Poor People's Campaign Shares Desire To 'Unlock The Vote'

This op-ed by the Poor People's Campaign is what they call a "moral revival of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy. What are your thoughts?

Do you agree with The Poor People's Campaign? or do you have a differing opinion? Weigh in on Patch by registering at:my.patch.com

Poverty is immoral. Endless war is immoral. Systemic racism is immoral. Environmental destruction is immoral. Hate is immoral. In order to heal our communities, we must change the moral narrative in our country.

Phase II of The Poor People's Campaign, a moral revival of Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy, began this past Thursday, August 23, 2018. All across the nation - including here in Orange County - people canvassed, assembled voter packets, registered voters, and listened to people who are impacted by poverty and racism. Phase I which began on Mother's Day, included 40 days of direct action at state capitols throughout the country highlighting PPC’s 4 pillars: poverty, militarism, systemic racism, and environmental devastation.

On Thursday, in partnership with ACLU and Unlock the Vote, 13 of us put together about 2,000 Know Your Rights packets including voter registration to send to those incarcerated in OC who qualify to vote in November. Yes, unless you are serving time for a felony or a federal crime or on parole, you can vote!

Friday brought us to Theo Lacy Jail in Orange. We engaged with visitors as they came to and from visiting their loved ones. Several registered themselves, but mostly wanted to know about the rights of their loved ones. We had a lot of Know Your Rights information to share and also let people know about the Poor People's Campaign and how they can get involved.

For the 3rd day of action, Saturday, we went to LA to work with our counterparts at the LA Poor People's Campaign. We met at LA Community Action Network (LACAN) where we received training to register voters in Skid Row and to thoroughly listen to their concerns. We broke into groups and dispersed to the local neighborhood where we engaged people on the streets. Several registered and also wanted information about the Poor People's Campaign. If we don’t change the moral narrative in our country, more people will become victims of the unjust criminalization and immoral decency that is plaguing our communities.

ACLU and Poor People's Campaign locally have planned voter engagement opportunities at all OC jails between now and November 6. If you want to join the movement, go towww.ocpoorpeoplescampaign.com Or contact Lisa Pedersen at lisapedersen99@gmail.com

Photos, courtesy The Poor People's Campaign