Resurrection City

Resurrection City was a temporary shantytown established in 1968 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and other civil rights organizations, including the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and the National Council of Churches. The city was built to support the Poor People's Campaign, a major initiative led by Martin Luther King Jr. and Ralph Abernathy to address issues of poverty and economic inequality in the United States. The campaign was also supported by other notable figures, including Jesse Jackson, John Lewis, and Andrew Young. Resurrection City was designed to be a symbol of the struggles faced by the African American community and other marginalized groups, and it was inspired by the Bonus Army encampment of 1932, which was led by Walter W. Waters and supported by Eleanor Roosevelt.

● History

The idea for Resurrection City was conceived by Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders of the SCLC, who were influenced by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The city was established on May 12, 1968, and it was inhabited by thousands of people, including African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans, who came from all over the country to participate in the Poor People's Campaign. The city was also visited by notable figures, including Hubert Humphrey, Robert F. Kennedy, and Coretta Scott King. Resurrection City was a major focus of attention for the national media, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NBC News, and it was covered by prominent journalists, such as Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow.

● Planning and Construction

The planning and construction of Resurrection City was a major undertaking that involved the efforts of thousands of people, including volunteers from the SCLC, SNCC, and other organizations. The city was designed by architect John Wiebenson and built with the help of labor unions, including the AFL-CIO and the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. The city included hundreds of tents and shanties, as well as sanitation facilities, medical clinics, and food kitchens. Resurrection City was also equipped with communication systems, including telephones and radios, which were provided by AT&T and IBM. The city was powered by generators provided by General Electric and Westinghouse Electric Corporation.

● Life

in Resurrection City Life in Resurrection City was marked by a sense of community and solidarity among the residents, who came from diverse backgrounds and experiences. The city was governed by a council of leaders, including Ralph Abernathy, Jesse Jackson, and Andrew Young, who worked to address the needs of the residents and to coordinate the activities of the Poor People's Campaign. The city also included a number of community programs, such as education and job training initiatives, which were supported by organizations like the Ford Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Resurrection City was also a center of cultural activity, with music and art performances by notable artists, including Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, and Gordon Parks.

● Demolition and Legacy

Resurrection City was demolished on June 24, 1968, after a flood damaged the city and the National Park Service obtained a court order to evict the residents. The demolition of the city marked the end of the Poor People's Campaign, but it also galvanized the civil rights movement and inspired future social justice initiatives, including the Anti-War Movement and the Feminist Movement. The legacy of Resurrection City can be seen in the work of organizations like the NAACP, the ACLU, and the Southern Poverty Law Center, which continue to advocate for the rights of marginalized communities. The city is also remembered as a symbol of the power of nonviolent resistance and the importance of community organizing, as exemplified by the work of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers.

● Impact on

the Poor People's Campaign The impact of Resurrection City on the Poor People's Campaign was significant, as it helped to raise awareness about the issues of poverty and economic inequality in the United States. The city was a major focus of attention for the national media, and it helped to build support for the campaign among liberals and progressives, including Ted Kennedy and George McGovern. The campaign also received support from labor unions, including the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers, and from religious organizations, including the National Council of Churches and the Catholic Church. Although the Poor People's Campaign did not achieve all of its goals, it helped to lay the groundwork for future social justice initiatives, including the Welfare Rights Movement and the Environmental Justice Movement, which were inspired by the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders of the civil rights movement. Category:1968 establishments in the United States