Human Rights Dialogue held in Southwest Baltimore to show communities are in crisis
Social Justice activists from a wide array of groups staged a “Human Rights Dialogue,” on Saturday. The all-day event was held at 901 Hollins Street, in Southwest Baltimore. The activists included the United Workers, Healthcare is a Human Right – Maryland, Public Justice Center, Legal Aid and the Baltimore Algebra Project . The activists said they are joining forces to recognize communities are in crisis.
“We are experiencing systemic human rights abuses in every sector — work, housing, health, education, the environment, according to their message on Facebook. “The fight to address these big problems requires the building of a large social movement. And that is exactly what is happening, with Healthcare is a Human Right – Maryland off to an inspiring statewide start, and the fight for Fair Development in Baltimore empowering communities throughout the city. And yet, part of building our movements depends on studying the lessons of past struggles which is why our Human Rights Dialogue will include a study of Dr. King’s Poor People’s Campaign of 1968 and the transformation from Civil to Human Rights.
Dr. King’s call for a freedom church of the poor to be a new and unsettling force in our complacent national life raises up critical contradictions that require examination and action — people going through bankruptcy because they got sick, workers working two jobs to make ends meet, homeless families living on the street next to abandoned homes, students demanding an education in a system that doesn’t provide basics like books and lab equipment.”
To see more photos of this event click here.
Bill Hughes is an attorney, author, actor and photographer. His latest book is “Byline Baltimore.” It can be found at: https://www.amazon.com/William-Hughes/e/B00N7MGPXO/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1