Press Releases
Today, we remember the Nakba — the catastrophe
IONA Joins the Muslim Community in the “Day of Ihsan”
Eid Message from Ameer of IONA
Poor People’s Campaign Protest at the National Mall
- Press Release:
On a sad and gloomy day, people from across the United States converged at the National Mall in Washington DC to share the conditions and misery citizens of the richest country in the world suffer from. The Poor People’s Campaign’s (PPC) peaceful march in DC is the culmination of a 40-day protests and civil disobedience across the country in front of dozens of States’ capitol protesting against poverty, militarism, systemic racism, voting rights, and ending mass incriminations among other noble causes.

Imam Mustapha Elturk of the Islamic Organization of North America (IONA) and AHRC board member and William Antoun, IONA’s Outreach Director, joined a group of 48 people from Michigan, organized by the Michigan’s PPC chapter and Michigan Coalition for Human Rights, to take part in the historic 50th anniversary of the Poor People’s Campaign originated by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King in DC. Among the 48 people was activist Lila Cabbil aka mam Lila, a close friend of Rosa Parks.
The protest marks 50 years since “Resurrection City,” when nearly 150,000 people came to the Poor People’s Campaign in 1968 with many religious leaders and activists from all over the country who camped out on the National Mall for six weeks to protest against poverty, show solidarity and gain attention to their cause.

Many clergy, community leaders, and activists shared the stage to address the thousands of people assembled on the Mall. Many of the victims also related their stories and shared their sorrow and grief as a result of the government’s oppression and lack of moral conscience.
The gathering was a call for action. The 50-year anniversary of the PPC marks the beginning of a “Moral uprising across America” according to the Reverend William Barber who leads the
- A massive overhaul of the nation’s voting rights laws
- New programs to lift up the 140 million Americans living in poverty.
- Immediate attention to ecological devastation.
- Measures to curb militarism and the war economy.