Articles

24th Annual Poor People's Day at the Capitol: A Call for Justice for All

Faith And The City E-Letter
Volume 3 Issue 2
February 9, 2004
(Georgia Citizens' Coalition on Hunger, February 2, 2004)

Hundreds of poor working people from across Georgia will gather to demand justice through education and action on February 11 and 12 when the Up and Out of Poverty Now Coalition mobilizes organizers, advocates, and citizens for the 24th Annual Poor People's Day at the Capitol. The event will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 265 Washington Street, Atlanta.

Right now, more than 9 million citizens in the United States who want to work cannot find jobs. Numbers of poor, homeless, and hungry people are increasing exponentially. Working citizens are being forced to earn $6 and $7 an hour while CEOs are paid $60 and $70 million a year. Comprehensive healthcare has become a luxury affordable to few. Poor People's Day events are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the grassroots communities' power to mobilize and address concerns that impact the lives of working people across Georgia.

Education Day, Wednesday, February 11, will feature workshops on juvenile justice, living wage and corporate responsibility, healthcare for all of Georgia's citizens, reproductive freedom and more. Starting the day, Khalil Osiris, director of the National Alliance for Radical Prison Reform and a former federal prisoner, will deliver a keynote address.

Action Day, Thursday, February 12, will open with a keynote address by Adelina Nicholls of the Latino Community Coordinating Council, an activist on the forefront of the movement for drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants. After the keynote, a press conference will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, followed by a march to the Capitol to meet with legislators about issues of concern to poor working people across Georgia.

As a result of last year's Poor People's Day, Governor Sonny Perdue agreed to a series of meetings with a delegation from Up and Out of Poverty. The third of these meetings will occur at 2:30 on Thursday afternoon.

For more information, please contact Sandra Robertson at 404-622-7778, or by email at hungercoalition@mindspring.org.

Program Highlights

Education Day: Wednesday February 11, 2004

• 9:30 a.m.: Keynote Address by Khalil Osiris, National Alliance for Radical Prison Reform
• 11:00 a.m.: Workshops on Juvenile Justice, Living Wage, Healthcare, Drivers Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants, Criminal Justice, and Reproductive Rights
• 3:00 a.m.: Wrap Up (Surprise Guests)
• 6:00 p.m.: People's Jam for Justice! Featuring performances by Soul Sista's Juke Joint at the Old City Council Chambers, City Hall

Action Day: Thursday, February 12, 2004

• 9:30 a.m.: Keynote Address by Adelina Nicholls, Latino Community Coordinating Council
• 11:00 a.m.: Press Conference at Trinity United Methodist Church
• 11:30 a.m.: March to State Capitol
• 12:30 p.m.: Visits with Legislators
• 2:30 p.m.: Poor People's Day Delegation to meet with Governor Sonny Purdue
• 6:00 p.m.: Living Wage Public Hearing, City Hall, Old Council Chambers

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, events will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 265 Washington Street, Atlanta, GA 30303.