In 1968, the Poor People’s Campaign, an organization started by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. shortly before his death, set up an encampment in Washington, D.C., to nonviolently protest and shine light on the plight of America’s impoverished.

Determined to carry out Dr. King’s vision, leaders from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference led protesters to Washington under the banner of economic justice on May 12, 1968. The encampment was called Resurrection City and was located near the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. Protesters camped out and made more than 2,000 simple structures designed by architect John Wiebenson.

The encampment survived for just over one month until the protestors were finally overcome by police who used tear gas to disperse the crowds. Resurrection City was finally cleared on June 24, 1968.

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