Resurrecting the Cause for Which King Died

Martin Luther King Jr. is known for trying to create a vast equality for not only all races, but all people. There is one thing that should be looked at again as well, his mission for economic justice. The very week he died, he was in the process of planning the Poor People's Campaign to go to Washington, D.C. to document that poor people in this nation are citizens just like everybody. He was reminding us about the Constitution of the United States that talked about inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and all God's children ought to have food to eat and clothes to wear. They ought to have jobs and opportunity and some place to stay. All God's children have a right. He was organizing to come to Washington and he said we will tie up the legislative process--we will bring white poor people from Appalachia, Latinos from the border states, bring poor people from the urban centers and say to our nation, "We are Americans too and we have a right to all of the wonderful bounty which God has bestowed on our great nation."

On April 4 this year, a group of us leaders on the Upper West Side of Manhattan are convening a coalition of local and national legislators; interfaith, labor and civil rights activists and leaders; and an esteemed panel of journalists and newsmakers for a symbolic evening of history, re-enactment, riveting discussion and healing songs. Our dedicated interfaith, inter-disciplinary group will pick up the piece of King's mantle that people have let die -- jobs. With more than 12.8 million Americans unemployed, jobs, economic freedom, living wage and worker justice remain the greatest challenges this country faces.