This post summarizes information from several sources, including an email from the Illinois delegation of the Poor People’s Campaign and various web sites. See below for links.
What is the National Poor People’s Campaign?
Through highly publicized, non-violent moral fusion direct action over a 6-week period in at least 30 states and the District of Columbia, the Campaign will force a serious national examination of the enmeshed evils of systemic racism, systemic poverty, ecological devastation and the war economy during a key election year. Here’s a view of the national events taking place starting on May 14: https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/index.php/events
What is the Illinois Poor People’s Campaign Doing?
The Illinois Poor People’s Campaign 40 Days of Action begins in Springfield on Mondays May 14, 21 and 28 at 2pm:
1. The first action will be Monday, May 14 in Springfield, with a pre-rally training for those who have not participated in a previous training at 12 noon (exact location tbd), a rally at 2pm at the Lincoln Statue in front of the State Capitol, followed by a march to the Illinois State Board of Education. The focus will be on women, youth, people with disabilities, and children in poverty, including a call for a full year state budget with no more cuts to human services and education. See the Facebook event at: https://www.facebook.com/events/1936016636429838/.
2. The second action will be Monday, May 21 in Springfield, also at 2pm. The focus will be on systemic racism and economic justice. Those in Chicagoland can join workers from the Fight for $15 campaign at a 9am action at McDonald’s corporate headquarters in Oak Brook; FF15 workers will be heading from there to Springfield.
3. The third action will be Monday, May 28 in Springfield, again at 2pm. The focus will be on veterans, the war economy and militarism in our society.
4. The following actions in June will likely be in Chicago, also at 2pm:
- Monday June 4 focused on ecology and health care – healthy bodies and a healthy planet.
- Monday June 11 focused on living wages, guaranteed income, housing and social services.
- Monday June 18 focused on our nation’s distorted moral narrative.
5. The 40 Days of Action will culminate in a rally on June 23 in Washington, DC.
For More Information:
If you want to be the the campaign’s email list or otherwise involved, sign up at this site: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/plug-in-with-the-ippc
If you’re on Facebook, see the Illinois group’s page at: https://www.facebook.com/IllinoisPoorPeopleCampaign/
Or, see the national People’s Campaign site for background, to donate or to sign up. https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org
CUP (Champaign Urbana Progressives) 