Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, and a broad Coalition of people are going to Meet April 27, 2013 to realize his vision.
HONOR DR. KING AND REALIZE HIS VISION:
CALL FOR A CITY-WIDE SUMMIT ON HOUSING AS A HUMAN RIGHT!
Today marks the 45th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., slain while supporting the starvation-wage sanitation workers of Memphis, Tennessee. In the last days of his life, Dr. King articulated a demand for the immediate abolition of poverty and the recognition of housing as a human right. In November, 2011, a long struggle by a broad coalition of Madison-area housing activists reached a milestone when the City of Madison Common Council passed a resolution recognizing housing as a human right. In July, 2012, Dane County passed an even stronger resolution recognizing housing as a human right.
Now, on April 27, housing activists, members of the homeless community, clergy, labor and the legal profession will meet in Madison to discuss, debate and confer on the next steps forward in this all-important struggle.
We meet at a time when the ranks of the homeless and destitute continue to grow and punitive policies against the unhoused create barriers to housing and employment. We meet as public resources underwrite luxury apartments while shelters close and homeowners face foreclosure. We meet as homeless veterans find themselves again at war—this time for their own survival.
WE CALL UPON ALL INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS TO TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMIT AND JOIN THE RIGHT TO HOUSING MOVEMENT.
Saturday, April 27, 2013: Morning Session: 9 am, First United Methodist Church, 203 Wisconsin Ave., Madison WI; Afternoon Session 1:00 pm, Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Ave., Madison, WI.
Sponsored by: Affordable Housing Action Alliance * Progressive Dane * National Lawyers Guild * Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin * Madison-area Urban Ministry * First Unitarian Society * United Legal Workers
Next planning meeting: Saturday, April 6, 2013, 10:00 am, Social Justice Center, 1202 Williamson (“Willy”) Street, Madison, WI
For further information contact: anthonyd.princelaw@yahoo.com or call 608-233-7355.
As a practical matter, what does “housing is a human right” mean, if anything?
Certainly, people have a right to housing. It is one of those rights that, the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution tells us, not having been delegated specifically to the federal government, is “reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
However, I suspect that your Progressive coalition ascribes an entirely different meaning to the term. You are using “right” as a synonym for “entitlement.” As if, if you got none, the government has to give it to you. Which, most certainly, it does not. As you may have noticed, that is not occurring even in Madison, despite the passage of feel-good resolutions.
If I am wrong about that, then the government is on the hook for making good on the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to own and bear arms. If I can’t afford to purchase a Smith & Wesson M&P 40, Big Government must provide me one.
Put me down as a participant in your panel discussion. I’ll be there to liven things up a little.
As much as I empathize with the suffering of those without housing (and have been there),
I feel uncomfortable with the words “housing as a human right” and “demands for the abolition of poverty”…
sensing that these will stimulate more adversarial resistance than cooperation and compassion…
while draining, defeating, and dis-empowering well-intended people and projects.
I feel better with words like “shelter as a human need” and “meeting basic needs”…
plus approaches that inspire people and hearts in fulfilling, win/win, and empowering ways (e.g. below list).
Are We The People of Madison willing and able to reach for such ways?
Carl L.
Win/Win Ways to Face, Tame, or Dance With Fears, Foes, and Famines
vs. fight, flight, or fear
(hyperlinks available on request)
Higher Vision
Higher Consciousness
Big Picture
Soul Perspective
Unorthodox Perspectives
Head/Heart Synergy
Miracle Healing
MultiD Healing
Breakthrough Energy
Compassionate Communication
Human Dignity
Real Love
Can we start with “Sleeping as a Human Right?”. You cannot legally sleep in Madison unless you have a home, maybe we should start with something simple 🙁
You bleeding heart capitalist you! Stop. making. sense.