Poverty Initiative Supports the Shackdwellers Movement

We, the Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, are deeply concerned about recent reports of violent attacks against Abahlali baseMjondolo [AbM], also known as the Shackdwellers Movement, at the Kennedy Road informal settlement in Durban, South Africa. Members of our organization, Christopher Nizza and Dara Kell, were present for the attacks and we have received first-hand accounts of brutal assaults, jailings, and the destruction of people’ s homes in what appears to be a politically motivated attack. Over a thousand people have been forced to flee their homes and death threats have been placed on the heads of the leaders of the movement.

The Poverty Initiative was deeply honored to have hosted representatives of the Abahlali baseMjondolo during their recent trip to the United States when they met with community organizations, NGOs, and religious groups in New York and across the country. They contributed greatly through their participation in our national Poverty Scholars’ Leadership School in sharing the conditions of poverty in South Africa and what grassroots organizations are doing to address this urgent problem. Leaders of poor people’s organizations from around the United States, as well as religious leaders and other international representatives strongly embraced these brothers as their own and were strengthened by the seriousness and clarity they gave to all of us. We know them as people of great dignity, integrity, and faith and are proud to be in a long-standing relationship.

Abahlali baseMjondolo is at the forefront of emerging global struggles of the poor for a right to a decent life and a right to housing. AbM has taken on this important struggle to unite the poor across racial, ethnic, and religious lines. Despite attempts to drive a wedge between ethnic groups, AbM insists and always have insisted on unity. We who struggle to organize poor people in the United States understand the effort of some to divide us along similar lines. We take seriously AbM’s historic position. Their struggle is our struggle and our struggle is their struggle. We see an attack on them as an attack on us.

Therefore we call upon all member organizations of our network as well as all who cherish democracy and justice to act in solidarity with these embattled brothers and sisters with a show of support and offering of prayers. Please join us in bearing witness to the still ongoing situation in the Kennedy Road informal settlement.

Please watch and share this video [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8gQv19cD4Y] and visit the Abahlali baseMjondolo web site [http://www.abahlali.org/] for updates. We endorse the petition [http://www.thepetitionsite.com/9/an-open-letter-to-jacob-zuma] composed by Raj Patel. We ask that you add your signature and share this petition with others. If you have any questions, contact the Poverty Initiative by phone (212.280.1439) or by E-mail (poverty@povertyinitiative.org).

In solidarity,

Poverty Initiative

A Prayer for Justice

When you created heaven and earth,
They have formed suburbs and locations.
When you created man and woman to become one flesh,
They have divided your creation with fences and police.
O, Dear Good Lord, your world has been torn asunder!

When you gave the Israelites manna in the dessert,
They have left us to starve in the midst of plenty.
When you took the Israelites to the promised land,
They have relocated us from the land they promised us.
O, Dear Good Lord, your people are suffering!

When you said Jerusalem is the city of gold,
They have said our shacks are called 'slums'.
When you gave the Ten Commandments,
They have imposed the Slums Act.
O, Dear Good Lord, we are being driven from Jerusalem!

When you saved the Israelites from the plagues,
They have left us to burn and die in the shack fires.
When you gave the Israelites water from the dry rock,
They have left us to struggle without taps in dirt and thirst.
O, Dear Good Lord, the plagues of oppression are on us!

When you preached the Sermon on the Mount,
They have promised to eradicate us.
When you preached the unity of all the world,
They have led us to the 'xenophobic attacks'
O, Dear Good Lord, we plead for your mercy!

When you delivered your people from the Egyptian Pharaoh,
They have seized the staff of Pharaoh for themselsves.
When you chased the money changers out of the temple,
They have bought and sold the land you made for all.
O, Dear Good Lord, our rulers have sinned against you!

You have told us to be together sharing everything in common.
You have told us that your earth was made for everyone.
The fences and the police blaspheme against your creation.
The Slums Act blasphemes against your creation.
The plagues of fire and thirst blaspheme against your creation.
O, Dear Good Lord, give us strength as we make your world one again!

Prepared by: Nsingo Fanuel (Abahlali baseMjondolo)


Mentre tu creavi il cielo e la terra
loro costruivano sobborghi e città.
Mentre tu creavi l'uomo e la donna in modo che divenissero una sola carne, loro dividevano la tua creazione con fili spinati e polizia.
Oh, Dio buono, il tuo mondo è stato diviso!

Mentre nel deserto davi la manna agli Israeliti,
loro ci lasciavano morire di fame nel mezzo dell'abbondanza.
Mentre guidavi gli Israeleiti nella terra promessa,
loro ci sfrattavano dalla terra che ci avevano promesso..
Oh, Dio buono, il tuo popolo sta soffrendo!

Mentre dicevi che Gerusalemme è la città dell'oro,
loro affemavano che le nostre baracche devono essere chiamate "slums".
Mentre tu ci davi i dieci comandamenti,
loro ci imponevano leggi inique.
Oh, Dio buono, siamo stati cacciati da Gerusalemme.

Mentre salvavi gli Israeliti dalle piaghe,
loro ci lasciavano bruciare e morire negli incendi.
Mentre davi acqua dalla roccia
loro ci lsciavano lottare senza acqua nello sporco e nella sete.
O Dio buono le piaghe dell'oppressione sono su di noi..

Mentre predicavi le Beatitudini
loro promettevano di spazzarci via.
Mentre predicavi l'unione tra gli esseri umani,
loro ci hanno condotti agli attacchi xenofobici.
O Dio Buono, abbi pietà di noi.

Mentre liberavi il tuo popolo dal faraone
loro si impadronivano del suo bastone di comando.
Mentre cacciavi i mercanti dal tempio,
loro hanno comprato e venduto la terra che tu avevi fatto per tutti.
O Dio Buono, l'autorità ha peccato ocntro di Te.

Ci avevi detto di condividere tutto tra di noi.
Ci avevi detto che la terra era stata fatta per tutti.
Il filo spinato e la polizia sono una bestemmia contro la tua creazione
Le leggi inique bestemmiano contro la tua creazione.
La piaga del fuoco e della sete bestemmiano contro la tua creazione.
O Dio Buono dacci la forza mentre lottiamo per far si che il tuo mondo sia ancora uno.

Nsingo Fanuel (Abahlali baseMjondolo)