Children to deliver petitions to McCrory's office ahead of 'Moral Monday'

[marions ghost]

Source: WNCT Greenville NC

Children to deliver petitions to McCrory's office ahead of 'Moral Monday'

Posted: Jun 10, 2013 10:56 AM EST
Updated: Jun 10, 2013 11:05 AM EST

By Justin Quesinberry

RALEIGH, N.C.

Moral Monday organizers say they're expecting more than 1,000 people at this evening's protest at the state legislative building, marking what could be the largest protest yet.

In the run-up to the weekly Moral Monday demonstration, schoolchildren will wheel red wagons filled with 100 pounds of petitions to Gov. Pat McCrory's office this afternoon. The petitions, which represent 16,000 signatures, call on McCrory to keep the cap on class sizes and oppose a private school vouchers.

Former congressman and state Superintendent Bob Etheridge is expected to be among those joining the schoolchildren in the petitions delivery. The plan is for the petitions to be delivered at 4:15 p.m., followed by a protest on Halifax Mall at 5 p.m.

(snip)
After last week's demonstration, McCrory called for an end to the Moral Monday protests, calling them "unlawful." At his party's NC GOP convention in Charlotte Saturday, McCrory said he was not intimidated by the protests.

"They should not be blocking the business of North Carolina," McCrory said Tuesday. "They are allowed to protest, but sometimes I think we congratulate people for blocking things and being unlawful."

Read more: http://www.wnct.com/story/22548691/schoolchildren-to-deliver-16000-petitions-to-mccrorys-office

---

Stay tuned for more on this. Today's protests will take place later in the day. The childrens delivery of petitions is scheduled for 4 pm and the protest for 5 pm. There is a news video at link.

Please post here--in this thread or in this forum--if anyone has any further news or videos.

And please K&R if you support Moral Mondays.

[Hissyspit]

1. "but sometimes I think we congratulate people for blocking things and being unlawful." Yeah, we do.

Dumbass.

[dmr]

2. He's an arrogant ass.

Since he feels this way, he should talk to the US Congress:

" ... sometimes I think we congratulate people for blocking things ... "

Solidarity for our Moral Monday friends.

[marions ghost]

9. Here's a good comeback:

McCrory says he won't back down to protesters
Sunday, June 09, 2013

AP By MITCH WEISS

CHARLOTTE, N.C.

--"Outsiders are coming in and they're going to try to do to us what they did to Scott Walker in Wisconsin," he said referring to that state's governor. Walker and Republican legislators in Wisconsin passed a contentious law in 2011 that stripped most state workers' collective bargaining rights. The law sparked massive protests at the state Capitol that generated national publicity for Walker. "They are going to come in and try to change the subject. And I'm not going to let them. I'm going to concentrate on the economy, education and government efficiency."

Ben Ray, the state Democratic Party's rapid response director, criticized McCrory's comments.

"Gov. McCrory's attitude is everything wrong with Raleigh. He's joined Phil Berger and Thom Tillis to reject health care for 500,000 North Carolinians and is embracing a deeply unpopular legislature that works for special interests, not North Carolina families," he said.

He added that it was hypocritical for McCrory to say outside groups were targeting North Carolina.

"Pat McCrory had more than $5 million spent on his behalf by outside groups in 2012. Accusing North Carolinians opposed to his special interest-driven agenda of being outsiders is rank hypocrisy," he said.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/politics&id=9132553

[dmr]

14. +1

Yup! Blatant hypocrisy.

[JDPriestly]

3. K&R

All men are created equal.

[Triana]

4. K & R. Suggest posting in the NC state forum too. n/t

[summerschild]

5. K&R

[RepubliCON-Watch]

6. This Governor McCrory...

Is a sick bastard.

[marions ghost]

10. Yep

"you're with me or you're with the terrorists" megalomania (where have we seen that before?)

Welcome to DU.

[mike dub]

7. "They are allowed to protest, but sometimes I think we congratulate people for blocking things..."

Typical McCrory...talking out both sides of his a**

Slightly OT -- the weather is crappy here in the Raleigh area today -- hope the rain holds back a little later in the day.

[wildeyed]

8. Kick for NC!

[hue]

11. K&R!! GTH McCrory!!!

[marions ghost]

12. MSNBC is reporting

Video here:

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/newsnation/52159795#52159795

Interview with Rev Jimmie Hawkins.

[marions ghost]

13. From The Guardian, UK

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jun/10/north-carolina-gop-moral-mondays

(snip)
Week after week, North Carolinians from all walks of life have come to Raleigh to exercise their constitutional right to "instruct" their representatives. Instead, they were arrested for trespassing in the "people's house". To date, over 300 people have been arrested and thousands have lifted their voices in opposition to the avalanche of extreme public policies. The measures include:

• Cutting the payroll tax credit for over 900,000 poor and working people

• Slashing state unemployment benefits and rejecting federally-funded Emergency Unemployment Compensation to 170,000 laid-off workers

• Rejecting federal funds to expand Medicaid to cover 500,000 North Carolinians without health insurance

In sum, the NC general assembly is making it harder for those who are sick to get healthcare; for children to get an education; for the incarcerated to be redeemed; for people to vote. At the same time, they make it easier for the rich to get richer; for the sick to get sicker; for private schools to profit while cutting funds for public schools; to implement the flawed death penalty; and to get guns.

(more at link)

[freshwest]

19. K&R right here. Thanks for the update.

[marions ghost]

20. Here's another thread on it

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014505877

thanks for the support

[freshwest]

22. Thanks, and I followed the links to the 14 points and this video:

It is long past time to redress this to put the nation on a firm footing to go forward. These are citizens whose voices have been ignored too long. The cause of poverty and despair is no mystery.

14 Point Agenda:

http://carolinajustice.typepad.com/hkonj/14-point-agenda.html

2013 HKonJ Promo

Published on Jan 23, 2013

by William J. Barber, II

Saturday, February 9, 2013 -- 9:30 am -- Shaw University, South Street, Raleigh, NC

For more information or to support the movement, please call the NC NAACP: 919-682-4700

For Action Alerts, Text "NAACP" to 46988

www.HKonJ.com

Join the Historic Thousands on Jones Street People's Assembly Coalition (HKonJ); HKonJ is a movement built on 21st-century multiracial Fusion politics; with more than 140 partnering organizations, who will be gathering by the thousands for its 7th Annual Mass Mobilization (HKonJ7), downtown Raleigh on February 9; Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President of the North Carolina NAACP State Conference, serves as the HKonJ Convener and will be amongst several civil and human rights moral leaders who will present during the assembly.

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, President of the NC NAACP and Convener of the HKONJ People's Assembly Coalition says, "Dr. King said 44 years ago that we could not refuse to address the issue of poverty. But 44 years later, we have 1.7 million North Carolinians living in poverty, the same number we had in 1968. This is a moral, social, and political crisis that our elected leadership, regardless of political party, and the people of this state cannot ignore. We can face it and address it. We will present and push policy issues that can make a difference if we have the moral courage to place economic justice and the poor at the center of our state's agenda and do what is best for the "good of the whole".

The key issues which must interconnect in order to address the issue of poverty and economic justice include: 1) economic sustainability- by addressing poverty, full employment, living wages, disparate unemployment and labor rights, affordable housing, green economy, minority access to contracts, targeted empowerment zones and fair tax reform; 2) educational equality - every child deserves a high quality, well-funded, constitutional, diverse public education - and access to Community Colleges and Universities; 3) healthcare for all- ensuring access to and protection of Affordable Health Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid, Social Security and providing environmental protection; 4) addressing the continuing inequalities in the criminal justice system for black, brown and poor white people; and 5) protecting, defending and expanding voting rights and constitutional righs for all people.

The HKonJ assembly will consist of African-Americans, Latinos, Whites, Native Americans, Asians, the young, the not-so-young, and all others who wish to unite and collaborate with a beautifully diverse coalition of caring individuals; The HKonJ Coalition will assemble on Saturday, February 9th, at 9:30 a.m. in front of Shaw University on South Street. Accommodations will be made for those who are unable to participate in the march which will lead to Jones Street where the North Carolina General Assembly is located (The General Assembly drafts and legislates the state laws of North Carolina).

There are more than 1.7 million people living in poverty in North Carolina today, 580,000 of them 17 and under; yet many politicians are seeking to cut more and more assistance rather than use a moral and fair approach to solving budget challenges. To those who are poverty-stricken, underprivileged, and already struggling with poor health conditions, certain budget cuts could be a matter of life or death. Therefore, this year's mass mobilization will serve as a rallying cry from "We the People" to ensure we go "Forward Together, Not One Step Back" on a mission to once and for all reduce poverty and turn back the tide of economic injustices.

Centered around a 14-Point People's Agenda, HKonJ is an ongoing movement which effectively works, organizes, and strategically serves the local and state communities 365 days a year.


I found another video about an appeal to the churches from Barber. Should I post it in one of these threads or keep it in Interfaith, you think?

[marions ghost]

23. Good video!

Thanks for posting that. Rev Barber and co are really bringing it--the cohesion & vision & energy that this effort needs in North Carolina. Many other groups are participating now, but the NAACP deserves much credit for initiating and providing continual momentum.

I have no prob with posting the other video here. The various churches & synagogues are playing a big part in this in NC. The reality is that NC is Bible Belt. That truth shouldn't offend anyone. If right wing churches can get political, I guess it's time for the more progressive churches to meet that challenge on moral grounds. I'm glad the churches are coming together to support these issues.

Go ahead post it--I'd like to see it.

[freshwest]

24. Here it is. Such things as are being done should offend the consciences of believers:

Where Are the Christians Now?

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II

Published on May 8, 2013

May 7th, 2013 - In an address at Martin Street Baptist Church in Raleigh, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II asks his fellow Christians, in the light of the regressive legislation pouring out of the North Carolina General Assembly, "Where are you now?"

[marions ghost]

25. Wow, fiery, powerful!

Rev Barber's message should resonate with Christian believers--and with anyone of conscience really.

This video isn't preaching gospel per se--he is asking the moral questions that are inherent in matters of social justice and basic humanism.

Rev Barber

[freshwest]

26. Yes, it resounds with humanists very well. Strange silence on the right, but then they worship Rush.

And he and Fox have given them excuses to act harshly with other citizens. To kill them, even, and it doesn't get any more hateful than that.

Barber spoke on the marriage equality amendment in secular terms. That it took away the rights of many people. I posted that video back then. He said the media was asking the wrong question, as to whether citizens were comfortable with same sex marrige.

He explained the question was really about maintaining the rights of all. And pulled no punches about the nature of the South now, in which the civil rights laws fought for so hard in the last century, saying they would never pass in today's South.

It is more regressive now than then. And that's saying quite a bit. The media has hardened the hearts of so many people against their fellows. It's very dangerous for the least powerful right now.

[marions ghost]

15. Good overview by Melissa Harris Perry --Saturday June 8

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/46979745/vp/52143190#52143190

[blkmusclmachine]

16. .

.

[marions ghost]

17. Sixty more arrests today on a rainy June 10

http://wsav.membercenter.worldnow.com/story/22552730/moral-monday-protesters-return-to-general-assembly








RALEIGH, N.C. - (see video coverage at link)

More than 60 people were arrested during the latest Moral Monday demonstration at the North Carolina legislative building.

Many in the group of more than 60 arrested Monday at the Republican-controlled General Assembly were clergy. The arrests bring the total over six rounds of near-weekly demonstrations to more than 350.

More than 100 at last week's demonstration of 1,600 people.

During this week's protest, Congressman G.K. Butterfield showed up to support the effort.

"We are here today to express our views," Butterfield said. "This is the way we petition our government and we're going to so it very forcefully, not only today but every Monday going forward until we are heard."

[marions ghost]

18. Arrested at Moral Monday

http://rrspin.com/roanoke-rapids-nc-news/item/4682-three-locals-among-arrestees-at-moral-monday.html

-------------------One of the protestors tells his story:

"Espenshade, who is part of a group in Halifax County called the Coalition for Education and Economic Security, said there were no local issues on the table when he and the others went to Raleigh last Monday.

The concerns were with statewide issues, he said. “I’m concerned about the fact they’re not expanding Medicaid and not taking federal dollars.”

He said he was concerned about efforts to suppress voters through what he best describes as a form of a poll tax. “Let’s say you have a daughter that goes to school in Wilmington. What the legislators are saying is I can no longer claim her as a dependent on income tax if she votes there. I essentially get a poll tax.”

Espenshade said he and the others also went to Raleigh to protest the proposed end to Sunday voting during early voting. “They’re trying to shorten the amount of early voting. If you don’t like the way people vote you make it harder for them to vote and say it’s illegal to vote on Sunday.”

The group is also concerned with reduced amounts of unemployment and taking money from education to give to vouchers. “My neighbors in Halifax County and local businesses are going to suffer,” he said.

“Those are just some of the examples that come to mind,” Espenshade said. “When I moved to North Carolina I saw North Carolina as one of the leading states in the South in education, public health and infrastructure. People are not aware of what the GOP is doing in North Carolina. They’re going too far, too fast and too extreme. I had hoped (Governor Pat) McCrory would be a moderate. He’s been pulled to the far extreme by the House and Senate.”

(more at link)

[marions ghost]

21. Video from June 10 -- 84 arrested

Rev Barber leading songs & chant on this one and then later
the group to be arrested sings inside the legislative building
chant: "we fight, we fight, we fight"

speech by Rep Butterfield -- "we are in support of this movement"
and more song inside the legislature rotunda
song: "for we love you, for we trust you"