"We are here because this is the season of non-violent direct action," said Pamela Poniatowski, one the Tri-Chairs of the Rhode Island Poor People's Campaign at a protest outside the Providence offices of Senator Jack Reed. "This has gone on far too long where poor people and the lower income have just been ignored in our Congress and in our Senate - and we are done."
Peter Nightingale and Reverend Carl Jefferson are the other two tri-chairs.
Poniatowski then listed the demands she and those gathered with her were demanding of Rhode Island Senators Jack Reed (Democrat) and Sheldon Whitehouse (Democrat).
- $15 dollar federal minimum wage, and not over four years, but now
- Pass the For the People Act with ALL its provisions
- Pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act
- Repeal the filibuster
Poniatowski then joined Peter Nightengale and Mary Pendergast in some street theater, in which a school teacher quizzes and grades Senators Reed and Whitehouse on their positions regarding the demands of the Poor People's Campaign. Given that the Senators have only publicly supported the For the People's Act, they received a failing grade.
Reverend Carl Jefferson said that the Rhode Island Poor people's Campaign stands in solidarity with similar rallies across the United States. Pastor Jefferson said that the Rhode Island poor People's Campaign reached out to the Senators and to their staffs "Inquiring where they stand on the … four demands of the Poor people's Campaign and what they were doing, actively, to support these demands."
Reverend Donnie Anderson led the group in prayer.
Wrapping up:
