Groups call for “poor people’s campaign” to end poverty

UPDATED 1/16/17 6:00 PM – Martin Luther King Jr. Day also marks the first anniversary of a Salinas organization working for the local homeless community.

In the heart of Chinatown in Salinas, Wes White and the Monterey County Salinas Homeless Union work to carry out what they call the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

They say that includes the abolition of poverty and the creation of a new Poor People’s Campaign. A movement Dr. King started back in the late sixties.

“We’re still struggling [with] this 50 years later, we’re still in the same situation.” White, president of the organization said. “Nothing’s really changed so our voice is getting louder, we’re trying to coalesce people to get motivated into standing up for themselves.” Some of the homeless in Chinatown said they’re all for it. “I’m so tired of the streets” said Irene Chavez who’s been homeless since 2011. “I don’t want to die out here and I’m just so worn down of living out here, each and every one of us is too.” Willy Baptists has been a long time advocate for the homeless. He says one key thing among the homeless community is what’s needed to make a difference. “We’ve got to organize, organize, organize starting with the homeless” he said. “This is what this meeting was about. This is what’s happening throughout the country right now. On this day there’s synchronized action and activities throughout the country by poor and homeless families and that’s very significant.” White and his attorney, Anthony Prince say today’s meeting is an example of what the homeless community can do to improve their situation. “They’re homeless but not helpless” said Prince. “The words and the feeling that you saw in there are the words and feelings, dreams and strategies of some intelligent, sophisticated community leaders no less so because they’re homeless.” PREVIOUS STORY: Advocates for the poor and disadvantaged marked the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr. Day by calling for an end to poverty and the creation of a New Poor People’s Campaign.

Representatives from the Monterey County/Salinas Homeless Union and other groups met Monday at the CSUMB Learning Center in Salinas to coordinate their efforts to reduce poverty on the Central Coast.

KION’s Zach Fuentes attended the meeting and will have a full report tonight on KION 5/46.