to the DOJ

A unique coalition of poetry and social justice organizations is presenting poems that speak for racial justice and resist police brutality in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), 950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC, on Friday, January 23, 2015. The action was open to public participation and included poetry readings from 12 to 1pm. Spearheaded by Split This Rock, this action was cosponsored by Code Pink, the Institute for Policy Studies, DC Ferguson, Youth Speaks/Brave New Voices, SolidaiTrees, Washington Peace Center, Baltimore Citywide Youth Poetry Team, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, and the DC Guerrilla Poetry Insurgency.

Split This Rock joined with the millions around the world demanding justice, accountability, and an end to racism with impunity. Standing in solidarity with people of color organizing to bringLiterature Center at the Library of Congress, which is responsible for the Poet Laureate position.

Rob's letter is in response to the Open Letter Split This Rock initiated, urging the Librarian of Congress, Dr. James Billington, to appoint a person of color as the next Poet Laureate.

It appeared that Dr. Billington had already made his choice when he received our letter. However, we're glad to have raised this critical issue and are confident that the voices of all the signatories will be heard in the future, as Rob indicates at the end of the letter.

Poets & Writers Call for an End of War

On February 3, 2011, we gathered in front of the White House to call for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The demonstration included