The Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) — Through 2020 and Beyond (updated)

You may recall, both the UUA and UUSJ have endorsed the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival (PPC) in spring 2018, and now Side With Love has joined in 2019. We have all committed to fighting: the distorted moral narrative, systemic racism, poverty, the war economy and ecological devastation as important intersectional and interfaith social justice work.  

As the COVID-19 pandemic makes clear the deficiencies of policies and programs to care for the poor and low income in our society, we UUs must live our values to uphold our Seven Principles. During 2020 in particular we lift up the “5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large” in defense of our democracy. 

UU Collaboration with PPC in brief:

• The PPC launched in 2017 and, in 2018 organized 40 Days of Moral Fusion Direct Action, the most expansive wave of nonviolent civil disobedience in modern history.  Hundreds of UUs participated nationwide. UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray and staff attended the kick-off and were arrested, several UU Ministers led key rallies and were arrested, a UUSJ Board Member was arrested (see below).
• In 2019 the PPC convened a Moral Action Congress – Freedom School – Three Days of Moral Fusion Politics, educating more than 1,000 community leaders from across the nation and interviewing Presidential Candidates on their policies to care for the poor and disenfranchised. Many UUs from across the nation attended! UUSJ in-gathered those UUs participating, and Rev. Abhi Janamanchi opened the session (see below).
• Now in 2020, due to the pandemic, the PPC convenes a series of digital rallies as it prepares to mobilize and support the electoral participation of the 140 million poor and low-income folks of the United States. This is the most important action we can take, this year, to re-set the moral compass of our democracy. UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray has convened a UU council to aid this work, which aligns with the goals of UU the Vote.
• In 2021 UUSJ will help hold the elected leadership of our nation to account in its policies and programs. With a new Congress comes new opportunities. With a new election comes a new Presidential mandate.

Highlights:

President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray (pictured left) was arrested in 2018. See her UU World Op-Ed titled I Got Arrested Today While Praying the US Finally Confronts Poverty

UUSJ Board Member John Gubbings, Cedar Lane, was arrested twice in DC among many others. See his commentary Why I Took Direction Action with the Poor People’s Campaign

Rev. Michael Crumpler, UUA LGBTQ & Intercultural Programs Manager, offers Arrested for Justice, on being arrested for the first time in his life and his reflections on the experience of doing so with the Campaign during 2018.

Rev. Abhi Janamanchi Cedar Lane UUC, MD, spoke at major rallies during the 2018 40 Days and opened the 2019 Moral Action Congress with a prayerful charge.

Rev. Dr. Beth Johnson, Palomar UUF, CA spoke at major rallies during the 2018 40 Days and led rallies in CA throughout 2019.

Rev. Robin Tanner, a UU with the Faith Team for the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, offered a commentary I Was A Wearied Kind of Ready: Lessons from Poor People’s Campaign and has been organizing the interfaith endorsers of the campaign.

Elisabeth Geschiere, offered thoughts on “Why I Believe Nonviolent Direct Action* is Imperative” of August 4, 2018.