The Bronx, New York – On Saturday, September 14th, the Poor People’s Campaign held a press conference in the 44th Precinct, one of the poorest precincts in the state.
Press conferences were held simultaneously across the nation in some of the poorest precincts in the country to bring focus to the needs of poor and low-income voters.
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This action was part of mass mobilization actions to awaken the sleeping giant of infrequent voters in low income areas. The campaign demands that candidates seeking local and national office commit to addressing the crisis of death by poverty and low-wealth, which kills 800 people daily, 295,000 annually.
The press conference was held on Saturday afternoon at 2:30 PM EDT, in front of the Bronx Museum of the Arts, located at 1040 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10456
With approximately 85 million poor and low-income eligible voters in the US who represent at least 30% of the electorate, and around 40% in battleground states, this demographic has the power to decide election outcomes in every state.
Derrick Biney-Amissah, a NYS Poor People’s Campaign Coordinating Committee Member, introduced each speaker and worked to coordinate the event by recruiting volunteers and preparing them with the ways of the Poor People’s Campaign, which is nonpartisan and follows the principles of nonviolence.
Speakers included Jose Gonzalez, a resident of Morrisania, who spoke about the problems of insufficient wages for workers, overcrowded schools and the need to rescue hope in our communities.
Raquel Irizarry, also a Poor People’s Campaign Coordinating Committee Member, spoke of growing up in the Bronx and the importance of voting. “The idea of voting is simple. If you have ten people in a room and eight want strawberry ice cream and two want lemon ice cream, but the two lemon eaters are the only ones that vote, then everyone eats lemon.” Kat Corbell, a Bronx resident and NYS Poor People’s Campaign member asked, “What is at stake for me in this election? Not only my health care and all health care especially for women, trans people, pregnant capable people, people in poverty, and people with chronic conditions, but threats to arrest friends and colleagues simply because we are seeking to maintain fair elections and that all voters will have their votes. What is my hope for nys and the country? My hope for New York and our country is that those elected into office will start listening to voters, and also make decisions for the best future of their voters, their constituents and not just donors or who they are invested with.”
The Reverend. Dr. Liz Theoharis, National Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and Director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice, made closing remarks and a call to action: “In this rich country, perhaps the richest ever in human history, there are people dying from poverty, people dying from a lack of homes, people dying from a lack of healthcare, people dying from being paid low wages. But we, the 140 million poor and low-income people in this country, who make up one third of the voting electorate, have the power to make things better, not just for us, but for everybody.”
She spoke about how so many of her children’s classmates are unhoused, and how many students had no access to the internet during the pandemic. But people have the power to change every election when they vote for candidates who say they will put more money into schools.
“We will reach out to 15 million poor and low income infrequent voters, and encourage people, make them hear us, and make those demands a reality.”
Preceding the press conference, volunteers canvassed throughout the surrounding neighborhoods, from 161st Street to 168th Street, east and west of the Grand Concourse.
Over a dozen volunteers distributed pamphlets and flyers to passersby and community members and listened to their concerns, hopes and fears. Many are excited about the upcoming election, while some remain skeptical and worried. However, the majority of those who stopped were grateful to receive more information about the voting process and information on where the candidates stand on issues that matter to them. They were also appreciative of the information and support for questions about registering to vote. Flyers included a candidates scorecard and voter information and support resources.
All photos by Shelley Valfer
