Moral March on Raleigh, Shaw University
Thousands gathered at Shaw University on Saturday February 8th, 2014 to let their voices be heard once again in protests against Governor Pat McCrory's signing of several bills that are very controversial in the state of North Carolina. When Governor Pat McCrory was elected into office in 2012 his victory also helped give the republicans the majority in both state houses, something that hasn't happened since 1870.
In response to some of the controversial bills that the governor has signed, Moral Monday protests were organized. Hundreds gathered every Monday for civil disobedience rallies which were held peacefully. Demonstrators entered the state legislative building with the intentions of getting arrested. More than 900 demonstrators have been arrested since the protests began. Religious leaders along with Rev.William Barber, head of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP organized the demonstrations. The people are upset because of all of the cutbacks such as cutting the unemployment for thousands in the state, signing a bill which blocks the state from expanding medicaid to lower income families and from operating any online health care market place. He has also signed a bill which repels the state's Racial Justice Act of 2009 which allowed inmates facing the death penalty to challenge their sentences on the basis of racial discrimination.
The Moral March on Raleigh is an historic march that came into fruition in 2006, under the leadership of Rev. Barber and the North Carolina NAACP, formed the Thousands on Jones St (HKonJ) People's Assembly Coalition. The coalition is made up of over 126 NAACP North Carolina chapters, and over 160 social justice organizations. Each year forces are joined together in a mass assembly to reinforce the group's objectives, The 14 Point People's Agenda.
In response to some of the controversial bills that the governor has signed, Moral Monday protests were organized. Hundreds gathered every Monday for civil disobedience rallies which were held peacefully. Demonstrators entered the state legislative building with the intentions of getting arrested. More than 900 demonstrators have been arrested since the protests began. Religious leaders along with Rev.William Barber, head of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP organized the demonstrations. The people are upset because of all of the cutbacks such as cutting the unemployment for thousands in the state, signing a bill which blocks the state from expanding medicaid to lower income families and from operating any online health care market place. He has also signed a bill which repels the state's Racial Justice Act of 2009 which allowed inmates facing the death penalty to challenge their sentences on the basis of racial discrimination.
The Moral March on Raleigh is an historic march that came into fruition in 2006, under the leadership of Rev. Barber and the North Carolina NAACP, formed the Thousands on Jones St (HKonJ) People's Assembly Coalition. The coalition is made up of over 126 NAACP North Carolina chapters, and over 160 social justice organizations. Each year forces are joined together in a mass assembly to reinforce the group's objectives, The 14 Point People's Agenda.
- All children need high quality, well funded diverse schools
- Livable wages and support for low-income people
- Health Care for All
- Redress two ugly chapters in N.C's racist history: The overthrow of the bi-racial 1898 Wilmington Government and the sterilization of poor, mainly black women from 1947-1977
- Same day registration and public financing of elections
- Lift every HBCU
- Document and redress almost 200 years of State discrimination in hiring and contracting
- Provide affordable housing and Stop consumer abuse
- Abolish racially biased Death Penalty and Mandatory Sentencing Laws; Reform our prisons
- Put young people to work to save the environment and fight for environmental justice
- Collective bargaining for public employees and support Smithfield Workers right to unionize
- Protect the rights of Immigrants from Latin America and other nations
- Organize, Strengthen and Provide funding for our Civil Rights Enforcement\Agencies and Statutes now
- Bring our troops home from Iraq now
Forward Together and Not One Step Back!
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| A Powerful Message from this young student. A right to education for everyone! |
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| Support for Woman's Rights - Planned Parenthood |
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| North Carolina has the worst voter suppression laws in the Country |
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| Rev. Barber speaking before the crowd at Shaw University |
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| Students from the coalition |
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| Demonstrators |
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| Students from HBCU's |
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