CommentsTHE ISENBERG FILE--"When you see something that's wrong, eventually you have to do something about it." -- Rosa Parks, quoted from Reverend Barber's book, “The Third Reconstruction.”
On Wednesday night, there was a massive gathering from communities all over Los Angeles at the McCarthy Memorial Christian Church on West Adams in the Crenshaw District. Regrettably, I don't think this event will get much coverage in the mainstream media. It will either be under reported or not reported at all.
The purpose of the meeting was to bring the Poor People's Campaign to Los Angeles in much the same way that Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II and others have already brought it to North Carolina and elsewhere in the country. It’s a vibrant movement that is starting to confront and turn around this country’s anti-democratic conservative agenda that has been depriving poor minorities -- be they white, Black, Latino or others -- of the fundamental right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
What Barber and others spoke of is a more viable alternative to the current “minority rules” reality in which folks are expected to function in a way that does not allow them to thrive and fulfill their potential. Barber’s plan would also encourage people to fulfill the potential of the entire nation, which, to be honest, is now in mortal danger. That is why we all must get involved right away to bring about the radical change we know in our hearts is necessary.
Barber’s national call for a moral revival has already overcome apathy in North Carolina and elsewhere due to his contention that good people of all stripes are the true majority. Apathy nurtured by the corporate dominated media has allowed a totalitarian type of minority to rule, aided by unlimited funds available -- thanks to the still legal Citizens United.
Implementing profound positive change in our political system and society at large is not that difficult to achieve. But it requires a commitment from you:
- Are you willing to take direct action, including civil disobedience?
- Are you willing to mobilize your community -- faith, organization, school, union, etc.?
- Are you willing to make a financial donation to support the Campaign?
- How about using social media to publicize the Campaign?
- Not sure yet? Why not sign up to receive text messages with updates about the Campaign? This will give you the option to get involved in the future.
Send your name, zipcode, state, phone and email to either:
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, Repairers of the Breach.
Press: [email protected]
General: [email protected]
Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Co-Director, Kairos Center.
(Leonard Isenberg is a Los Angeles, observer and a contributor to CityWatch. He was a second generation teacher at LAUSD and blogs at perdaily.com. Leonard can be reached at [email protected]) Edited for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.
-cw
