Minister’s Column
On Saturday I travelled to the capitol in Lansing for a rally of the Poor People’s Campaign. Founded by Rev. Martin Luther King before his death, and carried forward today by Rev. William Barber, this movement is marked by its inclusiveness. Its demands include voting rights, Veterans’ rights, LGBTQ rights, a fair living wage for all, universal health care, and more.
Nine of us from the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship carpooled down together, joining a crowd of hundreds of others. We gathered in a church parking lot, processed to the capitol building, and listened to a series of speakers from the steps of the capitol. The Poor People’s Campaign always centers the voices of people directly affected by the injustices we are there to protest: low wage earners; victims of domestic violence; union workers; community organizers. This commitment to the grassroots is the strength of the campaign.
The variety of speakers sharing their life experience and their passion for change was inspiring. What I realized reflecting on the day, however, was that my favorite part was mingling with strangers in the crowd. I had conversations with a white man who runs a teen center in Ann Arbor; a couple from a Presbyterian church in Detroit; the Asian American pastor of a Lansing church that runs a huge day program for the homeless; and the African American pastor who hosted the event—joined by his mother who led the singing and his brother who testified about the need for better health care for veterans. Every one of these informal conversations made me feel connected with my fellow activists in shared purpose and shared humanity. Thinking of my mother who recently passed away, I felt the connection to ancestors who protested in their time. And I was reminded that the struggle for social justice is life-long work: it is a road that we travel deliberately, and we must connect with and support one another on the journey. I was inspired by the event and proud to be part of a Fellowship that had so many of us participating.
PRAYER:
May God bless the Poor People’s Campaign.
May the spirit of the ancestors, including Dr. King who leads us still, give strength to us.
May we continue to advocate for peace and equity for our children and our children’s children. May the movement grow in power and conviction for the benefit of all.
Amen.
Rev. Drew Frantz
March 5, 2024