May 23, 2018
Thank you to all who came out for Monday’s Rally and Sit-in at the State House to address systemic racism, voting rights, immigration justice, Islamophobia and Indigenous rights. We’re so proud of everyone’s hard work and commitment to the movement!
Over 200 of us rallied on the Boston Common, and 16 of us were arrested last night at State House, demanding lawmakers confront systemic racism as the Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign Intensifies. This morning, all 16 cases were dismissed by the Boston Municipal Court Judge!
In Washington D.C., the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a key leader in the 1968 Poor People’s Campaign, was arrested yesterday alongside campaign co-chairs the Revs. William Barber and Liz Theoharis, poor people, and clergy who packed the U.S. Capitol rotunda and sat in prayer despite orders from the Capitol police to disperse.
“There are fewer voting rights today than there were 50 years ago when the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act were passed,” said the Rev. Theoharis. “That didn’t happen by accident – it’s the result of a widespread war on the poor and disenfranchised in this country. That’s why we are building a multiracial, multicultural fusion movement to respond to this attack by demanding a democracy that works for all.”
We got a lot done this week– like delivering our demands on ending systemic racism to the Governor, and leaders of the House and Senate, and conducting a well organized and effective sit-in inside the state house. Our efforts were covered by local media.
Some supporters even took these incredible photos.
Please join us on the Boston Common on May 28th and 29th!
If you RSVP, we’ll send you a reminder email ahead of time and give you instructions on when and where to show up.
Keep up the amazing work.
In solidarity,
Massachusetts Coordinating Committee