Faith leaders ask Biden to mark Mother’s Day with prayer day against gun violence
United StatesRNS More than 550 faith leaders have asked President Joe Biden to declare Mother’s Day an occasion for Americans to pray for an end to gun violence. “While some may throw up their arms and say that this is a battle too large to win, we, an interfaith coalition, made up of Christians, Jews, […]
In the US, William Barber launches new centre at Yale, will retire from church
United StatesRNS Yale Divinity School is launching a new Center for Public Theology and Public Policy, an advocacy-focused body to be led by prominent pastor and activist Rev William Barber II. “The goal of this centre will be to prepare a new generation – what we call moral fusion leaders – that are going to […]
US faith leaders, labour advocates push for White House meeting on poverty
Washington DC, USRNS Faith-led advocacy group the Poor People’s Campaign is pushing for a broad-based meeting with US President Joe Biden to discuss poverty, arguing the White House has not adequately responded to requests for a summit despite the president endorsing the group while running for office and speaking at their events. Speaking at National […]
After months of protests in the US, Poor People’s Campaign requests meeting with Biden
Washington DC, USRNS After dozens of near-weekly demonstrations in support of voting rights, raising the minimum wage and other issues, leaders of the Poor People’s Campaign have asked for a meeting with President Joe Biden, escalating efforts to arrange a public summit with a president who endorsed their cause during his campaign. In a letter sent to […]
Faith leaders and Texas Democrats march to US Capitol to demand voting protections
RNS A group of Democratic Texas legislators marched with faith leaders from the Supreme Court building to the US Capitol on Thursday morning to deliver letters demanding change for millions of people impacted by poverty and voting disenfranchisement. “The 65 million low-wealth voters in this country hold the key to transformation,” said Rev William Barber […]
Hundreds arrested at the US Capitol while protesting for voting rights, minimum wage
Washington DC, USRNS As police escorted a demonstrator in a wheelchair away from the chanting throng descending on the US Capitol on Monday, fellow protesters turned to watch the person go. The group paused for a moment, then altered their call. They screamed in unison: “Thank you! We love you!” The lone protester nodded, fist […]
Poor People’s Campaign, lawmakers unveil sweeping resolution to tackle poverty in the US
Washington, USRNS Lawmakers and leaders of the faith-based Poor People’s Campaign unveiled a sweeping new resolution on Thursday designed to eradicate poverty in the US, with activists touting it as a broad-based legislative framework that hopes to do for poverty what the Green New Deal proposes to do for environmental issues. Speaking to press at the […]
Bieber samples King’s sermons, supports Poor People’s Campaign with new album ‘Justice’
RNS Pop star Justin Bieber tweeted his support on Thursday for the Poor People’s Campaign, the faith-led anti-poverty initiative that was inspired by a campaign Rev Martin Luther King, Jr, started in the ’60s. Bieber listed the campaign, headed by Rev William Barber II and Rev Liz Theoharis, among “organizations that embody what justice looks like in action”, […]
Joe Kennedy III joins Poor People’s Campaign in the US
Washington DC, USRNS Former US Representative Joe Kennedy III announced on Monday he is “honoured” to join the Poor People’s Campaign, a faith-led anti-poverty initiative. The former representative from Massachusetts will serve as a “special senior adviser” to the campaign, which is co-chaired by Rev William Barber II and Rev Liz Theoharis. Then-US Representative Joe […]
US Poor People’s Campaign mourns 250,000 COVID deaths, calls for stimulus relief
RNS At least 256,000 Americans have died of the coronavirus as of Monday – the vast majority of them poor. The Poor People’s Campaign, jointly led by Rev William J Barber II and Rev Liz Theoharis, doesn’t want America to forget these COVID-19 victims. On Monday, the group is staging a national service of eulogy […]