Resurrection City

Resurrection City was a temporary protest encampment on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. during the spring of 1968. It was the central physical manifestation of the Poor People's Campaign, a multiracial effort organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to demand economic justice and an end to poverty. The encampment, which lasted for six weeks, symbolized a dramatic shift in the Civil Rights Movement from a focus on legal segregation to a broader struggle against systemic economic inequality.

Background and Context

The concept for Resurrection City emerged from the final major campaign planned by Martin Luther King Jr. before his assassination in April 1968. King and the SCLC conceived the Poor People's Campaign as a radical expansion of the movement's goals, aiming to unite poor Americans of all races—including African Americans, Appalachian whites, Latinos, and Native Americans—to confront Congress and the President with the reality of poverty. Following King's death, his close associate and SCLC president Ralph Abernathy assumed leadership of the campaign. The decision to build a shantytown in the nation's capital was intended to create a highly visible, disruptive presence that would force the federal government to address demands for an "Economic Bill of Rights," including guaranteed employment, income, and housing.

Planning and Organization

Logistical planning was led by SCLC staff, including Andrew Young and Jesse Jackson. The campaign's chief organizer was James Bevel, a veteran of the Selma to Montgomery marches. Organizers secured a permit from the National Park Service to occupy a 15-acre site between the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool and the Washington Monument for six weeks. The campaign mobilized a "Poor People's Army" to travel to Washington in caravans known as "Freedom Trains" and "Mule Trains," the latter symbolizing rural poverty. Legal and medical support structures were established, and a team of architects, including John Wiebenson, designed a layout for the plywood and canvas shelters intended to house thousands.

Construction and Description

Construction began on May 13, 1968, as the first participants arrived. The encampment eventually consisted of over 3,000 residents living in small A-frame shelters. The city had its own infrastructure, including a city hall, a cultural center, a health clinic, and a dining facility. A U.S. Post Office granted it its own zip code (20013). Despite the organized layout, the site was plagued by persistent mud and flooding from heavy rains, which turned the grounds into a quagmire and severely challenged sanitation and morale. The physical conditions became a powerful, if unintended, symbol of the neglect and hardship faced by the nation's poor.

Life and Activities in the Encampment

Daily life in Resurrection City was a mix of community building, political education, and protest mobilization. Residents participated in workshops and strategy sessions. The primary political activity involved daily delegations sent to lobby various federal agencies and congressional committees. Major rallies and demonstrations were held, including a "Solidarity Day" march on June 19 that drew over 50,000 supporters. Cultural expression was a key component, with daily performances and sermons. Leaders like Abernathy and Jackson held regular meetings to maintain order and focus, though tensions sometimes arose among the diverse groups within the camp.

Demise and Eviction

As the June 23 expiration date of the National Park Service permit approached, negotiations for an extension failed. The encampment had also been affected by internal strife and negative media coverage focusing on the muddy conditions and occasional incidents. On the morning of June 24, after a final ultimatum, over 1,000 police officers, including the D.C. police and Park Police, moved in to clear the site. The eviction was largely peaceful, though some scuffles occurred, and approximately 300 remaining residents were arrested. Ralph Abernathy was among those jailed, choosing to stay with the protesters until the end.

Legacy and Impact

In the short term, Resurrection City did not achieve its immediate legislative goals; Congress did not pass an Economic Bill of Rights. However, its legacy is significant. It marked a bold attempt to place economic human rights at the center of national discourse and demonstrated the potential and challenges of multiracial coalition building. The campaign is credited with influencing later expansions of the Food Stamp Program and federal housing policies. Historically, it is seen as a transitional moment between the classic phase of the Civil Rights Movement and later activism focused on economic justice, influencing subsequent movements like the anti-war protests and the modern fight against poverty. The site on the National Mall remains a potent symbol of the right to protest and the ongoing struggle for economic equality.