Poor People’s Campaign planned for Statehouse steps

BOSTON — A rally meant to highlight the challenges facing the poor in the United States is being planned for Massachusetts.

The Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign kicks off at 2 p.m. Monday on the Statehouse steps. Organizers are calling for what they describe as a sweeping overhaul of the nation’s voting rights laws and policies to address poverty, ecological devastation and the war economy.

The rally is one of 30 planned across the country.

Leaders of the campaign — including poor and disenfranchised people, clergy and advocates — hope to engage in 40 days of nonviolent action and voter mobilization.

At the conclusion of the 40 days, on June 23, organizers in Massachusetts and other states hope to join together for a mass mobilization at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.