Clergy, Community Activists and Organizers to Set Up 'Tent City' and Sleep Under Washington, D.C. Overpass this Weekend to Confront Displacement of African American Families Through Gentrification
News Conference in Washington, DC, Today at 6 PM
NEWS PROVIDED BY
Faith For the City
Dec. 19, 2020
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2020 /Christian Newswire/ -- Clergy, community activists and organizers plan to set up a 'tent city' and sleep under a Washington, D.C. overpass this weekend to confront the displacement of African American families through gentrification. The coalition, organized by Faith for the City, will sleep outside to announce the launch of a public campaign to draw attention to challenges faced by African American families in finding affordable housing.
The "tent city" will be set up on K Street between 2nd and 1st Street NE on the public sidewalk under the overpass this Saturday and Sunday.
There will be a news conference at the "tent city" on Saturday, December 19, at 6:00 PM.
New Conference Details—
When: Saturday, December 19, at 6:00 PM.
Where: On K Street between 2nd and 1st Street NE, Washington, DC
On Sunday, December 20, at 10:00 AM, the coalition will have an outdoor Sunday morning worship service and ministry for displaced community members.
The name of the campaign is called, #NoRoom, and is based on the Christmas story where the family of Jesus was displaced and could find, "No room in the Inn."
Pastor L. Frazier White, President of Faith for the City and Pastor of Faith Tabernacle UHCA on Capitol Hill, states:
"As a follower of Christ and a preacher of the Bible, it is important to connect the dots. There is a connection between Christ and the least of these as Matthew 25 teaches. The Church must not be silent on the issue of displacement which is what has generated gentrification.
"The ethical concern for the Church is not development but exclusion. If we do nothing, the District of Columbia will have seen generations of working-class people in general, and African Americans in particular to have labored to create a unique culture and flavor; only to be unceremoniously erased, allowing the affluent to enjoy what WE know they did not create. If there is no room in the city's plans for us, we have to make room."
SOURCE Faith For the City
CONTACT: Pastor Frazier White, 202-297-9867, info@faithforthecity.org
