Esther Ortiz of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union in Philadelphia was chosen to be the mayor of Bushville.

With the Bushville multiplying everyday many members have worked hard to ensure that the lot stays clean and welcoming to the community.

We started out the morning with introductions of the different campaign groups that had joined us through the night. Yesterday groups from Massachusetts, Cleveland, and Rochester joined us.

Tim Dowlin of NYC took members of the Bushville on a Reality of the Lower East Side Bowery.

In Manhattan there is no middle. You are either really rich or living on the streets. It is this growing polarity that we are seeing all over the country.

The area is currently being gentrified. What used to be low-income housing is getting a fresh coat of paint and triple the rent. Many folks who we talked to at the soup kitchen we visited talked about being pushed out of their apartments and how difficult it is to find affordable housing in NYC.

We talked with two elderly immigrant woman who shared their experiences of living in the United States.

"In July I was kicked off of welfare. I have to pay two months rent. I don't know how I can live like this. I can die of starvation. I got healthcare through hospital and then welfare cut that too. They need almost to have bullets to shoot us. I paid all my taxes and get no benefit from my money."

"I am living in the shelter system. I have been here 17 years. I have all my papers from homeland security, but I was denied a green card. I am 73 years old and I can't get food or housing or anything."

Back at the Bushville folks worked really hard to build new structures to house the steady stream of newcomers to our Bushville.

The afternoon included educationals on the Just Healthcare Program and an organizing exchange. Check back soon for a more in depth write up of the exchange.

Marion is a visionary who has made a life's work bringing her vision of a just world to reality. We have all been inspired and challenged by her leadership and commitment to the movement to end poverty. Her contributions to the National Welfare Rights Union and locally in Detroit have been recognized by all.

The event was hosted by Marilyn Clement and also present were Maureen Taylor, Sylvia Ordono, Navar Smith, Bob Brown, Willie Baptist, and Cheri Honkala. All of whom spoke about the impact that Marion has had on their life.

Marion will be present at our March on Monday and we will be present in Detroit on October 2 and 3 for a grassroots organizing conference.

Two days left until the "March For Our Lives: Stop the War At Home"

Please join us any time. Calendar

We need all the support we can get in the next few days to make this march a success.

• Register Online
• Make an online donation
• Join us at our Bushville
  802 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY
  (G train to Myrtle-Willoughby Aves)