Remains Rich in Hope: Profiles of the Optimistic (Photo Essay), Michael Nigro