Wednesday, May 5, 2010

MAY ACTIVITIES, REFUGE UPDATE, and UPDATE ON THE POOR PEOPLE'S ECONOMIC HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN MARCH To: bgcwright@aol.com

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Dear Friends and Supporters,

I hope that all is well with everyone. May looks to be a very busy month for the Refuge. In addition, to all our regular activities, outreaches, and attempts to help and support homeless and poor individuals and families, we are planning some very important actions. This month is National Housing takeover month. The Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign and Take Back the Land are calling on all people of conscience to join them in taking over bank owned and Government unoccupied housing and move in foreclosed on families, homeless families, and homeless individuals. We, in St. Petersburg, are one of the cities participating. This month and next, we will be taking over several abandoned/foreclosed houses that are either bank owned or government owned and putting homeless/foreclosed families and individuals in those houses. We will raise support for everything needed to occupy said houses and are calling on all people of conscience to join us in support of this effort. We will, of course, need household goods, food, volunteers (including those who would be willing to stand in solidarity with those who have moved in). More details will be forthcoming (go to www.economichumanrights.org for more info. about this and the about the Poor People's march events going on.

In addition to this, we will be gearing up for the Florida contingent joining the Poor People's March in June and going to the US Social Forum in Detroit (Detroit is now one of the poorest cities in the county having almost 30% unemployment). We hope to bring at least 60 to this March, including at least 40 homeless/formerly homeless individuals and families.

On the local level, we plan to do several things. On the heals of a successful Rally, Sleep out, and Protest in front of city hall in St. Petersburg last week, and a successful conference, and Poor People's Rally with Cheri Honkala, we will continue our protest in several ways. We will be doing unannounced and impromptu "Sleep Out's" with the homeless in order to monitor harassment of the homeless by groups, individuals, predatory drug dealers, and the Police (we will be linking up with a National Movement that monitors Police Abuse--- www.copwatch.org). We will be taking complaints of harassment from members of the homeless community.

We also hope to expand our meals with Churches, to those on the street, to additional nights. We will also be looking for ways to support the current fight against Clearwater Officials and their new despicable anti-homeless banning of any groups providing food for the homeless directly on the street. These kinds of discriminatory and classist ordinances must be stopped. Just like the laws passed in Arizona that are racist towards Latino/Hispanics must be stopped! This is supposed to be a country for all people, remember the phrase "bring me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses"!!

Of course, to do all this we need your help. There are several things the Poor People's Campaign and the Refuge need. First of all, we need financial help. We are trying to raise about $7500 to join the March in June. Most of the People coming are either poor or homeless. This amount will help us spend 3 weeks on the March. Additionally, the Campaign is in desperate need, as the Refuge is also, of Vehicles. Specifically, we need a regular Car or Minivan locally, the current car is falling apart. We need larger transportation for the March/Campaign fairly quickly and also for when we join the March. Currently, the Refuge needs locally about $2500 for current operation. Thanks to generous help from a few individuals, we were able to help 3 families from being evicted or put on the street! Thanks be to God!! We also need a new laptop. Please consider helping in any way you can.

On last reminder, do not forget that we have a Thrift Store located at 510 49th St. South, in St. Petersburg/Gulfport. We are looking currently for furniture, men's clothes, nick knacks, electronic's and Computers. If you can help, please call 727 278 1547. All proceeds from sales, benefit our work with the poor and homeless. Needy families can come and get items for free, depending on income. Saturday, May 8th, we will be having a neighborhood barbecue for FREE at the Thrift store, starting at 11am til closing, while food lasts!! There will be Free Entertainment with local musicians!!

In closing, if you can help in any way, please contact us at 727 278 1547. Your help is greatly appreciated. You can send checks to The Refuge, 1818 29th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, Florida 33713. You can call me about direct deposit to our account. Or, you can give on line at the Refuge web site: www.refugestpete.org. Thanks again for all your thoughts, prayers, and support.

Sincerely, Rev. Bruce Wright

// posted by Shamako Music @ 5:18 AM

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