Faith leaders protest with federal budget cuts to the South, where poverty rates are high, Medicaid losses, and many Americans injured by food stamps.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Faith leaders are scheduled to begin demonstrations in the southern legislative district on July 14th.
Earlier this month, Congress passed President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This is a spending plan and food stamp benefits program that includes not only tax cuts but also deep cuts from Medicaid, a federal/state health insurance program for low-income people.
“We are not going to allow the damage, destruction, or death generated by this budget – (this) a big ugly budget – for those who don’t see it.”
The campaign begins on July 14th, planned for 11 states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia.
Protesters will demonstrate outside the council district office carrying cas with statistics of people expected to be hurt by the cut.
Organizers said the focus on the South is partial, as many people live in the area. Recent US Census Bureau data shows that poverty rates in the Southern states were 15%.
“But the south is where all US senators except one from North Carolina, all US senators voted for this big, bad, ugh, fatal, destructive bill,” Barber said.
Republican lawmakers say many federal programs are bloated and cuts and other changes are needed to prevent fraud and abuse.
Louisiana Republican House Majority Leader Steve Scullies praised the legislation for passing and said he would give promises made to voters.
“You’ll see the American renaissance of this country in the golden age of this country that we have never seen in generations,” he said in a video released on July 8th. “And we’ll move this economy again.”
For weeks, barbers and others protested at the U.S. Capitol to pay attention to the negative effects of federal cuts. Barber and other protesters were arrested in the Capitol Hill protest.
“What we don’t do is stop and bow,” Barber said.
Two estimates show that between 12 and 20 million people nationwide could lose Medicaid. Medicaid provides health insurance to 20% of Americans, including 40% of children and 25% of adults with disabilities, covering nursing home costs for 60% of residents.
Over two million people could lose their food assistance program, Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Rev. Alexis Carter Thomas, the convener of Moral Monday in Greenville, South Carolina, said protesters will deliver the cas to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham’s office on Monday.
“We have a moral obligation to stand up to fight back against the laws that exert this death,” she said.
Contributed by: Sarah Wire
