Calm before the Storm

by PNN Staff

Sooo much Green, corporate green grass dotted with bright white slivers of clean white government buildings . Large blue strips of sky tore through a gray wall of storm. "What do we want? " "Justice!!!" "When do we want it ?"- " Now!!"

Representatives from Women's Economic Agenda Project (WEAP) , The California Nurses Association, The Janitors Union, Lifetime, POOR Magazine, Hotel and Restaurant Employees' Union, Local 250, SEIU, Mills College students and many more gathered at the mouth of the Department of Human Services, ( Welfare ) in Oakland to launch the beginning of the POOR People's March, organized by WEAP.

"We are marching for our economic human rights, guarenteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the birthright of every human being. We are fighting to break the isolation of poor people across the globe to create unity and organization among the poor..." Teena Boyd from WEAP told the crowd in a rally preceeding the March.

Several dynamic speakers spoke before the crowd including Diana Spatz from Lifetime who chronicled her struggle, "This is the first time I have ever been able to not worry about paying my rent, this is the first time I have not worried about covering my food and utility bills, and that is because I fought and won the battle to get my education, as a poor single mother on welfare I was discouraged from getting an education, and that made me so mad, that after i won my battle and went on to recieve my education, I started an organization to help other women like myself"

The march was an effort in solidarity with The Kensington Welfare Rights Union, who began the struggle to march for poverty rights with the inception of the Welfare Reform Bill two years ago. Members of WEAP brought those causes home to California in regards to the fact that over half of the families recieving CalWorks live in counties where the fair market rent for a one-bedroom apartment is actually higher than the maximum grant for a family of three.A one bedroom going for $647. 00 per month while the Calworks grant for a family of three is $565.00.

Article 23: The right to jobs at a living wage and just conditions of work.

Article 25:is the right to well-being of a person and their family, which includes food, clothing, housing, and medical care and necessary social services. and finally.

Article 26: The right to a good education.

Although we were in the middle of a heavy storm in Northern California, the sky glimmered with a temporary sun for the beginnning of the March -

"What do we want?"

"Justice"

"When do we want it..."

"Now !!!"

Janine Grantham resumed the chant as the line of protestors opened the sky and marched into the horizon.