Singing together is a powerful force and non-violent tool that has fueled social change throughout history. 

In the words of the great vocal activist Ysaye Barnwell, “Song is both our sword and our shield.”

Songs can be used in many settings:

Marches, Mass Meetings, Sit-ins, Protests, Civil Disobedience Actions, De-escalations, Educational Rallies, Candlelight Vigils, and more. 

Songs can invigorate meetings, help to focus and settle groups, provide smooth transitions, motivate, provide connection and unity, help keep the focus on the issues, and provide an emotional outlet and an opportunity to share grievances in a way that can be easily heard, understood, related to, and received. 

We each have the power to use our voice for positive social change. And when we lift our voices and entrain our vibration through song, that power grows exponentially. Even a small group of willing singers can help encourage others to sing. The more people know some choice songs for different purposes, the easier it is to show up when we're needed to invigorate the movement and help bring about justice for all!

In March of 1968, over 50 multiracial organizations came together in Atlanta, GA to join Dr. Martin Luther King’s Poor People’s Campaign. Organized to address the intersectional evils of systemic racism, poverty, and the war economy, the modern PPC has added ecological devastation, which also disproportionately hurts the poor. We believe:

That the millions of poor people in the US today are poor because the wealth and resources of our country have been flowing to a small number of people and federal programs are not meeting the growing needs of the poor. 

That everybody has the right to live. Given the abundance that exists in this country and the fundamental dignity inherent to all humanity, every person in the United States has the right to housing, education, health care, welfare, decent and dignified jobs and the right to organize for the realization of these rights. 

That we have the right to vote and the right to accountable political representation. Immigrants have the right to citizenship that will afford them a full right to vote and the right to participate in our democracy.

That equal protection under the law is non-negotiable and we have the right to move freely without the fear of intimidation, detention, deportation or death by public institutions charged with our safety.

That we have a fundamental right to clean water, air and a healthy environment and public resources to monitor, penalize and reverse the polluting impacts of fossil fuel industries. 

That we have the right to protect our communities from the ravages and weapons of war. Instead of waging a War on Poverty, we have been waging a War on the Poor, at home and abroad, for the financial benefit of a few. It is morally indefensible to profit from perpetual war.