A short while ago, the We Are One Foundation received a generous donation of £364 from our friends at #lockdownsolidarity, a campaign run as part of #WeShallOvercome, a nationwide grassroots, social justice movement that began after the general election of 2015. This campaign was set up by Joe Solo and a small group of dedicated activists, intent on standing in solidarity with people in desperate need because of austerity. Joe describes himself as a folk-punk musician, writer, activist, poet, broadcaster and a quarter of Lithium Joe (a fine band from Hull originally). Joe has a full time job but spends almost all of his free time on activist projects, raising cash and consciousness to support individuals and causes that are struggling in these hardest of times. To find out more about We Shall Overcome, visit the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/weshallovercomeweekend/
The ‘About’ information says it all: Since May 2015 We Shall Overcome organisers have run more than 1100 events in 150 different towns and cities,raising an estimated £500,000 worth of food, cash, clothing, bedding, furniture and electrical goods for those struggling at the sharp end of Tory Austerity. Visit http://weshallovercomeweekend.com and follow us on Twitter @WeShallWeekend and join the working Facebook group at WE SHALL OVERCOME 2020
2020 throws up more challenges than ever, but we will fight until they lose. The compassion and generosity of the #lockdownsolidarity donation means We Are One can feed sixty families for a week. Joe rightly says the We Shall Overcome is ‘not charity but solidarity’ it is a way of standing together and supporting each other and those who most need help while we live through hard times.
Joe is one of those individuals who walks an authentic walk, putting his money where his mouth is and standing up for social justice, solidarity and compassion. He’s what you might call a good lad.