FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2012
For More Information: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137
Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700
Atty. Jennifer Marsh, Legal Redress Coordinator, 919-682-4700
N.C. NAACP Joins HKonJ Coalition Partners to Demand General Assembly Release Funds to Secure Elections and Stop their Attacks on the Democratic Process
Statement by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II
President, North Carolina State Conference of NAACP
As I travel this morning to the 103rd annual meeting of the National Board of the NAACP in New York, it is beyond appalling, considering the long fight for voting rights and against voter suppression, that leadership in North Carolina would still be attempting to dilute and diminish the democratic process.
The continuous attack on voting rights, education equality, labor rights, economic justice and fundamental human rights by the current leadership of the N.C. General Assembly is a nightmarish vision of regression that we who believe in a better North Carolina and a better nation must continue to challenge.
The extreme right-wing leadership in the N.C. General Assembly again baffles the state of North Carolina by refusing $4 million in federal funds that would help secure our elections. This is the same legislative leadership, with baseless claims of voter fraud, who argue for a new poll tax in the form voter photo ID legislation in the name of restoring confidence in our elections.
One must ask why are they now refusing funds that would directly provide local boards of elections with all the resources they need to conduct fair and open elections? Just like their efforts to pass a voter photo ID law and cut Same-Day Registration and Early Voting, it appears they again want less people to participate in our democracy and want more confusion at the polls. These funds would help train poll workers, maintain voter machines and ultimately avoid any obstructions for voters at the polls.
This is backwards, this is regressive, and this is irresponsible leadership. The leadership in the General Assembly is out of order. Release the funds now.
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Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
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