 January/February 2000 (XXXVIII 1) |
he Yearly Meeting's two conference centers played host to an international march for economic justice in October. The Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia and the Burlington Meeting House in New Jersey each had participants in the March of the Americas stay one night on their way from Washington to New York.
A poster for the march says: "Join poor and homeless people from the United States, Canada and Latin America in this historic march to document and protest economic human rights violations caused by the United States government." Welfare reform was a major issue. For more information, call the Kensington Welfare Rights Union at 215-203-1945 or visit their web site www.libertynet.org/~kwru/.
The Arch Street Property and Use Services Group approved a request from the American Friends Service Committee's Community Relations Division to permit the marchers to camp overnight outside the Arch Street Meeting House. About 200 adults and children camped there the night of October 16. Local churches provided their supper and breakfast. Jackson Browne, who had been with the group over the weekend, gave a special 45-minute concert for them in the meetinghouse. Special appreciation goes to Arch Street staff members Earl Lyons and Sam Chamberlain, who stayed up all night as a presence on the property.
When the marchers lost their housing for the night of October 20, they turned to Westfield Meeting (NJ) for help. Westfield, with support from Haddonfield Quarterly Meeting, provided accommodations for approximately 70 people at the Burlington Meeting House Conference Center. The beds and showers available there meant a great deal to the tired marchers. Westfield members Suzanne Day and Harold Taylor joined the group for the night to ensure that they felt welcome and to see that their needs were met. Shirley Hunn of Westfield Meeting contributed by greeting the new arrivals and assisting with dinner provisions. These Friendly presences enjoyed the opportunity to meet this diverse group and made their stay a very personal experience.
Helen J. File
Byberry Meeting (PA)
Director of Arch Street Meeting House Barbara Hayes
Westfield Meeting (NJ)
Director of Burlington Meeting House
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM