The current assault on essential rights in America touches us all. These are attacks on access to basic needs like housing and living wages, on the right to vote, on the fabric of racial justice. Now we are seeing an emboldened attack on access to health care and a denial of every person's fundamental right to control their own bodies. And while this hurts all people, we know that poor people and people of color will be disproportionately impacted due to systemic racism and discrimination.
This ongoing attack has coincided with rampant violence in our schools and public places, escalating war, climate catastrophes, and efforts to undermine democracy in America. These assaults hurt all of us, but they also hit the poorest among us first and worst.
That's why I'm encouraged that people from every corner of this nation are rising up to lead a movement for systemic transformation. And it's why I urge you to be a part of that movement.
Join thousands of people across the country for the Mass Poor People's and Low-Wage Workers Assembly and Moral March on Washington and to the Polls on June 18. You can join us virtually from wherever you live or in person in Washington, D.C.
The 140 million poor and low-income people in this nation know from experience that we need to lift from the bottom so everyone can rise. They know this too: the same forces trying to roll back abortion rights are also blocking gun reform, living wages, universal access to health care, and meaningful action to address the climate crisis.
When we join across the causes and crises that impact us most directly, we can build power and shift the narrative about what is possible. It's easy to become discouraged when we see the courts and our elected officials willing to subvert the democratic process and strip us of our most fundamental rights. But they wouldn't be fighting us this hard if they didn't understand our strength.
On June 18, poor and low-income people will stand shoulder to shoulder with all justice-loving people to make the country hear and see their pain. Together, we will lift up a moral call to heal our nation. This is not a one-day event. It is a declaration that the time to act is now.
Reserve your bus seat to D.C. to join the Mass Poor People's and Low-Wage Workers Assembly and Moral March on Washington. Let's make the call for women's rights, democracy, health care, and a fair economy loud and clear!
Planned Parenthood understands how the plight of women and families is connected to the plight of poor and working people. I'm so proud to stand with you in this movement and hope to see you in D.C. or online on June 18.
Forward together, not one step back!
Bishop William J. Barber, II.
Bishop William Barber is a longtime civil rights leader and reproductive rights champion and a recipient of the Planned Parenthood Care No Matter What Award.