A powerful protest, titled “Prayers for a Moral Budget,” unfolded in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, as individuals gathered to pray and speak out against a proposed bill. They fear this bill, which they describe as “this big beautiful slash horrible bill,” will disproportionately harm black and brown communities, leading to tragic losses of life due to cuts in Medicaid, food stamps, and affordable healthcare.
Key Moments and Biblical References:
- Call for Justice: The protest began with a song emphasizing the pursuit of justice and making voices heard [00:06].
- Biblical Foundation: A speaker anchored their plea in a biblical principle: “Gracious God your word declares that we are to care for the least of these particularly the sick and the hungry” [00:46]. This verse underscores the moral imperative to protect vulnerable populations.
- Disruption and Arrests: Despite warnings from Capitol Police that their demonstration was unlawful [02:16], many participants continued their prayer and advocacy, resulting in arrests [05:14].
- Personal Testimonies: The protesters shared compelling personal stories:
- Emma Biggs (Poor People’s Campaign, NC) highlighted the bill’s potentially deadly impact on marginalized communities [02:59].
- Savia Carol, living with cerebral palsy, emphasized the critical importance of Medicaid for people with disabilities [03:32].
- Lee Anderson described the bill as a “life or death” threat to his family and others [04:00].
- Reverend Dr. Della J. Owen, who has lupus, spoke of the 1.5 million people with lupus who depend on Medicaid for medication [04:49]. She was arrested for her advocacy [05:14].
- Franklin Golden (Hillsboro, NC) voiced concerns about the potential loss of food assistance for children [05:22].
- Pastor Leo Colon (Brooklyn) denounced “ungodly” budgets that harm the oppressed [06:11].
- Leslie Boyd, honoring a promise to her late son who died due to lack of healthcare access, vowed to fight for universal healthcare [06:26].
- Reverend Mark Thompson articulated the goal of a “moral budget,” warning of the devastating consequences of the proposed cuts [06:45].
The video concludes with the protesters’ continued singing and chanting, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to a moral budget [07:10].
Leave a Reply