Rev. Eddie Anderson is the California Co-Chair of the Poor People’s Campaign and pastor at McCarty Memorial Church in Los Angeles.
Over the last four months I’ve traveled around the State of California for the Poor People’s Campaign and as I listened to the stories of families and struggling souls I spent many nights crying and asking why! The prayer of brother Cesar Chavez rings true:
“Show me the suffering of the most miserable, so I will know my people’s plight. Free me to pray for others, for you are present in every person. Help me take responsibility for my own life, so that I can be free at last. Grant me courage to serve others, for in service there is true life. Give me honesty and patience, so that the Spirit will be alive among us. Let the Spirit flourish and grow, so that we will never tire of the struggle. Let us remember those who have died for justice, for they have given us life. Help us love even those who hate us, so we can change the world. Amen.”
As a collective we need to listen to the pain surrounding us and as we involve ourselves in this campaign we know that the Golden State needs to be reminded of the Golden Rule!
The Poor People’s Campaign aims to help pass legislation at the local, state and national level addressing the housing crisis, public education, environmental policy and how the poor are the most impacted by environmental issues, health care, racial justice and more.