On May 17, 1968, the Poor People’s Campaign, initiated by Martin Luther King Jr. and led by Ralph Abernathy after King’s assassination, began a massive protest in Washington, D.C. Designed to address economic injustice for all marginalized communities—Black, Indigenous, and poor white Americans—the campaign saw thousands camp out in “Resurrection City” on the National Mall. The movement demanded fair wages, full employment, affordable housing, and access to land and education. Although King did not live to see its launch, his vision of a multi-racial coalition fighting poverty was embodied by this campaign. The May 17 march represented a crucial moment of unity and resistance against both racial and economic inequality. It broadened the civil rights agenda to include class and labor rights, highlighting the intersection of race and economic exploitation—a struggle that remains deeply relevant today.
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