Economic Human Rights Truth Commission

Economic Human Rights Truth Commission
--Portland Organizing to Win Economic Rights (POWER), Portland, ME
www.povertyontrial.org

This video documents Maine's 1st Economic Human Rights Truth Commission. Held on November 30, 2005, at the University of Southern Maine (USM) Library in Portland, Maine, this event was organized by Portland Organizing to Win Economic Rights (POWER) & co-sponsored by the USM Student Social Work Organization. Participants included 13 Testifyers, who testified about economic injustice they had experienced, and 12 Commissioners who witnessed & responded to these testimonies. In all, over 100 people gathered to witness the stories of 13 Testifyers who spoke out about violations to their economic human rights. We heard about their experiences struggling to obtain housing, healthcare, prescriptions, living wage jobs, & education, and other basic needs, as well as stories of families torn apart by DHHS due to conditions of poverty. Following the testimonies we heard responses from 4 of the12 Commissioners, each of whom spoke to the need for sweeping change to end these injustices and abolish poverty.

Poverty on Trial: Testimonies of Maine People Speaking Out, POWER's self-published booklet of the testimonies from this Truth Commission, is available for a suggested donation of $5-$25; to order a copy please contact POWER: 207-650-5092.
http://www.povertyontrial.org

Portland Organizing to Win Economic Rights

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