Thursday, August 7, 2008
Grand Rapids Herald-Review: 'Operation: March For Our Lives' makes a stop in Grand Rapids
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By Marie Nitke
Grand Rapids Herald-Review
Published: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 3:09 PM CDT
A group advocating for Minnesota's poor marched through Grand Rapids on Tuesday.The group is in the middle of its "Operation: March For Our Lives" tour across the state, sponsored by the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign.
The peaceful demonstration march began last week in St. Paul, then traveled north to Duluth and west to Taconite, Hibbing and Grand Rapids. It is scheduled to pass through 18 communities before winding up back in St. Paul on Sept. 2 for the Republican National Convention.
"We march because as poverty, hunger, unemployment and homelessness grow throughout this country, political leaders from both major parties have abandoned us," states the March For Our Lives website. "We cannot afford to be silent. We cannot afford to disappear from the public eye and the political debates as our families suffer... We will make our voices heard."
"Operation: March For Our Lives" is an effort to raise awareness about poverty in Minnesota, and to gain support for more legislative funding for things like healthcare and housing. Participants are attempting to collect stories of economic rights violations through conversations with the public. They plan to present these stories to the Minnesota Truth Commission at the end of August.
The march brought about 10 people to Grand Rapids, who stopped at the Grand Rapids Food Shelf to have lunch and to talk to people in the community who live in poverty. They discussed topics such as paying for healthcare, losing a home to foreclosure, affordable rental housing, unemployment and hunger.
"I don't like the term 'human rights violation,' because I don't feel violated," said one food shelf client. "But I do feel like I have no recourse to try and solve my situation. I'm not whining. I just want to be able to do what everyone else is trying to do -- provide for myself."
This woman and others at the food shelf -- who agreed to be interviewed anonymously by the March For Our Lives group -- expressed frustration over the economy, both nationally and locally. Most said that either they or the head of their households worked a full-time job, but still couldn't make ends meet due to low wages.
"If you ask me, the number one problem around here is jobs," said one person. "People want to work and provide for themselves, but aren't able to because there just aren't enough good-paying jobs."
There was also concern over a lack of affordable housing in the area.
"We've been trying to find a rental subsidy," said one woman, "but it's taken nearly a year already to make it happen."
Another woman said she's had trouble finding housing for her family "because most landlords require a damage deposit plus first months' rent, which I can't afford. So then I end up paying $550 a month for a little two bedroom trailer."
"Operation: March For Our Lives" will travel next to Cass Lake on Wednesday, and will arrive in Leech Lake on Thursday. For more information about the group, visit www.economichumanrights.org.
Labels: Grand Rapids, March for Our Lives 2008, MN Caravan
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