Campaign organizers said they have expressed interest in hosting a poverty summit with members of Congress as well and have a hearing scheduled with lawmakers the same week as the march.
Barber said he is still hopeful the White House will respond to their requests before the march, but warned that if they don’t, “I will give my full response on June 18.”
Monday’s event also included short speeches from labor leaders — including the heads of the Service Employees International Union and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — as well as organizers representing low-wage workers across the country. Among them: a Dollar General staffer, a barista working to unionize a Starbucks and fast-food worker Beth Schaffer.
“We demand that our government raise the minimum wage to at least $15 (an hour). We demand that our government change the laws and make it easier for workers to form unions,” said Schaffer, who works full time at Kentucky Fried Chicken in addition to a job as a gas station attendant.
“We’re asking President Biden to meet with low-wage workers and listen to our solutions,” she said.
This article originally appeared on ReligionNews.com.
