After 100-mile walk, protesters to arrive in Harrisburg Monday
The protesters will arrive at the Capitol after ten days of travel. (Photo by AP)
Dozens of activists are marching from Philadelphia to Harrisburg to demand lawmakers enact three government reform bills.
The members of grassroots organization March on Harrisburg will have spent 10 days walking about 100 miles. At night, they’ve been sleeping in donated spaces, like churches.
Pittsburgh coordinator Madeline Whitehill explained, they’re doing all this to show lawmakers they’re serious about government reform.
“We have a failing system,” Whitehall said. “Our voice is not heard. The politicians with the best ideas are not necessarily the ones getting elected. Once they are elected, they’re not necessarily beholden to our opinion.”
The group is pushing to create an independent commission that would make redistricting less partisan and cut down on gerrymandering. They are also calling for limits on gifts that elected officials can accept, and for automatic voter registration.
All three measures have been introduced in at least one chamber, but none have received a push from the legislature’s GOP leaders.
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