Although the Poor People's Campaign issued a challenge to candidates on both sides of the aisle and nine presidential candidates vowed to push for a debate on poverty at the Poor People’s Moral Action Congress last June, we have had six months and 20 hours of debates in 2019, and 28 debates since 2016 – and there still remain 140 million poor and low wealth people in this country without any debate or serious political discussion or action on poverty.

One week from today, come join the Poor People’s Campaign at the Democratic debate in Iowa on Tuesday, January 14th as we challenge candidates and organizers to make good on their promise to hold a minimum of one primetime televised debate on poverty and the interlocking issues of systemic racism, ecological devastation, militarism and the war economy, and the distorted moral narrative of Christian Nationalism, during both the primary and the general elections .

We can’t allow another debate to go by or election season to continue without putting the issues facing the American people at the center.

Hear from poor people, moral leaders, and clergy from Iowa and across the country about how the poor are the most impacted by climate chaos, war, the health care crisis, and low wage jobs, and join a fusion movement rising up to save the soul of our democracy and this world.

Our deep love of the 140 million people poor and low-wealth people (43% of Americans) in this county, including the 1.1 million poor and low-wealth people living in Iowa, calls the Poor People's Campaign to action. We will not let another presidential debate take place without furthering our call for a full debate on poverty!

Forward together, not one step back,

Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, President of Repairers of the Breach

Reverend Dr. Liz Theoharis, Director of the Kairos Center

Co-Chairs of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival

Stay connected with us online at www.poorpeoplescampaign.org

Follow us on twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

---