NAPAL Day of Action in Raleigh

Our Day of Action has arrived! With so many anti-choice measures being introduced and enacted at the general assembly, it’s more important than ever to stand up for choice in our state.

First, we are fighting H.B.854, or, as we call it, the “Women Know Nothing” bill, which requires state-scripted “counseling” and mandatory delays for women seeking abortion care in North Carolina. A measure to defund Planned Parenthood is also advancing in both the state House and Senate. These are just some of the bills being introduced by the anti-choice legislators at the General Assembly. 

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, Planned Parenthood Health Systems, Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina, NC NOW, and other pro-choice groups across the state for a day dedicated to fighting back against the politically-charged attempts to restrict women's health care in North Carolina, jam-packed full of advocacy opportunities and chances to take action!

1pm: Visibility event/rally on Halifax Mall (to the right of the Legislative Office Building, 300 N. Salisbury St., Raleigh).

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Sarah Palin Lies about he Debt..

From ThinkProgress:

This is flatly false. When Obama took office the debt stood at $10.6 trillion. After inheriting two wars and the worst economy since the Great Depression, the debt has grown by $3.7 trillion since Obama has been in office. Palin is off by about $7 trillion.

Sarah Palin wouldn’t know the facts if they hit her in the face..

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Its Ok for Him to do it.

Via The Progressive Pulse,

Got frustrated Cause Marc Basnight had slipped a provision in the budget taking power away from the state insurance Commissioner,

Fast-forward a year defended a budget that includes special provisions that takes power away from the Attorney General..

It’s only ok for the GOP of the Houses on Jones St., to strip power away from State Department heads.. Not for the Dem’s to do.. What a Hypocrite.

Tuesday, now President Pro Tem Berger stood before reporters and defended a budget that includes dozens of special provisions including one that takes power away from the Attorney General in the redistricting process and another one that places handcuffs on state environmental regulators. 

I wonder why the GOP wants to take power away from the State AG, for any way..Protecting one’s own.. is the business of the day.

I smell rats on Jones St.. someone need to call the pest controller..

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NATIONAL NAACP RELEASES STATEMENT DECRYING ARREST OF NORTH CAROLINA STATE PRESIDENT AND SIX OTHER ACTIVISTS

For Immediate Release

May 31, 2011

For More Information:         Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, President, 919-394-8137

                                                Amina Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

                                                Jennifer W. Marsh, Legal Redress Coordinator, 919-682-4700

May 31, 2011

NATIONAL NAACP RELEASES STATEMENT DECRYING ARREST OF NORTH CAROLINA STATE PRESIDENT AND SIX OTHER ACTIVISTS 

Challenges Misguided Massive Budget Cuts in Public Education and Human Service, Unjust Withholding of 45,000 Unemployment Benefits, and Direct Attacks on Voting Rights

With a symbolic act of civil disobedience on Tuesday, May 24, 2011, the North Carolina NAACP State Conference and a coalition of faith, civic and other organizations stepped up a mounting campaign to challenge "extreme right-wing policies" throughout the state. Reverend Dr. William Barber II, president of the North Carolina State Conference, and several faith and community-based leaders were arrested after a session of the North Carolina House during which they gathered to protest sweeping budget cuts to education and social services.

"These types of cuts only serve to hurt the middle class and the poor and will not make our nation better," remarked NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. "The courage of Reverend Dr. Barber and the other leaders who were arrested shows the unyielding resolve that we must all exhibit to protect America's promise for hard working North Carolina families."

During Tuesday's legislative session, Rev. Barber and a multiracial group of six other faith and civil rights leaders were handcuffed and arrested in the gallery of the North Carolina General Assembly after vocalizing their disapproval of a spending plan that would drastically cut critical funding to education and social services.

"What doth the Lord require?" Rev. Dr. William J. Barber asked the Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Tom Tillis, last Tuesday.  Tillis answered by ordering the arrest of N.C. NAACP President Barber and six other NAACP and the HKonJ Emergency Coalition.  Tillis ordered the small General Assembly Security Force to arrest Rev. Barber, Rev. Curtis Gatewood, Rev. T. Anthony Spearman, Rev. Kojo Nantambu, Rob Stephens, Tim Hodges, and David LaMotte from the N.C. Council of Churches.

Tillis had, apparently, made a decision to close House debate before 4pm which was the same time the well-publicized Emergency Call to Action rally set to start a few yards from the House Gallery.  Despite the arrest, scores of NAACP and other activists still led the 350-person rally in a spirited speak-out against the extremists' massive budget cuts to public schools, human services, 45,000 workers' unemployment benefits, and direct attacks on the voting rights of people of color, students and older people.

"North Carolina is in a state of emergency," stated Barber. "The civil, education, economic and voting rights of North Carolina citizens are under a frontal attack by ultra-extreme, right wing elements who want to return our state to the dark days of division, segregation and economic despair."

The leaders were released Wednesday morning and vowed to continue to advocate for smart policies and budgets that will protect the rights of all North Carolinians.

"Our state can do better than the direction we are headed," added Barber. "The State of North Carolina has come too far to take a step back. The North Carolina NAACP and members of the HKonJ coalition will continue to organize, educate and empower communities across the state to keep moving North Carolina forward."

The HKonJ is a statewide coalition of labor, faith, civic and civil rights organizations. Last year, the coalition organized a demonstration of over 8,000 people to oppose attempts to resegregate the schools and march for job creation policies and equal protection under the law.

In addition to the budget cuts in education and human services, the North Carolina General Assembly is also considering a voter ID bill that would disenfranchise poor and minority voters, repealing same day registration, as well as holding up 45,000 unemployment benefits for eligible workers. In Wake County, the local board just rolled back support for a highly-touted socioeconomic-based student assignment program that prevented segregation in the district.

"The actions of the right wing-led legislature on Tuesday are emblematic of the attempts across the country to decimate the rights of average citizens and working people. From Florida to Wisconsin, Missouri to Arizona, we are seeing a coordinated attempt to turn the clock back on our nation's progress. The NAACP will not sit idly by with so much at stake," said Jealous.

The North Carolina NAACP and HKonJ plan to launch a 20 county tour across the state to ensure citizens are aware of the devastating effects the budget cuts will have on their lives and the lives of their children.

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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Senator Meredith on the Budget

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NC Senator Jim Davis on the State Budget

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NCGA Tweets

#NCPOL #NCGOV Key point in John Hood's take on the #NCGA budget deal: "Are there provisions in the new budge… Read more

Compromise budget heads to Senate floor. My story with full audio - including GOP/Dem press conferences: http://ow.ly/57do3 #NCGA

John Hood analyzes the politics of the new N.C. budget deal. #ConsNC #ncga #ncpol http://ow.ly/57rOQ

We can no longer afford to consider the "intentions" of any government program. Show us the measured outcome. #tcot #gop #p2 #teaparty #ncga

Yes this Morning its more Tweets about the Budget and Tolls..

and the involuntarily sterilization of 80K African-American women, the Abortion of 12m AA Babies..

Today in Raleigh and on Twitter will be very interesting…

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Press Release From President Obama

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 31, 2011

LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER PRIDE MONTH, 2011

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

The story of America's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community is the story of our fathers and sons, our mothers and daughters, and our friends and neighbors who continue the task of making our country a more perfect Union. It is a story about the struggle to realize the great American promise that all people can live with dignity and fairness under the law.  Each June, we commemorate the courageous individuals who have fought to achieve this promise for LGBT Americans, and we rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of equal rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Since taking office, my Administration has made significant progress towards achieving equality for LGBT Americans.  Last December, I was proud to sign the repeal of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy.  With this repeal, gay and lesbian Americans will be able to serve openly in our Armed Forces for the first time in our Nation's history.  Our national security will be strengthened and the heroic contributions these Americans make to our military, and have made throughout our history, will be fully recognized.

My Administration has also taken steps to eliminate discrimination against LGBT Americans in Federal housing programs and to give LGBT Americans the right to visit their loved ones in the hospital.  We have made clear through executive branch nondiscrimination policies that discrimination on the basis of gender identity in the Federal workplace will not be tolerated. I have continued to nominate and appoint highly qualified, openly LGBT individuals to executive branch and judicial positions.  Because we recognize that LGBT rights are human rights, my Administration stands with advocates of equality around the world in leading the fight against pernicious laws targeting LGBT persons and malicious attempts to exclude LGBT organizations from full participation in the international system.  We led a global campaign to ensure "sexual orientation" was included in the United Nations resolution on extrajudicial execution -- the only United Nations resolution that specifically mentions LGBT people -- to send the unequivocal message that no matter where it occurs, state-sanctioned killing of gays and lesbians is indefensible.  No one should be harmed because of who they are or who they love, and my Administration has mobilized unprecedented public commitments from countries around the world to join in the fight against hate and homophobia.

At home, we are working to address and eliminate violence against LGBT individuals through our enforcement and implementation of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act.  We are also working to reduce the threat of bullying against young people, including LGBT youth. My Administration is actively engaged with educators and community leaders across America to reduce violence and discrimination in schools.  To help dispel the myth that bullying is a harmless or inevitable part of growing up, the First Lady and I hosted the first White House Conference on Bullying Prevention in March. Many senior Administration officials have also joined me in reaching out to LGBT youth who have been bullied by recording "It Gets Better" video messages to assure them they are not alone.

This month also marks the 30th anniversary of the emergence of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, which has had a profound impact on the LGBT community.  Though we have made strides in combating this devastating disease, more work remains to be done, and I am committed to expanding access to HIV/AIDS prevention and care. Last year, I announced the first comprehensive National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States.  This strategy focuses on combinations of evidence-based approaches to decrease new HIV infections in high risk communities, improve care for people living with HIV/AIDS, and reduce health disparities. My Administration also increased domestic HIV/AIDS funding to support the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program and HIV prevention, and to invest in HIV/AIDS-related research.  However, government cannot take on this disease alone.  This landmark anniversary is an opportunity for the LGBT community and allies to recommit to raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and continuing the fight against this deadly pandemic.

Every generation of Americans has brought our Nation closer to fulfilling its promise of equality.  While progress has taken time, our achievements in advancing the rights of LGBT Americans remind us that history is on our side, and that the American people will never stop striving toward liberty and justice for all.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2011 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month.  I call upon the people of the United States to eliminate prejudice everywhere it exists, and to celebrate the great diversity of the American people.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth.

BARACK OBAMA

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