Rev. William Barber

Rev. William Barber, Poor People’s Campaign 

"Against the conspiracy of cruelty, we plead the power of your mercy.” – Rev. William Barber, delivering a prayer of protest alongside faith leaders Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Steven Swayne – all members of Repairers of the Breach.

Rev. William Barber is a familiar figure in Washington, DC, given his status as the fiery progressive North Carolina leader of the national anti-poverty Poor People’s Campaign. He’s led protests in the nation’s capital many times, and has been vocal in his opposition to Trump’s policies in both his first and current terms. Barber organized a faith-in-action group, Repairers of the Breach, to urge interfaith leaders to speak out against policies that hurt the most vulnerable and poor in America. They hold regular “Moral Mondays” prayer actions. Barber’s also delivered sermons on the Capitol steps and addressed a Moral Monday gathering at the Supreme Court.

That’s how he found himself  inside the Capitol Rotunda on April 28,  along with fellow faith leader Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove and Steve Swayne, director of St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, – in a “Moral Monday prayer action against proposed Republican budget cuts. "Against the conspiracy of cruelty, we plead the power of your mercy," the trio chanted as some DC media and Capitol police looked on.

After repeated warnings to stop, they were arrested and briefly detained, despite their assertions that praying was not among the activities that are forbidden inside the Rotunda. The charge? “Crowding, obstructing, and incommoding" – the latter a novel violation.

A Capitol Police spokesperson told Newsweek: “In this case they started praying quietly and then began to pray out loud. That is when we gave them multiple warnings to stop or they would be arrested. Three people didn't stop.”

Barber has gained global attention for his Moral Monday movement – weekly sessions of civil disobedience that represent a "moral critique" of state policies. The Poor People’s Campaign defines itself as “A National Call for Moral Revival Covenant of Nonviolence,” one aimed at the 140 million Americans “who are impacted by the interlocking injustices of systemic racism, poverty, ecological devastation, militarism, and the false narrative of Christian nationalism.” Its Jubilee Platform proclaims “that moral policy is also economically sound policy.”

“To think that we went in to pray against the budget, but to pray nonetheless – and the order now is that, evidently, if you pray, you are seen as violating the rules of the Rotunda,” Barber told Religious News Service. “What we hope is that folks will see this and it will begin to remove some of the fear, and people will understand that this is the time – now – that we must engage in nonviolent direct action to register our discontent."

Barber remains outspoken around the issue of religious freedom, and what he views as the hijacking of religion by Christian nationalists. His arrest came days after the first meeting on April 22 of a new White House Office on Faith Task Force, headed by Christian right leader Paula Cain-White, who is viewed as a “living apostle” of the fast-growing National Apostolic Reformation. A number of top Trump cabinet members are also in the NAR and share its belief that Christians must take control of all aspects of society, and that becoming rich is also doing God’s will – a prosperity gospel tenet. Trump Attorney General Pam Bondi, also a true believer, is chair of the new Task Force, which is focused on combatting “anti-Christian bias” in the federal government and assuring its policies reflect Christian principles. 

On June 2, Barber was back at the Rotunda in a fresh prayer action around the looming Trump “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – the third time since April 28 that “Moral Monday” protesters were arrested for opposing the GOP budget bill. A recent analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office found it will reduce federal Medicaid spending by $723 billion and ultimately increase the number of uninsured people by 7.6 million – a devastating negative health impact.

Barber was joined there by faith leaders and disability activists including his wife, the Rev. Della Owens, a pastor of Saint James Christian Church in Wilson, North Carolina, and the Rev. Franklin Golden of Durham Presbyterian Church in North Carolina, as well as Suvya Carroll, a disability rights advocate with cerebral palsy who uses a wheelchair. She clutched a Bible as Barber and Owens laid their hands on her shoulders, calling on the Almighty to allow her and others “to be free to live, be healthy, well and safe.” She and eight other demonstrators, including Barber and Owens, were arrested and placed in handcuffs, then led away. . 

“They don’t want us to talk about the particular people who will die,” Barber told the crowd. “They say they’re cutting waste, fraud, and abuse. So what they’re saying is, it’s wasteful to lift people, it’s fraudulent to help people live, and it’s abusive to make sure people have health care. Well, the truth is, it’s a waste not to do it – it’s fraudulent not to do it, and it’s a form of political abuse.”