<P> King traveled to Washington in February 1968 in order to meet with local activists and prepare the resources necessary to support the campaign . </P> <P> Marchers were scheduled to arrive in Washington on May 2 . Some planners wanted to target specific politicians; others wanted to avoid "begging" and focus on movement - building and mutual education . </P> <P> The SCLC announced the campaign on December 4, 1967 . King delivered a speech which identified "a kind of social insanity which could lead to national ruin ." In January 1968, the SCLC created and distributed an "Economic Fact Sheet" with statistics explaining why the campaign was necessary . King avoided providing specific details about the campaign and attempted to redirect media attention to the values at stake . The Poor People's Campaign held firm to the movement's commitment to non-violence . "We are custodians of the philosophy of non-violence," said King at a press conference . "And it has worked". King originally wanted the Poor People's Campaign to start in Quitman County, Mississippi because of the intense and visible economic disparity there . </P> <P> In February 1968, King announced specific demands: $30 billion for antipoverty, full employment, guaranteed income, and the annual construction of 500,000 affordable residences . </P>

When did the poor people's campaign start