If there was ever a time to truly embrace Martin Luther King Jr’s radical legacy against the injustice of the "triple evils of racism, economic exploitation, and militarism,” it would be now.
At the start of 2015, institutional racism is on America’s kitchen table. At the same time poor and middle class folks have been suffocated for the past decade under oppressive neoliberal and conservative economic policy written by Wall St, and a military and prison industrial complex which are draining and degrading our human resources while enriching private contractors. The triple evils King spoke about in 1967 are sadly staring us in the face again.
It may be may too early to tell but I believe the #BlackLivesMatter movement is poised to become another rung in the great ladder of American social movements. They’ve exhibited exemplary use of non-violent civil disobedience and sustained resistance. But the real power of the movement lies ahead, as a broader scope is assimilated. It’s already happening, with the movement taking under it’s wings a coalition that includes the living wage fight, LGBT rights and a focus on economic inequality. As one leading #BLM activist put it when describing the diversity of protesters in Ferguson, “this is not the new Civil Rights Movement, this is the Oppressed People’s Movement.” I believe King would agree and be proud.
"As long as there is a lower class, I am in it.
As long as there is a criminal element, I’m of it.
As long as there is a soul in prison, I am not free."
Eugene Debbs
Here's a brief roundup of marches and rallies happening all over the country:
In New York City, there's an uptown march beginning at 12PM at 110th & Lenox, there's a downtown march from Union Square beginning at 2PM and one on Staten Island at 9am.
Ferguson National Response Network list of MLK Day marches
We The Protesters (comprehensive activist toolkit)
This Is The Movement (Links to newsletter, articles, quotes, videos, resources, and ways to get involved)
#ReclaimMLK
#MLKShutItDown.
#4MileMarch
Watch the rallies live!
*(If anybody has more information please share in the comments, thanks!)