Durham councilman, 7 others arrested at NC General Assembly protest

[G_j]

Source: newsobserver.com

RALEIGH — Eight protesters were arrested Wednesday when they refused to leave the Legislative Building during a midday demonstration by the NAACP.

The event, dubbed “Witness Wednesday,” was held to coincide with the anniversary of the fatal shooting of Medgar Evers, an NAACP field worker who was shot dead by a white segregationist in Jackson, Miss. His death in 1963 was a seminal moment in the Civil Rights movement.

“We needed to take time today to honor Evers and others who served in the civil, human and labor rights movements and dedicated their lives to gaining many of the freedoms that exist today,” said Rev. William Barber, head of the state NAACP.

After the rally outside, Barber led about 100 people into the Legislative Building. The eight arrested were loudly singing spirituals outside the chamber where the state House of Representatives was debating the budget. House Speaker Thom Tillis had the doors to the chamber locked for the duration of the protest.

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Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/06/12/2958097/eight-arrested-at-nc-general-assembly.html

[LonePirate]

1. Thankfully they didn't interrupt a FLOTUS speech.

If I understand the rules of acceptable protests according to DU, this protest is OK given that a Republican led legislature was annoyed by it. Somehow engaging in a positive and progressive protest is only commendable when Republicans are targeted to receive it.

[hue]

2. There is no analogy here--completely different context-->your comment is waaay off base.

[nolabear]

5. Right. Then they might have just been escorted away rather than arrested. The horror.

Thanks for playing. Try again sometime.

[hue]

3. K&R for Moral Monday & Witness Wednesday!!!

[marions ghost]

4. Three local council members arrested Wednesday

"Among those arrested was Durham City Councilman Steve Schewel, Guilford County Commissioner Carolyn Coleman and Andre Knight, a Rocky Mount city councilman. More than 400 protesters have now been arrested at the Legislature since April 29, the others as part of Moral Monday protests."

THANK YOU Witness Wednesday Protestors!

Republican leaders and Gov. Pat McCrory have described the protesters as “outsiders” who are running up a huge tax bill of overtime costs associated with the extra law enforcement officers called in to work for the weekly protests.

(snip)
Protest organizers argue that the orders for arrest are coming from the legislative leadership who refuse to come out and listen to the concerns of the demonstrators.

They also say that less than 2 percent – or fewer than 10 of the 400-some protesters arrested have been from out of state.

Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/06/12/2958097/eight-arrested-at-nc-general-assembly.html#storylink=cpy