New York Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel and a group of religious leaders have called on Congress to “protect the vulnerable.” Alluding to the Occupy Wall Street protesters, Rangel said his fellow Democratic lawmakers have the “prayers and support of the clergy” to protect the poor and those in the middle class that are slipping into poverty.
California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee added that Democrats are not going to “abandon” the “99 percent.”
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“No matter what you think about the people who are exposing themselves out there in protesting, there’s one thing that’s abundantly clear, and that is the issues that we’re talking about are about economic justice, about moral justice,” Rangel said at the Capitol on December 8.
Rangel said unemployment benefits and Social Security are essential for the most “vulnerable” in America.
“This is just the beginning and as we as legislators stay here to protect the vulnerable, we know we have the prayers and the support of the clergy,” said Rangel.
Lee echoed Rangel.
“I’m reminded of a scripture that says to whom much is given much is expected, and I think that all members here and most members here in Congress really do believe that,” said Lee. “So, thank you Congressman Rangel for giving us this chance to once more sound the alarm and to say that we’re going to stay here until we do something during this holiday season to ensure that the 99 percent receive the opportunities and the safety net and the assurance that we’re not going to abandon them.”
Rabbi Jack Moline of the Rabbincal Assembly, Reverend Donald Robinson of the First Baptist Church, Reverend Edgar Palacios of the Calvary Baptist Church, Reverend Anthony Evans of the National Black Church Initiative, Patrick Carolan of the Franciscan Action Network and Sister Gayle Lwanga of the National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd appeared at the press conference with the lawmakers.