Though the protests have been happening for years, the Moral Monday movement was kicked into high gear in 2013 after the Supreme Court gutted Section 4 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act contributing to the suppression of American voters. In doing so, the highest court in the country allowed the states with a propensity to oppress Black voters, to do so again.
Larger and lager groups of peaceful protesters began showing up in downtown Raleigh at the General Assembly building when lawmakers were in session. When the protestors were asked to leave and refused, civil disobedience arrests were made. The arrests were made with the intent to intimidate the protestors—but instead the crowds just grew in numbers and in strength.
In August of 2013, Republican North Carolina Governor McCrory took advantage of the Supreme Court’s decision and passed voting restrictions that were clearly designed to suppress black, elderly, minorities, poor, and youth voters. It was a huge step back in civil rights. And so again the Moral Monday crowds grew even larger and faster with the motto, Forward Together — Not One Step Back.
Some of the other rights ‘the people’ have shown up to support/protest, which the GOP has continuously attacked, include:
-
health care
- jobs/employment
- minimum wage increase
- equal pay
- lgbt rights
- women’s rights
- teacher’s rights
- climate change
- gun sense
People from all walks of life come to Moral Monday events. Blacks, whites, Hispanics, men, women, children, Jews, Muslims, Christians, atheists, teachers, hippies, lawyers, gay, straight, old, young, the rich and the poor. Most protest with smiles on their faces knowing they were doing something good, something important, and something historical. Most of all, they were doing something.
Check out this great piece on pulse.ncpolicywatch.org
The upcoming Moral March on Raleigh will take place Saturday, February 13, 2016. The opening rally will start at 9:00 AM 2 E. South St. Raleigh, NC 9:00 AM | Opening Rally Begins 10:00 AM | March Begins 12:30 PM | People's Assembly Ends
There will be a number of activities that you can participate in from February 12th to 14th.
A Weekend of Activities
Friday, February 12, 2016
The Third Reconstruction: Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics, and the Rise of a New Justice Movement Book Launch
Rev. Barber and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove will be interviewed by NPR's Frank Stasio live about their new book followed by a Q&A with the audience. The event will be filmed live on CSPAN.
5:00 p.m.
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church | 1801 Hillsborough Rd. Raleigh, NC
Mass Meeting & Worship Service Rabbi Fred Guttman will be the keynote speaker. 7:00 p.m. 1st Baptist Church, 101 S. Wilmington St. Raleigh, NC
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Shabbat Worship Service
8:15 a.m.
Shaw University Chapel | S. Wilmington St. across from Memorial Auditorium, Raleigh
Moral March on Raleigh & HKonJ People's Assembly
2 E. South St. Raleigh, NC
9:00 AM | Opening Rally Begins
10:00 AM | March Begins
12:30 PM | People's Assembly Ends
Souls to the Polls Get-Out-The-Vote Training
Following the Moral March on Raleigh, there will be a Souls to the Polls training about how faith communities can register, educate, and mobilize their congregations and communities to the polls. Click here to register.
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Do you love voting? Be a Valentine's Day volunteer with the Raleigh/Apex NAACP and register voters in Raleigh and Wake County on Sunday afternoon. If you are interested in participating, email Political Action Chair Barbara Smalley-McMahan at blsmcmahan@nc.rr.com. Write "Valentine's Day Volunteer" in the email subject line.
Cheers to Rev. Barber and the people of North Carolina for speaking out for their rights and staying the course. I’ve been to many of these marches and they are truly something to see. Here are some of the photos I took while attending the Moral Mondays rallies and marches.
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” Mahatma Gandhi
(This story is a repost)