More than 1,000 attend interfaith event to express concerns

Courier Editor

9 years ago

**NEAR PACKED HOUSE—**The church, which seats 1,200 people, had very few empty seats. (Photos by J. L. Martello)

More than 1,000 people from dozens of local churches and faith-based organizations gathered to make their demands heard by local leaders. The yearly Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network’s Public meeting covered a wide range of topics that the membership chose as priority areas for the coming year. This high-energy event is the highlight of the year for PIIN and its members.

**OPENING PRAYER** by Rabbi Aaron Bisno.

Public safety, justice for ALCOSAN rate payers, low wage worker issues and educational justice topped this year’s list of concerns chosen by PIIN members in the months leading up to the meeting. The issues are presented to local leaders who have the power to commit to making progress and taking concrete steps over the next 12 months. Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay attended and the target of questions asked dealt with public safety. Mayor Bill Peduto attended as well to hear concerns regarding the multi-billion dollar ALCOSAN project and its impact on our communities and ratepayers.

**REV. JOHN WELCH** gives the concluding statement.

The PIIN Public meeting is a critical event for setting the agenda for one of the largest and most active organizations in the region. PIIN leaders, both clergy and lay, have been out in front of nearly every critical social movement in the region including the UPMC campaign, the fight for 15, the Clean Rivers Campaign, and more. Past attendance has been 800 and more, with the audience.

**RABBI JAMIE GIBSON** gives the closing prayer.

This was an especially important event for PIIN this year as they announced a new multi-year campaign PIIN and other Gamaliel Affiliates worked over the past year to develop a vision of a world that reflects our values—the Beloved Community. Powerful corporate interests have worked strategically over the past 40 years to move us from an economy that built the middle class to today’s economic inequity that is eroding the middle class and driving working people deeper into poverty. Structural Racism is at the heart of their agenda. In response they will pursue goals that advance a different long-term agenda that challenges structural racism, increases peoples control of the economy and the government and expands the public sphere. Their long-term agenda was launched during this meeting as a committment to choosing issues and campaigns that move towards the Beloved Community, and to ask leaders to commit to working with them.

***THE PUBLIC ACTION COMBINED CHOIR SINGS***

**CARMELLA JONES, REV. BUENA DUDLEY AND SANDY WOOLLEY** speak on education.

**REV. RICHARD FREEMAN AND REV. DAVID HERNDON** give the declaration, “Fighting Pharaoh.”

**ELDER DARLENE FIGG AND JAMES WIMBERLY** talk about Ratepayer Justice.

**MAYOR BILL PEDUTO** speaks about what the city has done.

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