May 2, 1968 - The Poor People's Campaign began with groups from several locations around the U.S. setting out for Washington, D.C., to draw attention to the conditions of poorest in the United States. It was conceived and organized by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and, following his assassination the previous month, led by his successor at the head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Rev. Ralph David Abernathy.If things keep going the way they're going, it might soon be time for another Poor People's Campaign!
The first wave of demonstrators arrived in Washington on May 11. One week later, Resurrection City was built on the Washington Mall, a settlement of tents and shacks to house the protesters.
~ Source: Peace Buttons "This Week in History" ~
Of course, a lot has changed over the past 41 years. Back in the 60s, it wasn't that difficult to hold a march or rally near the national seat of power. Back then, there was no Homeland Security Department. People actually had some protected civil liberties. While I'm certainly not going to suggest there were no instances of police brutality -- there were plenty! -- the police now preempt many a protest before it can really get started by locking people up at the get go.
Still, if tens or hundreds of thousands of people descended on DC, it would send a powerful message of the plight too many Americans are facing today.
I don't know. I guess Lenin said that what was necessary was violent revolution. Otherwise capitalism seems pretty entrenched. '68 doesn't seem to have resulted in any permanent changes.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm a Leninist, or even a Marxist, but Lenin was probably the sincere anti-capitalist who went the furthest in dismantling capitalism in the last century.