Thread by @RevDrBarber

To the movement in this moment: we must remember the history of the struggle. We don't have to be under the same banner to be in the same battle.

The week of the original March on Washington, there were hundreds of actions all over the country.

Diane Nash was in Selma organizing 2 years before MLK & John Lewis showed up. No women spoke at the March on Washington main event. Different banners, same battle.

In the abolition movement, Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison had different political strategies. Different banners, same battle.

White social gospel leaders in the early 20th century had some political differences with early civil rights groups. In fact, the NAACP in its beginning was led by white people, & there were some differences with W. E. B. Du Bois—not over race, but strategy.

When the welfare rights women pushed MLK to mobilize the original Poor People's Campaign to challenge poverty, race, and militarism, there were political differences within from other civil rights orgs and even religious bodies.

This history, and so much more, teaches that the movement for justice has never been unanimous-everybody following one person or one group. This week, as we head toward the anniversary of the March on Washington, there will be various gatherings and actions. We need them all!

There have been a lot of actions long before the 28th. The fight against voter suppression, for living wages, voting rights & full healthcare does not begin or end on the 28th. In fact if your only action is on the 28th, that doesn't even align w/the original March on Washington.

Some groups will focus on one-issue gatherings. If that’s the banner you want to be under, great. Some gatherings will focus on multiple issues. If that’s the banner you are under, great. But please understand: the 28th is just one day. A moment is not a movement.

Whatever banner you move under, don’t get caught up in ego and competition and foolishness. There is plenty of work to do. Keep your eyes on the prize.

Rev. Dr. @LizTheo & I have been invited to the @GoodTroubleDC Rally at the Lincoln Memorial & simultaneously (via Zoom) the immigration, voting rights, and wages rally in NC. We will take a break from the work we're doing in WV to go to DC & be in both places.

With the 47 #PoorPeoplesCampaign state coordinating committees, over 300 partners, and thousands of religious leaders, we have been engaging w/ our brothers & sisters among the 140 million poor & low-wealth people in this country before this week, and we will continue long after.

So our word to everyone is simple: find a banner, get under it, and join the battle for love, truth, and justice.