 November
13 - Minneapolis |
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We
were hosted by the Loring Nicollet Alternative School. A small
but vibrant educational institution, the Loring Nicollet Alternative
School (LNAS) is a member of the Poor People's Economic Human
Rights Campaign. |
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Freedom
Bus Riders met with students of the LNAS and exchanged stories
and experiences. KWRU's director, Cheri Honkala is a graduate
of LNAS, and shared how much impact the school had on her
life.
We
also visited the South Side Famiy School and met with students
who had recently complete a bus tour of the South, where they
learned about Civil Rights. We exchanged experiences and sang
freedom songs, ending with "This Little Light of Mine." |
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Everyone
has the right to education...
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Education shall be directed to the full development
of the human personality and to the strengthening of
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms...
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After
a reality tour of Minneapolis, the Freedom Riders held a
candlelight vigil at the grave of US Senator Paul Wellstone.
We remembered Senator Wellstone for his lifelong commitment
to social justice. KWRU Director Cheri Honkala, spoke: "Senator
Wellstone was one of the few politicians concerned with
the issues that poor people face on a daily basis. He was
with us when we organized marches of low-income workers
in solidarity with the striking Hormell employees. He played
a role in the first housing take-overs in the city of Minneapolis...
He will be sorely missed."
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In
the evening, some of the Riders attended a benefit concert
for the Bus organized by students at the Lorning Nicollet
Alternative School. The rest of us went to a Workers'
Rights Forum in St. Paul, Minnesota, hosted by UNITE!
Northern District Joint Board. Participants included representatives
from the Labor Religion Coalition Sister Mary White and Bob
Hulteen, Todd Anderson from the AFL-CIO, and Richard Monje,
special projects coordinator for UNITE!. We discussed the
Workers' Rights Campaign of the Labor
Party. Full coverage of this important meeting coming
soon. |
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Links
Economic
Human Rights.org - Now online, this resource of the Poor
People's Economic Human Rights Campaign is a tool to document
economic human rights violations.
Loring Nicollet Alternative
School
Daily
Prayer for the New Freedom Bus Tour
The Rev.
Noelle Damico, Catalyst, School of Theology, University
of the Poor
Wednesday, November 13
God, you created us to learn and grow. But too many of our
children attend schools that are crumbling and use textbooks
that are outdated. As we work to guarantee a right to education,
we ask that you would stir the conscience of this nation to
fund public education at levels that ensure excellence for
every child, not only those who live in wealthy districts.
We ask that you would grant understanding to members of Congress
as they re-authorize welfare, that they would consider college
education as a part of work fulfillment, so that we and our
families do not remain trapped in dead-end jobs. God who makes
a way where there is no way, show us the next steps we must
take to ensure education for all people. Amen.
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About
the Campaign 
