Protest planned in Montgomery against social program cuts

A protest against proposed cuts to social programs including SNAP and Medicaid is planned for Monday, Aug. 18 in Montgomery. 

The protest, titled "A Southern Call to Conscience," will reportedly be led by low-income people and clergy advocates. It is planned alongside others throughout the Southeast. 

“This is a moral emergency, not a partisan squabble,” said religious leader Bishop William J. Barber II in a press release. “If Congress will not listen in Washington, we will bring the cries of the people straight to their hometowns, face to face. Lawmakers must reckon with the moral consequences of their choices, not behind closed doors in D.C., but right here among their constituents.”

Demonstrators will bring caskets to represent what was said in the press release lives that will supposedly be lost as a result of the cuts. 

The press release cited a report from the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics that projects an estimated 51,000 deaths due to tax cuts in what was termed the "Big Beautiful Bill" by the administration of President Donald Trump. 

“Alabama is the sixth poorest state in the nation,” said Rev. Carolyn Foster. “I am organizing clergy, advocates, allies, and impacted people because we can’t sit back and be silent when the most vulnerable among us are violated by the big, ugly bill.”

The protest is planned for 12:30 at Annex 1, Church Street, Suite 500-B in Montgomery.