KWRU New Freedom Bus Tour

Posted by on May 2, 2002

New Freedom Bus Tour
Economic Human Rights For All
November 10-December 10, 2002

The Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign represents individuals and families that are fighting every day for their own survival, yet are also committed to building a broad movement based on the leadership and unity of the poor. Together we are fighting for the right to food, clothing, housing, and medical care; for a job at a living wage; and the right to equal access to education.

On November 10, 2002 the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign will launch a month-long bus tour to document economic human rights violations and to unite organizations of poor people from across the country into one strong voice against poverty. The bus tour will give us an opportunity to strengthen the relationships between poor peoples’ groups across the country, to share our strategies, struggles and stories. Along the way, we will visit 25 poor communities and learn what poverty looks like in each area and to highlight their struggles
for the basic human rights. We know that one of the first steps towards ending poverty is to show Americans that it does indeed exist and to put a face on it. So, we are going to bring the stories of everyone we meet to the United Nations on Human Rights Day, December 10, 2002. On that day, we will call on the United States to put an end to these economic human rights violations.

Already close to 65 million Americans are living in poverty and we know the situation is only worsening. While the poor themselves must lead this movement, it will also take involvement from all parts of society to end poverty. As students, we have an integral role to play in the emerging poor people’s movement. Students have always played an important role in struggles for social change, from the civil rights movement in the United States to building democracy in China, and students all over the U.S. are already an important part of the new Movement to End Poverty.

We also see that the ideals and aspirations embodied in this poor people’s movement are the same ones we hold for our nation. We know that a shelter is no place to raise a child. We know that it is wrong for people to die on the streets. We know that it is wrong for a person to work hard all week and still not have enough money to put food on the table. And most importantly, we know that our country can be better in this. In the United States there is no reason for these conditions to exist. We all deserve our economic human rights.

As students we must decide to stand up and declare that we are morally opposed to poverty and will no longer accept such injustice. We must side with the interests of the poor and begin to work together to create the nation we all deserve. We’re only going to end poverty through a broad-based movement. It’s time for us, as students, to stop working for poor people and begin to work with poor people. The Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign is growing, and you can be a part of it.

What Can Students Do?
The bus is coming your way and we want you to be involved!!
-Advertise the bus on your campus so that students can participate in a stop and/or follow the bus online
-Ask community service, religious, or activist groups to help you put on a fundraiser for the bus.
-Try and get professors and classes involved to assist in research around documentation.
-Plan a caravan to the nearest bus stop and/or join us in New York City for the tribunal at the United Nations
-Get an article published in your local or campus newspaper about the bus tour.
-Sponsor a showing of Outriders, a movie about the First New Freedom Bus Tour, on your campus.

Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign
Kensington Welfare Rights Union
PO box 50678
Philadelphia, Pa 19132
215-203-1945, 215-203-1945 fax
students@kwru.org, http://www.kwru.org