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MLK-inspired Poor People's Campaign Protest Blocks Concord Street, Six Arrested

Daniela Allee / NHPR
Concord Police intercede as Poor People's Campaign protesters block traffic on State Street outside the New Hampshire State House.

Fifty years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. started the Poor People's Campaign to fight systemic racism and poverty. More than 100 people gathered outside the State House Monday as part of a nationwide re-launch of Dr. King’s Poor People's Campaign.

Those issues hit close to home for Asma Elhuni. She said she's experienced economic hard times, and she's also concerned about an increase in acts of hatred toward Muslims.

“That has to change. And I’m talking not just individual hatred but also policies that are created that target the Muslim community,” she said.

At the demonstration, faith leaders from across New Hampshire touched on a number of issues, including increasing the minimum wage, improving access to health care, and getting family medical leave legislation passed. 

Credit Daniela Allee / NHPR
The Rev. Eric Jackson of Manchester leads a line of Poor People's Campaign protesters outside the N.H. State House on Monday, May 14, 2018.

Afterward, people sang and marched around the State House, culminating in an act of civil disobedience. Six people blocked traffic on North State Street. Onlookers sang as police approached. 

All six demonstrators were arrested.

Rallies will be held at the New Hampshire State House every Monday for the next six weeks to address other social challenges.

Daniela is an editor in NHPR's newsroom. She leads NHPR's Spanish language news initiative, ¿Qué Hay de Nuevo, New Hampshire? and the station's climate change reporting project, By Degrees. You can email her at dallee@nhpr.org.
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