Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II Profile picture
President @BRepairers, co-chair @unitethepoor, architect of #MoralMondays, Founding Director and Professor at Yale @theology_policy. Join us: Text ROTB to 32846

Oct 12, 2021, 32 tweets

WATCH: Essential, Low-wage Workers Come to DC to Put Face on Build Back Better Plan #PoorPeoplesCampaign twitter.com/i/broadcasts/1…

“We must lift from the bottom with this Build Back Better Plan, so that everybody can rise!” -Rev. Dr. @liztheo, co-chair of the #PoorPeopleCampaign

“We hope that the Biden administration does not cower to the whims of a couple of senators!” @liztheo #PoorPeoplesCampaign

The real question is not “how much does a bold Build Back Better Plan cost?” but how much does it cost in lives and hurt NOT to Build Back Better? #PoorPeoplesCampaign

We’re talking about the Gross Domestic Product when we should be talking about the Great Development Possibilities of millions of men, women, and children who will be directly impacted by these policies.

Pam Garrison, a tri-chair of the @WestVirginiaPPC and lifelong low-wage worker, speaking directly to her representative @Sen_JoeManchin, “This is not about a handout, it’s about a hand up! ... Do your job! Take care of the people, not the corporations.” #PoorPeoplesCampaign

Pam Garrison is right to pushback on Sen. Manchin’s language about “entitlement,” because healthcare, housing, etc. are human rights, not “entitlements.”

Faith Lee, a gig worker and DoorDash driver from Silver Spring, MD: “Stop playing with people’s lives! We need all the provisions of the Build Back Better plan.” #PoorPeoplesCampaign

“Inaction from Congress today means that women such as myself, who are low-wage workers, who will care about our people? When are they going to help us? Help us, don’t hurt us!” -Faith Lee @Maryland_PPC

Marcela Ramirez, a produce packer from Philadelphia, PA: “I am one of the millions of ‘essential’ workers in this country. We are the ones who produce so much wealth in this nation. ... I imagine a world where I don’t have to kill myself to pay my bills.” #PoorPeoplesCampaign

“It is not enough to have jobs. We need those jobs to be well-paid. ... Our lawmakers will say there is not enough money, but there is always money for wars.” -Marcela Ramirez @PennsylvaniaPPC #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

“We know that @VP Kamala Harris has the power to include the citizenship clause in the reconciliation bill, and it needs to happen! ... Enough with promises, we need deeds, not words.” -Marcela Ramirez @PennsylvaniaPPC #PoorPeoplesCampaign

Emilee Johnson of Pearl, Mississippi, a low-wage worker and advocate for victims of human trafficking: “Do the right thing! ... We need laws changed on a federal level. ... I deserve a fair chance.” #PoorPeoplesCampaign

Adriel Downing of Lexington, KY, a game-day employee at the University of Kentucky: “I work one day a week for 13 hours. That’s how I provide for my son. ... Please help us!” #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

How much does it cost NOT to fund economic justice? How much does it cost to continue poverty and low wealth? How much does it cost in lives, in justice, in well-being? These are the questions. Economic justice and voting rights, all go together.

Katrina Corbell, a low-wage worker on disability from New York: “Congress needs to stop playing with our lives! ... This legislation is about me, it is about US.” #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

Kaylen Marie Barker of WV, a low-wage worker: “West Virginia is the land of no opportunity. I have to rob Peter to pay Paul every time a bill comes due. ... The time has run out for people in my state. It’s time for Congress to act!” #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

.@Sen_JoeManchin, you swore it, now do it! #BuildBackBetter

Joan Steede of Phoenix, a home care worker: “There are people dying in their beds right now, while Congress members are going on vacation. ... I demand that Congress back a bill that took so much time, just do your job!” #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

Economist Shailly Gupta Barnes, policy director for @UniteThePoor, is spelling out the real numbers: “What happens in these households impacts the entire economy!” #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

Just to bring us back to where we were before the pandemic would’ve cost $10 trillion, according to @EconomicPolicy. So this legislation is already a compromise! #BuildBackBetter

Phyllis Bennis from @IPS_DC: “It is a crime that there are still 140 million poor and low-income people in the richest country in the history of the world. ... Too much money is going to the wrong places—to the military and ultra-billionaires.” #PoorPeoplesCampaign

53 cents of every discretionary federal budget dollar goes to war, and another 10 cents goes to the militarization of our borders and police. —@PhyllisBennis @IPS_DC

Sister Richelle Friedman, policy director for the Coalition on Human Needs, speaking from James 2: “Faith without works is dead. ... The child tax credit is reducing child poverty. It must be extended and made permanent. We know what’s at stake!” #BuildBackBetter

“The moral fabric of our nation is determined by how well it provides for the poor in its midst. ... We can afford to do better.” —Sister Richelle Friedman, policy director for the Coalition on Human Needs #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

.@RabbiSuskin setting the record straight: The sin of Sodom was its mistreatment of the poor (Ezekiel 16:49-50). “We are here with the voices of Americans crying out for Congress to act!” #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

Rev. Angela Martin of the @Maryland_PPC: “All I want to know right now is, @Sen_JoeManchin, which side are you on? Whose side are you on?” #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

“The poor have numbers, Joe Manchin, it’s called votes.” —Rev. Angela Martin @Maryland_PPC #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

Rev. Dr. @liztheo announcing the #PoorPeoplesCampaign delegation is about to deliver more than 100,000 signatures to offices of Congress members.

Rev. @robtstephens: “The shortest distance between two people is a story.” People from across the country have come together today, and we are all together! #ForwardTogether #NotOneStepBack

Thank you, @RepRoKhanna, for standing with us today. And to Rep. Cori Bush and Rep. Barbara Lee who sent representatives to join us, as well. #PoorPeoplesCampaign #BuildBackBetter

@RepRoKhanna @UniteThePoor @BRepairers @Kairos_Center @RoKhanna Rev. @robtstephens, praying over Congress: “Even though we may not have victory in this Congress, we know that we will have victory because we’ve already won the battle of your justice by stepping out on faith and doing your work.” #BuildBackBetter

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