Dear Friends,

The Board of Directors, Executive Director, and all at The Interfaith Peace Project are proud to stand in solidarity with the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. This is not a partisan campaign. It is about right and wrong. It is about alleviating the suffering and indignities of people of all ages, races, orientation, religions and philosophies.

Fifty years ago, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and many others called for a “revolution of values” in America. They invited people who had been divided to stand together against the “triplets of evil” – militarism, racism, and economic injustice – to insist that people need not die from poverty in the richest nation to ever exist. They sought to build a broad, fusion coalition that would audit America. Sadly, support waned when Martin was assassinated. The call has been rising ever since.

In 2018, The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has developed out of years of organizing across the United States. It is being led by the Repairers of the Breach, and Kairos – The Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice. In communities across this land, people impacted by systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, the war economy, and our distorted moral narrative have said the same thing: “We want to be free! We need a Poor People’s Campaign! We need a Moral Revival to make this country great for so many for whom it has not yet been.” This call echoes the cries of the prophets throughout the ages to stand up for justice and the dignity of all:

Isaiah 58 – If you remove the yoke from among you, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairers of the breach.

Luke 4:18-19 – TheSpirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.

The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, will begin a 40-day campaign on May 14, 2018. On six consecutive Mondays, people of peace will stand at state capitals throughout the United States, including the country’s capital in Washington, D.C. There are 12 principles of the Poor People’s Campaign. On each of the six Mondays, look for an email highlighting two.

If you wish to learn more or become involved, go to:  https://www.poorpeoplescampaign.org/ or search for Poor Peoples Campaign in your state.. Let us know where and how you will participate and send us photos and reflections.

Declaration of Fundamental Rights and Poor People’s Moral Agenda

Systemic Racism:
Did you know that there are fewer voting rights in 2018 than there were 50 years ago when the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were passed?

Poverty and Inequality:
Did you know that while the U.S. economy has grown 18-fold in the past 50 years, wealth inequality has expanded, the costs of living have increased, and social programs have been restructured and cut dramatically?

Ecological Devastation:
Did you know 13.8 million U.S. households cannot afford water?

National Morality:
Did you know that thousands of people die every year from anti-poor policies, while an extremist religious and Christian nationalist agenda deliberately diverts attention from the key issues and challenges facing the majority of Americans?

Maya Angelou said: Do the best you can until you know better and when you know better, do better.

Peacefully,