Joseph Kenny | jkenny@archstl.org
Ten priests and laypeople, (click here) including four members of a newly established archdiocesan Commission on Human Rights, represented the St. Louis Catholic community in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, held 50 years ago this month.
The Aug. 28, 1963, march involved a peaceful gathering of 200,000 people, the largest demonstration up to that time in capital history. A number of priests, rabbis and ministers added to the atmosphere of faith and prayer.
"One could call it almost a pious crusade rather than a political one," Msgr. Daniel Moore, then-editor of the St. Louis Review, wrote about the march. "The people all seemed to evidence a spirit of hope that something concrete would result from their demonstration. And even though legislation requires political action, this demonstration was basically a religious or holy crusade, rather than a political one."
The march preceded the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Passage of the act ended the application of "Jim Crow" laws, which had been upheld by the Supreme Court in the 1896 case Plessy v. Ferguson, in which the court held that racial segregation purported to be "separate but equal" was constitutional. The Civil Rights Act eventually was expanded by Congress to strengthen enforcement of these fundamental civil rights....
There are some typing joblessness to the immigration bill. Although there are drags on the USA economy due to immigration that is not the complete picture. I think the border amendment is ridiculous. It is pork quite frankly. But, the immigration bill as it stands today is the best that can be had from this Congress. That is not saying much. The legislation from this Congress is very poor quality, but, that is partly the electorate's fault and their populous agenda.
But, the jobs issue is due more to a stagnant economy brought on by Wall Street profiteering. If Wall Street was investing in their employees by providing better pay and benefits there would be more disposable income. Disposable income is 'circulating capital.' Circulating capital returns jobs to the economy and increases demand for services and products. Wall Street is still the problem. They are hording their monies rather than building the economies in which they seek profits.
