Rev. Barber is on trial over a health care protest he led 2 years ago

[G_j]

https://thinkprogress.org/rev-william-barber-on-trial-trespassing-north-carolina-health-care-protest-medicaid-2017-996c9800dd7f/

Rev. Dr. William Barber is on trial in North Carolina for leading a protest calling for Medicaid expansion in the state’s legislative building two years ago.

Barber, then-head of the state NAACP chapter and leader of the progressive grassroots movement “Moral Monday,” was arrested on May 30, 2017, after he led a group of more than 30 people to the legislative building in Raleigh to to discuss health care with lawmakers. Barber and others in the group were later charged with second-degree trespassing — a Class 3 misdemeanor, punishable by up to 20 days in jail and a $200 fine — for refusing to leave the building when they were told to do so by General Assembly Police.

The trial began Tuesday, and Barber’s legal team is arguing in court that the case is fundamentally about the right to free speech and the access that people have to their legislators.

Barber told ThinkProgress that on the day of the protest two years ago, a coalition of groups — including the NAACP, health advocates, and others — went to speak to legislators and deliver letters on “the damage they were doing by denying health care in North Carolina.”

North Carolina still has not expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, which would allow people earning less than 138% of the federal poverty level to get health care.

..more..

[gratuitous]

1. Whenever someone asks if I'm too hard on Republicans and their oppression

I think of examples like this, some vindictive D.A. who's got nothing better to do than proceed with a trial on a two year old misdemeanor charge.

[mahina]

2. DUers, this man is deserving of our support. He is a social justice advocate with the Poor Peoples

Campaign for people over profit, seeking to unite left and right, and that is why they fear him.

I'm grateful for him and inspired by his service to the community. They're doing this to silence him because they are afraid of what a powerful person he is- not financially but in his heart and mind.

Check him out! https://www.macfound.org/fellows/1005/

He was awarded the Ghandi peace prize and a MacArthur 'genius' prize. He is a treasure. Youtube has heaps of his speeches that are all worth listening to and sharing. His work deserves our support.

[nolabear]

3. If ever you wondered if Christianity has been perverted for power...

The minister leading a march to try to persuade the authorities to help their people is arrested and tried.

And the “Christians” support the authorities.

SMGDH.

[Karadeniz]

4. Good Lord, how stupid!

[G_j]

5. 6/12/19