FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2018
Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner and Reform Jewish Leaders Engage in Civil Disobedience with the Poor People’s Campaign
WASHINGTON – On Monday, May 21, Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, Director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism will join other leaders of the Reform Jewish Movement will engage in nonviolent civil disobedience with interfaith clergy and activists as partners in the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. Monday’s action is part of a six-week campaign in D.C. and 39 state capitals across the country to demand action for an end to systemic racism and oppressive poverty.
This week’s theme is “Linking Systemic Racism and Poverty: Voting Rights, Immigration, Xenophobia, Islamophobia and the Mistreatment of Indigenous Communities.” Rabbi Pesner will speak at the rally before the civil disobedience begins, offering a Jewish perspective on the need to protect the voting rights of marginalized communities.
“Our democracy is strongest when everyone has the opportunity to participate. Blocking access to the polls represents a narrow view that democracy is only for some Americans,” said Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner. “Reform Jews reject that narrowness, which is why we’re proudly joining the Poor People’s Campaign and risking arrest to demand action to protect voting rights.”
WHAT: Poor People’s Campaign day of direct action
WHERE: Capitol Hill Zone 9 (intersection of Constitution Ave NE and First Street NE)
WHEN: Monday, May 21 at 2:00 PM ET
Rabbi Jonah Pesner and other leaders are available for interview. Interested media can contact Jenna Galper at jgalper@rac.org.
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The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism is the Washington office of the Union for Reform Judaism, whose more than 900 congregations across North America encompass 1.5 million Reform Jews, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis, whose membership includes more than 2,000 Reform rabbis. Visit www.rac.org for more.
