"Don't fear the word "poor," Barber says: If poor people voted in large numbers, that would change everything... What we found were three things: No. 1, don't go into these communities and say, you just need to vote. Say, we honor you, because we respect that some of them have not voted because they never heard anybody call their name.... We need to say the word "poor." If you look at the number of poor people — 52 million without a living wage, 140 million [overall] — you have to talk to them as human beings. Second of all, say to them, "I am not here to ask you to vote. I am here for you to join a movement that says there's something wrong with our policies that this many people can be left disinherited." Thirdly, I am asking you to believe that democracy is not just an idea, but democracy and justice are on the ballot."
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Spiritual teachersAcademics from the United StatesPeople from IndianapolisPeople from North CarolinaAfrican American socialists
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Quoted in "You are going to hear our voices": Rev. William J. Barber on the midterms and the road ahead, by Bob Hennelly, Salon, Sept 24, 2022
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_Barber_II
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William Barber II
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