PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

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Join poor and homeless families this August for the Poor People's March for Economic Human Rights. Commemorating the 35th anniversary of Martin Luther King's Poor People's Campaign, we will be marching through the South. We will retrace the steps planned by King in his last days.

Logistical Information:

PURPOSE: The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign calls for a national Poor People's March for Economic Human Rights. The march will commemorate Martin Luther King's historic Poor People's March, on the 35th anniversary of the Poor People's Campaign for which he gave his life. The work of Martin Luther King is not finished. The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign is continuing the struggle to make King's vision of true equality and peace a reality in this nation. As the 35th anniversary of the Poor People's Campaign draws near, very little has changed for poor people in this nation (our situation has deteriorated, even) and it is time to march on Washington again. Poor America is under attack by our government and corporations. Through this march we are taking our country in a new direction, one that is based in the human rights to food, clothing, housing, a living wage, healthcare and education.

United as the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, we will bring together thousands of poor people, along with students, social workers, unions, lawyers and religious leaders to make our voices heard as we March for our Economic Human Rights. Throughout the march we will be educating and registering those that be been left out of the political process. We are all suffering in this current economic climate and we all need to make our voices heard.

DATES: The March: August 2-23, 2003. The march will be kicked off in Marks, Mississippi where the first march was supposed to have started. We will then be marching and caravanning through 7 states in the South on our way to Washington, DC.

THE TENT CITY: August 23th-30th, 2003. As in '68 we will create an encampment of poor families and all those concerned with economic justice. Throughout the week we will be educating and speaking out about economic human rights violations of food, clothing, housing, education, living wages, and healthcare.

HOUSING / FOOD / SHOWERS: This is a march of poor people fighting for their survival. So needless to say there will be not 5 star hotels. Every night we are looking for groups to host the march. We will need a place to pitch our tents, shower, prepare our meals, and to hold evening forums. Be prepared to sleep on the floor and help with all the different aspects that it takes to put this march on.

TRAVEL: We will be traveling near many large cities that are easily accessible by car, plane, train or bus. Contact us with the dates you will be joining us and we will tell you where we will be. Once on the march, caravans will be provided.

COSTS: For each marcher it will cost about $500 to be on the march for the month. While we do not expect every march to pay this amount we do hope that people can contribute what they can. We can also accept in kind donations of food, tarps, sleeping bags, cars, frequent flier miles, etc.

ENDORSE: Organizations are invited to become official sponsors of the Poor Peoples March for Economic Human Rights. In order to become an official sponsor, your group needs to commit to bring at least 100 marchers to participate. Sponsors will have their organization listed on our official endorsement list which will be part of our outreach and press packets.

REGISTER: Print out and mail or fax this registration form to the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign, c/o Kensington Welfare Rights Union, PO Box 50678, Philadelphia, PA 19132, fax: (215)203-1950

PPEHRC: The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign (PPEHRC) is a national effort led by poor and homeless men, women and children of all races to raise the issue of poverty as an economic huma rights violation. Together the PPEHRC is fighting for our basic rights as provided for in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: the right to a decent job at a living wage, the right to a suitable housing, the guarantee of quality education and quality healthcare, the right to communication and a future for us and our families. From migrant workers in Florida to welfare moms in Idaho to public housing tenants in Chicago to downsized workers in Ohio, poor people have all joined together to fight an escalating war against poverty in our wealthy nation. Following the success of 1998's New Freedom Bus Tour and 1999's March of the Americas, the PPEHRC is now organizing this March For Economic Human Rights to bring together poor and homeless families from all over the United States as part of the struggle to end poverty.

CONTACT US: Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign
c/o Kensington Welfare Rights Union
PO Box 50678 * Philadelphia, PA 19132
(215)203-1945 * fax (215)203-1950
kwru@kwru.org * www.kwru.org

www.kwru.org

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