WILPF Partners with the Poor People's Campaign

Published on May, 06 2018

Poor People's Campaign Map

WILPF-US, as a national partner of the PPC, will be represented at the opening Monday, May 14th and closing June 23rd events in D.C., as well as at state capitals and branch locations around the country over the 40 Days of Action.  This phase closes on June 23rd with a Rally in DC, at the end of which participants will be “sent forth” to their states for on-going network building, education and action.

In addition to WILPF’s partnership with the Poor People’s Campaign, you may individually endorse the Campaign here.

This Campaign is neither a 40 Day nor a one year effort. Rather, it is a multi- year undertaking to unite tens of thousands to challenge the evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war economy and ecological devastation and the nation’s distorted morality. It is a commitment to build a broadly diverse movement based on acknowledging the validity of the many issues and “silos” we are each committed to personally and organizationally, yet acting together to create a people-centered and mutually supportive fusion movement to transform the political, economic and moral structures of our country.

Here’s what you need to know now

  1. The 40 Days of Action begin on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13th with a mass evening gathering from 6:00 – 8:00 pm EDT at National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle, NW, Washington, DC, 20005.  Invitation on Face Book here. This and all events taking place in DC will be live-streamed on the Campaign’s Facebook page.
  2. Monday, May 14th is the first of the weekly Mondays of Direct Action in Washington, DC and in all 30+ states. In DC, our new banner will be carried high by our WILPF DC Branch members, along with Marybeth Gardam, Development Chair. We invite near-by members and branches to join them Contact Marybeth immediately at mbgardam@gmail.com if you plan to be in DC for the May 14 events. 
    • Training for those interested in participating in nonviolent direct action is at 10:00 am EDT at St. Marks Episcopal Church, 301 A St., SE, Washington, DC.=
    • Actions at the US Capitol Lawn begin at 2:00 pm EDT.  
    • Find your local Monday, May 14th Local Event  here https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/index.php

The Campaign embraces Non-Violent Fusion Direct Action. Two types of NVFDA trainings are being held.  If you are considering or planning civil disobedience and possible arrest during the 40 Days of actions, especially on Mondays, “Training A” is required and is being organized in the states. Contact (make link) your PPC state coordinators for details.  “Training B” is an orientation and less rigorous training immediately before every action in the participating 40 states.  WILPF members are expected to do this less-rigorous pre-action Training B. Read the Covenant on Nonviolence.

  1. Weekly Themes and 40 Days of Moral Action Weekly Schedule.
  2. Stay up-to-date about events every Monday at your state capitol, non-violent trainings, and ride-sharing to Monday events at the capitol. Stay up-to-date about local events. Contact your PPC State Tri-Chairs individually or by the state contact email. Here’s a Map of Participating States.
  3. Color Flyer for the Poor People’s Campaign: A Call for National Revival.
  4. Events Calendar and more information at Repairers of the Breech and sign up for their newsletter and calendar of events and trainings    
  5. Read “A Moral Agenda Based on Fundamental Rights.”
  6. Read Introduction and full report of “The Souls of Poor Folk: Auditing America 50 Years After the Poor People’s Campaign Challenged Racism, Poverty, the War Economy/Militarism and Our National Morality” here
  7. PPC Communications and Social Media: Over the 40 Days, an expert PPC communications and social media team is coordinating national and state media staff to ensure weekly themes, actions, and the voices of those most impacted are lifted up each week to highlight the May 13th launch, Monday, May 14th actions in DC and nationwide, and Weekly Themes to carry us through the 40 Days to June 23rd and into the next phase. 
  8.  A PPC Documentarian Team of professionals and volunteers will live-stream DC and state events and actions, create educational materials, and compile an archive. Want to volunteer, contact you PPC state coordinator.

Over the 40 Days, take photos of your action and send to nancytprice39@gmail.com with subject line “PPC photos” and please include a caption and photo credit. Your action can be PPC-specific or include the PPC in your other WILPF-US program events.  Good photos will be shared with the PPC communications team.

It’s not too late to order a banner for your branch to use over the 40 days and thereafter.

Stay in touch. Here is the current list of PPC state tri-chairs (link to pdf). If your state is not listed or you have not yet made contact, email laurel@poorpeoplescampaign.org.  If you are not already on your state’s distribution list, be sure to contact your PPC state coordinators to learn details of planned actions and events.  Most states also have a Facebook page—search [yourstate]poorpeoplescampaign Facebook  and for a web page – search [your state]poorpeoplescampaign.org.  Lost in cyberland?  Send an email to Mary B-J at wilpf4ppc@gmail.com