#MoralMonday Movement Return to Raleigh Today, Schedule

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,

May 19, 2014

Contact: Sarah Bufkin, NC NAACP - smbufkin@gmail.com or 404.285.3413

Cynthia Gordy, Advancement Project - cgordy@advancementproject.org or 202.341.0555

North Carolina NAACP and the Forward Together Moral Movement Return to Raleigh Today for Moral Monday to Call upon Our Lawmakers to Repeal Extreme Laws 

  

Why Moral Mondays Are Back - Press Conference

4:15 pm - Today, May 19, 2014

First Baptist Church, 

101 S. Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Moral Monday Rally, Love Feast and Action

5 pm - Today, May 19, 2014

Bicentennial Mall - in front of the General Assembly

16 West Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Post-Moral Monday - Press Call 

11 am - Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Call-in No. Toll Free 1-800-434-1335

Pass Code: 896629#

DURHAM, NC - In the wake of the flood of extremist laws passed last session, the North Carolina NAACP and Forward Together Moral Movement return to Raleigh today for Moral Monday. This afternoon at 5 pm, we will petition our lawmakers to repent from their immoral actions last session, to repeal these laws that are hurting our state's most vulnerable and to restore our confidence in their ability to govern for the good of the whole. 

"We're back because what was on paper as policy last year is in fact now causing pain and problems in the lives of real people," said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, president of the North Carolina NAACP and architect of the Forward Together Moral Movement. "Thom Tillis and Gov. McCrory have presided over the most extreme state government that NC has seen in recent years. This General Assembly denied the expansion of Medicaid, costing 500,000 people life-saving care. This General Assembly refused to accept money for federal unemployment benefits when North Carolina families were struggling to make ends meet through the Great Recession. They passed the worst voter suppression law we have seen since Jim Crow. They slashed funding from our public schools and launched an attack on our teachers. They passed a tax law that increases the burden on the working poor while giving huge windfalls to the wealthy and corporations. In addition to their political tragedy, these extremist lawmakers are now adding to their political tyranny by trying to stifle the protests of the people."

Gov. Pat McCrory claims our state is in the middle of a "Carolina Comeback." At Moral Monday, we will expose the reality beneath his rhetoric.

Before the rally from 4:15 to 4:30 pm, the North Carolina NAACP and the Forward Together Moral Movement also welcomes the media to a press conference where we will explain why Moral Mondays had to return to Raleigh. Starting at 5 pm on the Bicentennial Mall outside the General Assembly, moral leaders, everyday North Carolinians impacted by these laws and advocates will address the following issues: Medicaid expansion, health care access and women's health; unemployment, labor rights and tax fairness; public education; corporate greed and environmental regulation; and voting rights. After their testimonies, Dr. Barber will speak to the assembled.

Around 6 pm, members of the clergy will take the stage to invite all people, including state legislators committed to repealing these extreme laws that are hurting our most vulnerable, to join us in a symbolic love feast. As a sign of our moral conviction that we have more than enough for everyone's need (even if not for everyone's greed), we will break bread together in the People's House.

After the love feast, the NC NAACP, the Forward Together Moral Movement and its supporters will walk through the General Assembly building, two by two, to dramatize this shameful attempt by Speaker Thom Tillis and his extremist cohorts to silence the legitimate discontent of North Carolinians. After the action, we will announce our plans for the People's Lobby Day, scheduled to take place at the General Assembly on Tuesday, May 27.

Dr. Barber, coalition partners and other Moral Monday speakers will be available for media interviews outside the General Assembly building after the action concludes. Tomorrow, the North Carolina NAACP and the Forward Together Moral Movement will host a press call on the Moral Monday rally and action at 11 am. 

Moral Monday Schedule

4:15 pm                Press Conference - "Why Moral Mondays Must Return to Raleigh"

              First Baptist Church, 101 S. Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601

5 - 7 pm               Moral Monday Rally and Action

5 - 5:05                Welcome

5:06 - 5:15           Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II to address the crowd

5:16 - 6                Issue Speakers (Medicaid; Education; Corporate Greed and the Environment; 

                            Attacks on the Poor and Unemployed; Women's Rights; Voting Rights; and 

                            Youth)

6 - 6:15                Love Feast led by Dr. Barber and the clergy

6:20 - 6:45           Walk through the General Assembly

6:45 - 7                Dr. Barber on the Forward Together Movement's plans for the short session

7 - 7:30 pm          Dr. Barber and program speakers available for media interviews 

Any questions or requests from media should be directed to Sarah Bufkin, NC NAACP, at smbufkin@gmail.com and 404.285.3413 or Cynthia Gordy, Advancement Project, at cgordy@advancementproject.org and 202.341.0555.

    

###

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. The NC Conference of NAACP Branches is 70 years old this year and is made up of over 100 Adult, Youth and College NAACP units across the state, convenes more than 160 members of the Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ) People's Assembly Coalition, and is the architect of the Moral Monday & Forward Together Movement.