On March 2, roughly 200 people gathered with the Rhode Island Poor People鈥檚 Campaign 鈥渢o launch a 40-week effort to mobilize poor and low-wage voters in Rhode Island,鈥� and to 鈥渄emand legislators take immediate action to end the crisis of death by poverty in the United States,鈥� according to a press release by the group. The demonstration was one of over 30 that took place in state capitals across the country.
At the demonstration, members of the group 鈥� which includes low-income voters, faith leaders and social justice advocates 鈥� held a funeral march downtown and carried coffins adorned with posters that featured statistics about state and national poverty levels, Indigenous loss of ancestral land, voter suppression and the impact of the climate crisis on low-income people.
鈥淭丑别 of death is poverty,鈥� Carl Jefferson, one of the chairs of the RI Poor People鈥檚 Campaign, told the crowd gathered at the statehouse. He later led the group in a moment of silence to mourn those who had died and will die from poverty.
Speakers at Saturday鈥檚 assembly addressed issues such as immigration reform, reduced life expectancy associated with low-incomes and the underfunding of RI schools. Attendees also emphasized low-income families鈥� struggles to meet basic needs and the link between poverty and incarceration. Speakers also advocated for the redistribution of funds from military spending to social spending programs such as affordable housing.
Daisy Paz, who attended the event on behalf of the George Wiley Center, told the audience to support 鈥渢he legislation 鈥� in your community that (is) being proposed that will impact those of us who are poor. Besides coming here today, please also take a moment to take action.鈥� Many advocates also referenced the idea of 鈥樷�� and the voting power of engaging low-income voters.
On March 4, the campaign organized a second demonstration. About 20 members of the campaign gathered at the Rhode Island State House to deliver their demands to legislators. The group left some packets in mailboxes and delivered others to office personnel. They were assisted by Representative Cherie Cruz (D-Pawtucket) in their efforts.
The letter delivered to legislators on Monday included demands to abolish poverty, increase the minimum wage to at least $15, expand voter rights and end voter suppression, guarantee workers鈥� rights and labor rights, fund healthcare for all, provide affordable and adequate housing, end gun violence, protect women鈥檚 rights, promote environmental justice, fully fund public education, create just immigration laws and end extremism.
In 2021, the National Poor People鈥檚 Campaign introduced H, which aims to 鈥渇ully (address) poverty and low wages from the bottom up.鈥� The bill is aligned with the organization鈥檚 plan, which is a detailed agenda of the organization鈥檚 demands.
Organizer Peter Nightingale shared that while the organization has not solidified its plans for voter outreach, they previously targeted low-income people through text campaigns during the 2020 and 2022 elections.
鈥淲e did a lot of texting 鈥� 30,000, 40,000 texts in the last weeks before the election 鈥� to get people out to vote and to express themselves and say what is being done is not meeting our needs,鈥� he explained.
Several advocates, including Paz, spoke about the importance of passing the Percentage of Income Payment Plan () to combat poverty. 鈥淩ight now, Rhode Islanders of the low-income community, we鈥檙e paying almost half of our paychecks to bills,鈥� Paz said.鈥淯nder PIPP, we would be paying only 3-6%.鈥�
According to the press release, partners of the Rhode Island Poor People鈥檚 campaign include organizations such as East Bay Citizens for Peace, the George Wiley Center and the Rhode Island Homeless Advocacy Project, among others.
Joe Monteiro, who has been involved with the campaign since 2018, said that unlike many advocacy organizations, the group is collaborative and does not isolate itself from other stakeholders.
鈥淲e like to think of ourselves as co-dependents 鈥� for instance, if you鈥檙e a climate justice person and you need to get the word out, then the poverty people need to step in and assist you,鈥� he explained.
Mikayla Kennedy is a Metro editor covering Housing and Transportation. She is a sophomore from New York City studying Political Science and Public Policy Economics.
