KWRU News

[Dec. 19, 2003] KWRU Members Banned from City Hall in Fight for Women's Safety -Kensington Welfare Rights Members just spent the last few days in jail after trying to secure emergency housing for over six families who are victims of domestic violence in the Philadelphia area. read more Photos

[Dec. 17, 2003] KWRU Members Jailed -Five members of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union were arrested at City Hall during a Homes for the Holidays Campaign, trying to ensure that several homeless families got safe housing for the holidays. read more Photos

[Dec. 11, 2003] KWRU in Geneva -Movement of the Poor in the United States Pleads for World Intervention in the Health Care Disaster in the USA. During the week of International Human Rights Day, on December 8, 2003, the Kensington Welfare Rights Union (KWRU) carried an urgent cry to the World Health Organization (WHO) from the people of the United States who are suffering and dying from being denied the basic human right to health care. read more photos now available

[Dec. 08, 2003] KWRU in Geneva - Day 3 report - read more

[Dec. 07, 2003] KWRU in Geneva - Second report - read more

[Dec. 06, 2003] KWRU in Geneva - First report; read more, or download the press release [PDF Format].

[Dec. 05, 2003] KWRU to attend World Forum on Communication Rights in Geneva- read more

[Dec. 03, 2003] Homes for the Holidays - KWRU needs your support! We are in desperate need of housing, toys, space heaters, and other items...read more

[Dec. 02, 2003] Homes for the Holidays - Homeless families and other members of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union took to the streets today in need of affordable housing and their Homeland Security. read more

[Dec. 01, 2003] Homes for the Holidays - Join the KWRU to Demand REAL Homeland Security:Housing for Homeless Families read more

[Nov. 23, 2003] KWRU speaks at the School of the Americas Watch Vigil and Rally in Fort Benning, Georgia read more

[Nov. 22, 2003] Update on Miami Herald Demonstration read more

[Nov. 20, 2003] KWRU Protests FTAA at 'Speak Out Against the Corporate Media' Event Tomorrow read more

[Nov. 18, 2003] KWRU prepares to participate in Miami FTAA demonstrations: In addition to concerns regarding the past conduct of Miami Chief of Police John Timony... we also arrived to find no churches, community centers, or schools willing to house our members and their children. read more

[Nov. 14, 2003] KWRU participates in anti-FTAA protests in Miami: The KWRU will be sending a delegation of poor, homeless and unemployed families from Philadelphia to participate in next week's international mobilizations against the FTAA during the FTAA ministerial meetings in Miami. read more

[Oct. 28, 2003] KWRU to Request Restraining Order vs. Justice Department: Read the text or download the full press release on our request for KWRU's restraining order against John Ashcroft.

[Oct. 27, 2003] Drug War Reality Tour Available Online: Read more about KWRU's Drug War Reality Tour, now available as an online movie by the Guerilla News Network.

[Oct. 26, 2003] KWRU at the International March to End the Occupation of Iraq: KWRU's Executive Director, Cheri Honkala, addressed the march; read the text in English or en Español.

[Oct. 22, 2003] Update on Election Interference: Read the text of the suit, the request for a temporary injunction, and our press release.

[Oct. 19, 2003] KWRU to Oppose Justice Department Interference in Philadelphia Mayoral Election: Read more, and consider joining our action on Wednesday at noon outside the Federal Building.

[Oct. 7, 2003] Update: Read Cheri Honkala's speech given this afternoon at a Press Conference on these charges.

[Oct. 7, 2003] KWRU to Sue Philadelphia Police Department: In response to the actions taken by the Police on July 4th, KWRU will be filing suit against the city Police Department. Read more, view the complaint [pdf format]. or read the press release [pdf format].

[Sept. 23, 2003] Statement on Cancun: Read our solidarity statement on the Worldwide Day of Action Against Corporate Globalization and War. (En español).

[Sept. 22, 2003] March on the Pentagon: The KWRU is organizing Philadelphia's role in the October 25th march to "Bring the Troops Home." Tell George Bush that America's poor can't afford to fight a war. Click here to download the flyer for the march.

[Sept. 17, 2003] KWRU member Tim Dowlin won the prestigous Oppenheimer ("Oppy") award on September 12th for his New York stage production "Corner Wars." The play is a gritty story about life on the streets of Philadelphia. Click here to read text of the Newsday article. Read more

[Sept. 8, 2003] Education Director Willie Baptist's Commencement address to Smith College School of Social Work. The full text of the address is now available. Read more...

[Sept. 7, 2003] Break the Blackout - Wealth and Poverty in the U.S. - Art Show. On Sept. 13, there will be a closing event for this show at 7pm in the Rotunda (4014 Walnut St., Philadelphia). If you can't make it, there are still viewing hours available on Sept. 12 from 3-7pm.

[Sept. 6, 2003] Press Coverage of the March: Alameda Times-Star

[Sept. 2, 2003] Charges Dropped! Thanks to our supporters, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office dropped all charges against Cheri Honkala and Galen Tyler. They both faced serious felony charges stemming from their arrest on July 4th. [See below for more information.]

[August 31, 2003] March Update: Read about events on the rights to healthcare and housing. Thursday afternoon, Bushville was resurrected on the National Mall. Once again, Park Police arrested the marchers. They have since been released. Expect pictures and stories from these events soon.

[August 29, 2003] Reflections on a Saturday Afternoon: A moving reflection by Bill Kane, National Co-Chair of the Labor Party, on the events of August 23rd.

[August 29, 2003] Press Coverage of the March: Tom Paine, The Final Call.

[August 26, 2003] Bushville to be Rebuilt: After being evicted from the National Mall on Sunday, the Campaign has decided to rebuild Bushville. Help keep the dream alive Thursday, August 28th at 11:59pm on the National Mall at 14th and Madison. Please arive early; despite being denied the right to be there, the Campaign refuses to let these issues be invisible.

[August 25, 2003] International Representation on the March: We were honored to be joined on our march by Camila Bonassa representing the MST, the Landless Workers' Movement of Brazil. The MST is the largest movement of the poor in the hemisphere, and one of the largest in the world - 250,000 families living in encampments and permament settlements won through land takeovers, across Brazil. Camila joined us in time to march into Washington DC and witness the building of Bushville, and she will be spending the week with us as a show of unity between the poor of the hemisphere in the struggle for economic human rights and against the FTAA. Read more... / Lea más...

[August 25, 2003] Press Coverage of the March: Washington Post (August 23rd), Washington Post (August 21st), and Coalfield.com.

[August 23, 2003] Washington, DC: 40 years ago today, Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I have a dream speech" at the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Five years later, working to build the "Poor People's Campaign," he was assassinated. Looking at the gains of the civil rights movement, concerned that our future was being wasted in Vietnam, King believed that the time had come "to move from a movement of civil rights to a movement of human rights." Read more...

[August 17th, 2003] Willie Baptist Delivers Commencement Address to Smith College. Read more about the event, or see coverage in the local Gazette.

[August 16th, 2003] Press Coverage of the March: Knoxville News.

[August 16th, 2003] Cheri Honkala and three others were arrested and bailed out in Kannopolis, NC for refusing to leave "NAFTAville," a tent city on the grounds of a factory where more than 4,600 workers lost their jobs. NAFTAville was constructed in support of the workers at the former Pillowtex factory and the millions who have lost their jobs due to NAFTA. View press coverage in the Salisbury Post and the Independent Tribune. Watch this site for more updates.

[August 13th, 2003] Bruce Springsteen meets with KWRU: This past weekend, members of KWRU had the opportunity to meet with long-time supporter Bruce Springsteen. Read more

[August 5th, 2003] Press Coverage of the March: Nashville City Paper; The Tennessean; the Clarksdale Press Register; again in the Clarksdale Press Register; and the Philadelphia Independent Media Center.

[August 5th, 2003] Update on August 23rd rally in DC: The Poor People's March will arrive in Washington, DC on August 23rd for a massive poor people's march on the Capital. Meet at the Iwo Jima memorial in Arlington National Cemetary at 10:00am to march over the Key bridge and into Washington, DC. Buses can converge at this location.

[August 3rd, 2003] Update from the road! Click here (en Español) to read an update about August 2nd kickoff for the Poor People's March for Economic Human Rights. Also, check out the weblog of Maria Del Moral (en Español), a KWRU member from North Philly, as she marches from Marks, MS to Washington, DC.

[August 1st, 2003] On The March! Marchers from Philadelphia left in a caravan for Marks, MS for the Poor People's March for Economic Human Rights kickoff. On the way there, our flatbed truck - which was set to lead the March - broke down, a major crisis. Please consider doing what you can to help us raise money to fix or get a new flatbed!

A small group of Marchers went ahead to Memphis, where they held a press conference to announce the March to the city and the SCLC conference also in town this weekend. Among those at the press conference to talk about this historic march were: Judge Gwen Rooks, Cheri Honkala, Beverly Robertson, Sheriff Mark Luttrell, Judge D'Army Bailey, Dr. Hilliard Lackey, Johnson Saulsberry and one of the officers of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, who spoke on behalf of Martin Luther King III.

[July 5th, 2003] KWRU leaders Cheri Honkala and Galen Tyler were arrested on July 4th, while leading a march on the new Constitution Center to demand economic human rights. We need your help to pay bail! Click here to read the press release from the event, or here to see more details.

[July 1st, 2003] Jackson Browne, Keb' Mo', and Steve Earle hosted an after-show benefit to support the KWRU on the first day of the "Bushville II" tent city. See a transcript from this event, at which Jackson Browne called KWRU director Cheri Honkala "a brilliant organizer," and where Steve Earle introduced her as "one of [his] heroes."

[June 25, 2003] Bushville II: On July 1st-4th, the KWRU will erect a national Tent City, "Bushville, PA," to house the homeless and demand economic human rights. Participants will meet at noon on July 1st at 5th & Lehigh to march to the site. Click here for more information and regular updates.

[June 14, 2003] Jackson Browne to host KWRU benefit: On July 1st, Jackson Browne will be in Philadelphia along with Keb' Mo' and Steve Earle and the Dukes. Following the concert, Jackson Browne will host a private aftershow gathering to benefit the work of the KWRU. The aftershow event includes preferred seats to the concert as well as the gathering backstage. For ticket information, contact the Guacamole Fund at (800) 728-6223.

[June 8, 2003] Cheri Honkala to speak in Thailand with Mary Robinson, the former United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights. Watch for more details.

[June 7, 2003] KWRU, with the Philadelphia Affordable Housing Coalition, wins $10 million for affordable housing! Read the Inquirer Article.

[June 7, 2003] KWRU calls for a national Tent City: "Bushville, PA" July 1st-4th, Philadelphia. Watch for more details.

[June 4, 2003] Our dear friend, Rene Maxwell, suffered a stroke on June 2nd, and passed away today. He was a strong leader in the fight for public housing in Chicago and a leader in the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign. We remember Rene as someone who truly loved people and music, and had a deep faith. His fight will go on.

[May 17, 2003] Read a news article by the Christian Science Monitor on our Drug War Reality Tour.

[May 17, 2003] Read news articles about the NAFTA/FTAA speaking tour in the Austin Chronicle and The New Hampshire Online.

[May 8, 2003] Mother's Day Rally for Healthcare: KWRU stood up for mothers and families this Mother's Day, protesting state cuts in healthcare. Read more...

[May 8, 2003] The Poor in the United States: A speech from Cheri Honkala to the First Hemispheric Meeting Against Militarization in San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico. Read more...

[May 2, 2003] The Fight for Healthcare: A speech from Donelda McDonald, CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees). Read more...

[May 2, 2003] Lessons From NAFTA: Tour Update. Read brief updates from the tour's visits to Canton, Toronto, and Halifax.

[May 1, 2003] Trade Primer: Learn basic facts about NAFTA, the FTAA, GATT and the WTO in this article available in our education section.

[May 1, 2003] Lessons From NAFTA: Tour Update. Read brief updates from the tour's visits to Albuquerque, El Paso, San Antonio and Denver.

[April 25, 2003] Mother's Day March for Healthcare. Sunday, May 11th - Philadelphia State Office Building, Broad & Spring Garden, 2pm. Bring a blanket! Sleep out in City Hall with mothers who don't want their children to die from the drug war at home. See our sample flyer, or download the full version (PDF Format).

[April 11, 2003] Lessons From NAFTA: Tri-National Speaking Tour. Read more about this tour, and look for an event at a city near you.

[April 4, 2003] Forum: Willie Baptist, Education Director of KWRU will be speaking at a forum entitled Resisting War, Poverty and Racism: Continuing the Work of Martin Luther King, Jr. The forum will be held in Philadelphia on April 6th at the Church of the Advocate (18th & Diamond) from 3pm - 6pm.

[March 23, 2003] Students: The application for our Summer of Social Action is available online!

[March 21, 2003] In a packed courtroom in Philadelphia, Cheri Honkala was pronounced "Not Guilty" in a trial for a housing takeover in which two families were housed last year. Read more...

[March 19, 2003] March 18th Update - KWRU members and supporters were released and given citations. We will continue to update as these charges go to court. See coverage in the Daily Pennsylvanian and Philadelphia Daily News.

[March 9, 2003] Urgent Action for KWRU Trial
Learn more about what you can do to help defend these mothers.

[March 7, 2003]] KWRU Declares Code Red
Read the update on our protest and march through Kensington.

[Feb, 2003] KWRU Social Workers Recognized
Congratulations to KWRU members Mary Bricker-Jenkins and Jennifer Jones for being named "Social Worker of the Year" by the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia chapters of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW)!

[Feb 18, 2003] KWRU Joins Protests Against War with Iraq
Read KWRU's statement.

[Jan 21, 2003] KWRU Loses Valued Student Leader
Stephanie Vibbert, a member of the Kensington Welfare Rights Union and student at Kalamazoo College, was killed in a car accident returning from the anti-war march in Washington, DC. Stephanie was a loved member of the organization, she will be missed by everyone. Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Stephanie.
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