joseph lowery. [applause] [applause] >> thank you. we have not got all day. hear a fellow speak -- i got to go hear a fellow speak named barack obama. [applause] i came today to do in the spirit of this structure that we are dedicating. to quote martin luther king jr. in his speech at oslo when they gave him the nobel peace prize -- one of the things he made clear was that while we have come a long way we still have a long, long way to go. while the presence of this imposing structure forever reminds us of a long and perilous journey that the struggle has brought us through, it also points toward the future. in the words -- through many -- in the words of that familiar hymn, through many dangers, toils, and snares we have already come, twas grace that brought us safe this far, and grace will lead us home. we recognize here that in the midst of the amazing truth that an african-american preacher who never held public political office is recognized here among the fathers of the country. indeed, he has become a father of the country. [applause] for his leadershi

joseph lowery, there to support their effort and rally their cause. >> we want an end to foreclosed mortgageswe want an end to evictions. we want an end to poverty. we're calling upon the banks to do their part. just as this country came to the rescue of the banks. we're asking now the banks to come to the rescue of god's children. no more foreclosures. >> no more foreclosures. >> no more evictions. >> no more evictions. >> as is fitting for what is now a totally decentralized dispersed locally autonomous movement, thousands of 99%ers have convened here in washington, d.c. the plan is to be here all week. tomorrow they will be on k. street which, of course, is the nest of the lobbying industry. yesterday they set up an occupy-style people's camp on the national mall at 14th street and constitution. today they were at congressional offices. protesting members of congress, in particular, those who oppose the president's jobs plan and things like extending unemployment benefits. they physically went to members of congress' office and they sat there and refused to leave until the lawmaker in ques