'Poor People's Campaign' To Target Maine Policies That Foster Economic Inequality

Among the nearly 700 people attending the 38th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration in Portland Monday night were supporters of the Maine chapter of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King 50 years after he called for a "non-violent army of the poor" to demand economic and racial justice, activists across the country are following in King's footsteps.

In Maine, campaign organizers Marcella Mackinnon and Heather Zimmerman told the crowd theirs is a long-term movement to deepen the leadership of the most affected by affecting policies and elections. And they recited a list of examples of inequality specific to the state.

"Over 40 percent of black residents in Maine live in poverty. That is one of the highest levels of black poverty in the country,” Mackinnon said.

“Even with Maine's new, increased minimum wage of $11 an hour, it would take approximately 68 hours a week to afford a two-bedroom apartment,” Zimmerman added.

Read more: http://www.mainepublic.org/post/poor-peoples-campaign-target-maine-policies-foster-economic-inequality