Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

DNC 2016: The One Campaign set up a White House bouncy castle to teach people about poverty

The One Campaign is urging people to challenge politicians to end extreme poverty

Andrew Buncombe
Philadelphia
,David Usborne
Wednesday 27 July 2016 11:26 EDT
Comments
DNC 2016: The ups and downs from a bouncy White House

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Serious things party conventions. No time for messing about, or bouncing around. People are there to work, to get things done.

But the people at the One Campaign, the anti-poverty campaign group that was set up by the singer Bono, came up with the clever idea of erecting a bouncy castle in the shape of the White House at the centre where many Democratic delegates in Philadelphia spend their mornings.

Delegates and others were invited to spend a few minutes bouncing around while thinking about the many pressing issues confronting the world. Politically non-partisan, the campaign urges young people to back candidates who support its anti-poverty and healthcare promotion policies.

The Independent was also invited to inspect the bouncy interior of the castle, and it did so with glee. The castle was making its debut; over the next three months, the One Campaign will take it to several of the political swing states, including Florida, Virginia, and Ohio, where the campaign battle will be fought the hardest.

“Basically, we want voters to communicate to their candidates that fighting extreme poverty all around the world is important to them,” said Ian Koski, the campaign’s spokesman.

The Independent's Chief North America correspondent David Usborne tried out the castle (Andrew Buncombe )
The Independent's Chief North America correspondent David Usborne tried out the castle (Andrew Buncombe ) (Andrew Buncombe)

“We will be taking this to the swing states over the next three months so that people can tell their candidates these things are important to them.”

He added: “We need the candidates to take these issues seriously so that they can enact policies seriously.”

He said the campaign had sought to erect the castle at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland last week but could not obtain a permit.

He said that as of Wednesday, around 200 people had taken a bounce on the castle while double that had signed the campaign’s petition.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in