 Arriving in Washington D.C. after almost a day and a half of riding the bus, we unloaded our bags and packed into the Community for C!
reative Nonviolence (CCNV), the largest homeless shelter in Washington, D.C. The next morning, we marched out from CCNV towards the White House, singing and handing out flyers along the way. When we arrived at the White House we marched back and forth, chanted and sang, including a passionate "I went down to the Presiden'ts House..." We were soon joined by a wide array of local and national organizations, including Henry Nicholas of the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Workers, Shula Koenig of the People's Decade for Human Rights Education, several representatives of the United Mine Workers of America, Michelle Tingling-Clemmons of the National Welfare Rights Union, and many !
other local groups. Michelle Tingling-Clemmons facilitated the day.  Henry Nicholas saluted the Freedom Riders before heading back to Philadelphia to prepare for their arrival later on in the day.
Ron Baker welcomed us on behalf of the United Mine Workers. (The Mine Workers Union is a leader in building the Labor Party.) With welfare reform, low-wage jobs and no childcare, he noted, many welfare recipients are having to work, but winding up worse off at the end of the week than the beginning; mine workers have historically had to face this same situation. He recognized the need for the employed and unemployed to be organizing, mob!
ilizing, and educating. "We pledge," he concluded, "our committment to continue to support this organization and this campaign."  Shula Koenig, international human rights leader, also gave an address. We were standing in front of the White House where many human rights abuses have been signed into effect, she noted. The United States has consistantly drawn back from recognizing human rights. It and Somalia are the two countries that didn't sign the United Nations declaration on the rights of children. People around the world have asked her to teach the leaders of this country about human rights. "There is no reason for one child in this country to be hungry," !
she continued. It's not even economical to put the children of  parents who are poor into foster care, and yet this horrible act goes on every day.
Many other local organizations spoke, and the freedom choir sang several songs. Soon, it was time to get on the bus for Philadelphia . Coming back to Philadelphia was coming home for many of the Freedom Riders. Getting off the bus, each of the riders was cheered for individually. Henry Nicholas was present, with local religious leaders, the New Jerusalem recovery community, and, of course, members and supporters of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union. Setting up for the night across f!
rom the Liberty Bell, we began the final preparations for our march through New York to the United Nations. [Next] [Previous] |
