Nationwide – Demanding elected leaders at all levels of government adopt an agenda that confronts systemic racism and lifts up the poor, thousands of poor and disenfranchised people, clergy and moral leaders in 30 states and Washington, D.C. announced Monday they are joining the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Poor people, clergy and activists flooded state capitol buildings from coast to coast and the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. to serve notice to state and federal legislative leaders that their failure to address the enmeshed evils of systemic racism, poverty, the war economy, ecological devastation and America’s distorted national morality will be met this spring with six weeks of direct action — including one of the largest waves of nonviolent civil disobedience in U.S. history. In Washington, D.C., members of the D.C. coordinating committee were joined by union members, labor leaders, national faith leaders, and Campaign co-chair Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, co-director of the Kairos Center. Elisendo Morales Cardoso, a janitor in DC and union activist who is a DACA recipient, testified to what is at stake: “I’m married and I have two young children to take care of. If I lose DACA, I’m going to lose my job. How am I going to raise my kids? This is our home and this is our children’s home.”  Rev Dr. Anika Whitfield of Arkansas said, “By faith, I hope for the day that America will stop imposing poverty; under resourcing and resegregating public schools; underfunding and limiting access to universal healthcare and wellness services; disproportionately charging, imprisoning, sentencing, and putting to death persons primarily based on the color of their skin; limiting employment opportunities based on a person’s gender, identity, ethnicity, or culture; and stop perpetuating deceptive narratives that unnecessarily divide us.” And in Albany, New York, combat veteran Brittany DeBarros reminded us that “there can be no true economic, racial or gender liberation without addressing the militarism that is strangling the morality and empathy out of our society.” These are just a few of the hundreds of voices that were lifted up from movement leaders across the nation. Yesterday showed that when we unite around an agenda that lifts up our deepest moral and constitutional values, we can shift the narrative. Read our national press release here. And, if you missed the livestream of our news conference in Washington, D.C., led by Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, watch our video of the day’s events here. The Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival in the News With Unity News Conferences across the country, the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival has been receiving a huge amount of media coverage nationwide. Here are just some of the news clippings from the day: “‘Poor People’s Campaign’ readies nationwide mobilization,” Associated Press “Arkansas Faith Leaders Join Other States In Reviving Poor People’s Campaign,” Arkansas Public Radio (KUAR 89.1) “Activists revive Poor People’s Campaign half a century after King assassination,” Tallahassee Democrat “In Concord, a movement launched to fight for the poor,” Concord Monitor “Poor People’s Campaign in N.H. Protests Economic Inequality,” New Hampshire Public Radio “King’s ‘Poor People’s Campaign’ Revived In Kansas, Elsewhere,” Kansas Public Radio (KCUR 89.3) “‘Poor People’s Campaign’ kicks off politely but promises to get louder in the spring,” Durham News & Observer “Remembering poor people at the Capitol today,” Arkansas Times “Poor People’s Campaign announces 40 days of action,” ABC 11 Raleigh “Activists demand action by Ohio lawmakers to fight poverty,” The Columbus Dispatch “Poor People’s Campaign kicks off,” Albany Times Union “Clergy, activists plan ‘direct action’ to address issues of racism, poverty,” The Montgomery Advertiser “Poor People’s Campaign Wants to Look Lawmakers in the Eye,” WDET-FM Detroit “Poor Peoples Campaign begins 6 weeks of nonviolent civil disobedience,” WCAX 3 Burlington “Abogan Por Justicia Social,” Telemundo Sacramento “Poor People’s Campaign Supporters Demand Change in Sacramento,” ABC 10 Sacramento On Monday, we alerted lawmakers that if they fail to act, we are ready to engage in one of the largest waves of nonviolent direct action and civil disobedience in U.S. history. Pledge to join the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival today