 November
17 - San Francisco & Oakland, CA |
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The
New Freedom Bus rolled into San Francisco at 5:30 am after
driving through the night from Utah. We were greeted by
POWER- People Organized to Win Employment Rights. After
breakfast the two groups dialogued about issues of homelessness
and poverty on the two different coasts as well as organizing
strategies. Regina of POWER said, “We’re not
going away, we’re going to fight for a livable wage,
for housing…we’ll kick some doors in, we’ll
go to jail, we’ll keep fighting until we get what
we need.”
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Following
the dialogue POWER led us on a reality tour of San Francisco.
Among the stops was Saint Anthony’s Shelter, pictured
here. New Freedom Bus Riders collected documentation of economic
human rights violations occuring here in San Francisco.
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Not
far from Saint Anthony’s many poor people set up goods
and crafts to sell so that they can eat. Part of the growing
informal economy in America, this market resembles those in
the developing world. |
The
New Freedom Bus Riders pictured with Emma of POWER, and
got back on the bus to go on to Oakland.
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Organizations
who hosted the rally in Oakland:
- California
PPEHRC
- WEAP
- CHAM
- SHOC
- Chico
PPEHRC
- SEIU
616
- Project
Change—Oakland
- California
Nurses Association
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Pictured here
(from left to right) are Sandy Perry from CHAM - Community
Homeless Alliance Ministry, Diana Polson of WEAP, and the
Rev. Malinga Togotogo, who led us in a prayer.
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Sarah
Frohock (right), a drug and alcohol counselor in California
spoke outside one of the few recovery facilities in this
region of the state. As a woman in recovery herself she
struggles with those she is assisting and is frustrated
with a healthcare system that cares only about profit and
not the needs of people.
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Porshe Anderson
spoke about surviving breast cancer at the second stop on
the tour of “Pill Hill” outside of the Samuel
Merritt College Summit Medical Center.
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A Health Care
Avenger disgruntled with the Healthcare system in the US
calls for Universal Health Care!
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All those involved
in the March.
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KWRU
member Galen Tyler (center) and other Bus Riders spoke about
notable events on the tour. WEAP and CHAM shared their experiences
from their “Save the Soul of America” California
bus tour which happened in late August.
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Press Link
Nov 19:
"Bus of Knowledge- The Second
Freedom Bus Tour against poverty and homelessness visits the
Bay Area," Poor Magazine
Daily
Prayer for the New Freedom Bus Tour
The Rev.
Noelle Damico, Catalyst, School of Theology, University
of the Poor
Sunday, November 17
God who labored for six days and then rested, we remember
all who work without rest this day. We especially remember
those who work in dead-end jobs for poverty wages. We remember
those who work two and three jobs simply to keep a roof over
their heads. We remember those who have been laid off from
work and those who cannot find work that sustains their families.
And today we remember workfare workers who labor each day
without the protections they need on the job and without earnings
or training that will enable them to work their way out of
poverty. We pray for the workers as they organize together
to change these conditions. And we pray for the creation of
jobs at a living wage. Worker God, hear our prayer. Amen.
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About
the Campaign 
