Why We Must Keep Our Eyes on Jones Street - Presented by NC NAACP President at HKonJ News Conference

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2012

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

                                                Mrs. Amina Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

Why We Must Keep Our Eyes on Jones Street: 

The General Assembly, The People's House

Presented by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, NC NAACP

HKonJ Press Conference

Saturday, January 28, 2012  9:00 AM

North Carolina Mutual Building - Durham, NC

(DURHAM) - We are pleased to welcome the President and CEO of the National NAACP, Benjamin Todd Jealous, back to North Carolina to stand with us as we mobilize for our March on Raleigh on February 11, 2012.      

The North Carolina Constitution in the Declaration of Rights says, "All political power is vested in and derived from the people; all government of right originates from the people, is founded upon their will only, and is instituted solely for the good of the whole."

Based on this constitutional right we continue to demand our General Assembly to do right.  The Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ) People's Assembly Coalition Movement continues to grow and now stands united with the North Carolina NAACP State Conference, more than 120 NAACP local units and over 125 partners speaking with one voice to our lawmakers, pushing them to work for the good of the whole. Because we must defend this constitutional right, the HKonJ Coalition will March on Raleigh on Saturday, February 11.      

Beginning in January 2011, a new ultra conservative leadership took over the General Assembly. Their policies and legislation give a whole new meaning to legislative racism, legislative regression, legislative classism, 'trickle down' economics and turning back the clock. Their policies reveal they believe in 'holding down the poor' economics, undermining civil and voting rights and rooting their decisions in the politics of yesterday rather than going forward and working towards a more just society. African Americans, progressive whites, Latinos, other minorities, the unrepresented, the disenfranchised, the poor and the working people of North Carolina need to know: The people now running the General Assembly in Raleigh are not working for the common good.      

We have serious issues to address on the state and national level. Poverty here has grown 22 percent during the recession; over 40% of Black and Latino children live in poverty, while only 14% of white children live in poverty. The median household income in North Carolina has dropped 12.3% since 2007, while the state lost 300,000 jobs.  Roughly ten percent of our workforce is officially unemployed, though the real rate is much higher.  Only six states have higher unemployment; in the South, only Mississippi suffers more joblessness.  Black unemployment is double that of the whole population.  The gap between rich and poor is wider and deeper than during the Great Depression; one percent of Americans own forty percent of the wealth.

            This is not time for the General Assembly to cut hundreds of millions from Medicaid, mental health, and critical services to poor communities.  But that is exactly what they have done.

Over 1.5 million North Carolinians live in poverty.  Children suffer most; 48 of our 100 counties have more than 20 percent of families going without food at times; almost half the children in Vance, Scotland and Robeson sometimes have no food at home.     

The number of children in poverty (2010) in North Carolina is shameful:

• Latino Children-130,743
• White Children-214,487
• African American Children-207,421
• American Indian Children-11,239

These children are not just white, black, brown or red children; they are God's children and our children, and we have to do right by them.

This General Assembly passed the worst budget in decades containing a series of debilitating cuts to education, health care and other vital services. This budget was so severe that Judge Howard Manning ruled it unconstitutional as it applies to pre-Kindergarten funding, denying our most vulnerable 4-year olds educational opportunities.      

Nearly $2 billion is being cut from education (K-12, Community Colleges and universities) over the two-year biennium - (over $800 million from K-12 education, $250 million from Community Colleges, and $700 million from universities).

We have almost 5,000 fewer K-12 school personnel in the current budget compared to last year. More will have to be cut next year.

They attacked democracy itself.  In 2011 we saw redistricting used as an attempt to segregate the black vote.  The same forces that use purported compliance with the Voting Rights Act as an excuse to obtain partisan advantage filed a lawsuit to overturn the Voting Rights Act altogether. They also pushed Voter Photo ID bills that would disfranchise poor, young, minority and elderly voters.  Their race-based maps pack 48% of black voters into just three U.S. House Districts, 52% into just 27 of the 120 State House Districts, and 47% into just ten State Senate Districts.  Many of these districts were already electing African Americans; by removing black voters from majority white districts, they marginalize minority influence. And they are attempting to write discrimination based on sexuality into the state constitution.      

They also unveiled another, even more ambitious elections law rewrite in the closing hours of the 2011 session.  This measure would, among other things, repeal same-day voter registration, ban straight-ticket voting, shorten the early-voting period by a week, ban early voting on Sundays, repeal publicly-financed elections for three statewide offices, and create a new type of account for political parties to accept corporate money. GOP leaders are also holding back millions of dollars in federal Help America Vote Act funds that would help local boards of election expand access to the ballot in 2012.    

They undercut justice in our courts.  Our General Assembly tried to kill the Racial Justice Act, which gives the courts a chance to ensure that racism does not drive anyone's death sentence.  They also slashed funding to Indigent Defense Services, often the only hope for young black men and women to escape an often unequal justice system.

In the People's House, where we are supposed to serve the good of the whole, a new majority has chosen to serve the whims of the few.

The situation is clear: This Coalition must continue to vigorously advocate our 14-point HKonJ Legislative Agenda until all the points, so fundamental to justice and human rights in North Carolina, are addressed.      

This is why we must March on Jones Street on February 11. And this is why we must stay eternally vigilant.

In this moment, we must redouble our efforts and declare in both words and deeds:

Forward Together, Not One Step Back: We will not be divided or defeated

Forward Together Not One Step Back: WE DEMAND Liberty and Justice for All

Forward Together Not One Step Back: WE DEMAND ECONOMIC JUSTICE

Forward Together Not One Step Back: We the People Shall Not be Moved

This is why we must have mass mobilization for February 11, mass organization after February 11 and then mass civic and voter participation.

###

Read More

Media Advisory: National NAACP President Travels to NC to Stand With NC NAACP and the HKonJ People's Assembly Coalition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 26, 2012

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

                                                Mrs. Amina Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

National NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Jealous Travels to North Carolina to Stand with North Carolina NAACP and Coalition in Promoting Mass Mobilization for February 11 March on Raleigh

(DURHAM) - National NAACP President Benjamin Todd Jealous is traveling to North Carolina on Saturday to stand with North Carolina NAACP President and National Board Member Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, local NAACP branch presidents and partners in the Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ) People's Assembly Coalition as they announce and discuss the rationale for the 6th HKonJ People's Assembly in February. They will hold a news conference at NC Mutual Life building, 411 West Chapel Hill Street, Durham, NC 27701 on Saturday, January 28 at 9:00 AM.

The themes for this year are "Forward Together, Not One Step Back!" "We Must Stand for Freedom and Defend Democracy" "We Will Not be Defeated or Divided" "We Shall Pursue Liberty and Justice for All" "We the People Shall Not be Moved"

"The nation is watching North Carolina as a crucial state where voting rights and economic justice are under attack," stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. "On February 11th, people of all colors will come together to challenge persistent poverty, unequal education and voter suppression in North Carolina. We will show the nation that America is at its best when we struggle together for inclusiveness, diversity and opportunity."

Voting rights, equitable education for all, combating poverty, jobs and economic justice, the Racial Justice Act, protecting constitutional rights, equal protection under the law and the widespread unjust treatment of immigrants will shape this year's People's Assembly.

"This year's People's Assembly and our March on Jones Street are more important than ever," said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber. "If you believe in voting rights, fighting poverty, funding high quality education for every child and moving North Carolina forwards and not backward, you should march with us on February 11. We must keep an eye on Jones Street, where we have seen ultra conservative extremists in the General Assembly put forward some of the most regressive public policy agendas ever."

Barber continued, "This rally is about mass mobilization for February 11, mass organization after February 11, and mass civic participation. We must stand for a progressive agenda that promotes the "good of the whole" rather than an agenda based on the whims and narrow ideology of a few."

The Historic Thousands on Jones Street People's Assembly Coalition is considered to be one of the nation's broadest and diverse anti-racist, anti-poverty and anti-war coalition movements in the nation. For over fiver years, the Coalition has fought for a 14-point Progressive Legislative Agenda in the NC General Assembly (attached).

###

Read More

Tenn: Stacey Campfield on HIV

Most people realize that AIDS came from the homosexual community — it was one guy screwing a monkey, if I recall correctly, and then having sex with men. It was an airline pilot, if I recall. My understanding is that it is virtually — not completely, but virtually — impossible to contract AIDS through heterosexual sex...very rarely [transmitted]. What's the average lifespan of a homosexual? it's very short. Google it yourself."

One has to wonder what the effing is in the water in Tennessee. If it not the water then, this douchebag is free basing something..

Jonathan had this to say, 

If your brain is reeling from that statement, that's because Campfield's words are such pure-grade bullshit that their gravity becomes infinitely dense, warping space-time to plunge readers 30 years into the past to an era where the lack of information on AIDS fueled a panic that is, unfortunately, alive and well in the state's 7th District Senate office.

if you think that is bad, how about the stuff in the picture below,

Because being just homophobe  isn’t enough, it appears that he a slumlord, so he will take your money and let you live in filth and squalor..  and He thinks men shouldn’t have to support their kids..

Yet somehow this douche got into public office. Question where were all the women groups??

Read More

O What in Hell is wrong with these Parents.

From the Twin Cities Daily Planet

A slew of conservative Christian parents — and even an orthodox rabbi — implored the Anoka-Hennepin School District to purge schools of any mention of homosexuality and demanded that teachers teach about the “ex-homosexual” movement and “gay-related immune deficiency.” One district member even assailed Dan Savage’s It Gets Better campaign as vulgar and accused the popular columnist of teaching children about “three-ways.” Several people testified using little more than versus from the Bible that are often used to demean and degrade the LGBT community.


The controversy in the district is over the sexual orientation curriculum policy also called the “neutrality policy” which says that LGBT issues are not to be discussed in the district’s schools. Six students are suing to eliminate the policy on the grounds that it makes for a hostile school environment and the district announced last month that they are considering scrapping the policy and replacing it with one that deals with “controversial topics” but doesn’t single out LGBT students and issues.

Here I thought our school system was fuck up after all the education cuts, but those parents are really screwing up the kids there..

Read More

NC NAACP Statement on Governor Perdue's Decision Not to Run for Re-Election

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 26, 2012

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

                                                Mrs. Amina Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

(DURHAM) - Gov. Beverly Perdue is a stalwart friend of justice.  With her strong voice and her steady veto-pen, she has stood on the side of justice against the frontal assault against minorities' rights by the ultra conservatives in the General Assembly.  She has taken seriously her oath to uphold the Constitution, which requires those in government to govern for the good of the whole, to protect and strengthen public education, to create economic vitality, to protect civil rights, to ensure equal protection and racial justice under the law.

Gov. Perdue has remained true to her love of all our children and their fullest development.  When she had to choose between what was good for North Carolina children and all of its citizens, and what was good for her own career, she took the road of principle.  This is how history will record of the legacy of the first of many women governors we will have.  The civil rights community prays she will remain strong in the remaining days in office, and that she will continue to fight for the good of the whole . . .for the good of all North Carolinians.

###

Read More

Tenn: Tea Party wants to removed all traces of Slavery from School Books.

Tenn. Tea Party is demanding that references to slavery be removed from history books.

The material calls for lawmakers to amend state laws governing school curriculums, and for textbook selection criteria to say that “No portrayal of minority experience in the history which actually occurred shall obscure the experience or contributions of the Founding Fathers, or the majority of citizens, including those who reached positions of leadership.” Fayette County attorney Hal Rounds, the group’s lead spokesman during the news conference, said the group wants to address “an awful lot of made-up criticism about, for instance, the founders intruding on the Indians or having slaves or being hypocrites in one way or another."

More like- move on, move on nothing to see here.. is more like.

I guess they don’t want it to be know that two presidents brought their slaves to the White House back in the day. That George W. and Benjamin F. owned slaves and that Thomas J. fathered children with one of his Slaves.

No matter what these crazy Tea Baggers do, you can not erase Slavery from our history..

Read More

Finally the Supreme Upholds our Constitution.

Police Can’t place a GPS tracking device on Vehicles without a Warrant.. This is great News..

All nine justices of the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that police officers violated the Fourth Amendment against unreasonable search and seizure when they attached a GPS device to a suspect's car and tracked it for 28 days without a warrant.

The case involved a suspected drug dealer. The feds got a warrant to track his car with a GPS device and then "installed a GPS tracking device on the undercarriage of the Jeep while it was parked in a public parking lot." But agents installed it a day after the warrant had expired and in a location not authorized by the warrant—making the surveillance warrantless. (The feds also had to access the Jeep again a couple weeks later in order to change the GPS tracker's battery "when the vehicle was parked in a different public lot in Maryland.")

there more,

Three of the court's liberals signed a concurrence by Justice Alito, a conservative, that would have taken a stronger pro-privacy stance, holding that extended warrantless tracking itself violates the Fourth Amendment regardless of whether the government committed a trespass to accomplish it.

Read More

The Fight over Amendment 1 (gay marriage) as began in NC

Vote FOR Marriage NC is comprised of a multitude of policy organizations, denominations, and civic groups. Its Executive Committee consists of the Christian Action League, NC Values Coalition, a coalition of African American pastors, NC Baptists, and the National Organization for Marriage (NOM).

 

Yes the NC Values have launch their Marriage Websites, and are getting ready to start their campaign of lies and hate..

My Question is? Is our pro-marriage equality groups Ready???

Read More

What is Sen. Lamar Smith problem, he wants USA to be like Russia or West Germany

Senator Lamar Smith, lead sponsor of the currently dead SOPA bill you’ve heard so much about, has another bill in the works that uses Child Pornography as a screen to push through an amendment that’ll have your internet service provider tracking all of your financial dealings online. Each time you use a credit card, each time you read your bank statement, all of your IP information and your search history will be required by your ISP to be stored for 18 months at all times. This bill is H.R. 1981 and will have more dire consequences than SOPA or PIPA ever had the potential to have.

The bases of the bill

A commercial provider of an electronic communication service shall retain for a period of at least one year a log of the temporarily assigned network addresses the provider assigns to a subscriber to or customer of such service that enables the identification of the corresponding customer or subscriber information under subsection (c)(2) of this section.

Tell you this man must love the Old Russia or West Germany the Nazis.. Talking about Big Brother want to know everything you do..

Read More

North Carolina Family Policy Council: email Gay marriage Amendment

Faith Leaders Affirm Traditional Marriage

January 20, 2012

As pro-homosexual activists gear up to oppose a Marriage Protection Amendment in North Carolina, an impressively broad array of religious leaders have signed an “open letter to all Americans,” affirming the definition of marriage as only between one man and one woman, and warning of the significant threat that marriage redefinition poses to both religious freedom and “the common good.” Released on January

12 by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), the letter, “Marriage and Religious Freedom: Fundamental Goods That Stand or Fall Together,”

<http://www.nae.net/news/714-open-letter-on-marriage-and-religious-freedom>

is signed by religious leaders from a variety of faiths, including:

Leith Anderson, President of the National Association of Evangelicals; Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York and President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops; Bishop David Burton, Presiding Bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; Dr. Richard Land, President of the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission; Commissioner William Roberts, National Commander of The Salvation Army; Reverend Samuel Rodriguez, President of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference; and Nathan Diament, Executive Director for Public Policy for the Union of Orthodox Jewish Conference of America, among others. Read the rest of this entry <http://christianactionleague.org/news/faith-leaders-affirm-traditional-marriage/>

Let the Marriage Games Begin.. don’t forget to Vote on May 8th,2012

Read More

NC NAACP: Today the Court Put a Price on Racism

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 20, 2012

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

                                           Mrs. Amina Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

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

DURHAM - Today the three judge panel hearing the North Carolina NAACP v. State of North Carolina redistricting lawsuit ruled to deny our Motion for Injunctive Relief and with that ruling put a price on racism. The motion requested that the 2012 election cycle be delayed by 45 days in order to give the court time to hear the arguments of the case and render a ruling. The court ruled against delaying the upcoming elections after hearing from the State that the delay could cost six million dollars.

In its ruling, the Court indicated that "it would be incorrect to interpret this ruling as implying a lack of merit to Plantiffs' challenge of the Plans. Plaintiffs, in their challenge, have raised serious issues and arguments about, among other things, the extent to which racial classifications were used in the enactment of these Plans. Nor would it be correct to interpret this decision as minimizing the harm that can be associated with governmental acts that tend to stigmatize and separate citizens by the color of their skin. Such acts are an affront to the dignity of African Americans and, indeed, an affront to the sensibilities of all of us."

The NC NAACP believes that justice does not have a price tag. We believe these maps are unconstitutional and therefore it is fundamentally unfair and unreasonable to hold elections under these maps regardless of the cost to the state. Once the elections are conducted and the office holders in place, there would be no remedy to correct the harm to the people of North Carolina.

We continue this fight because we know the maps adopted by the General Assembly are a scheme to increase the political power of the ultra-conservative leadership in the General Assembly at the expense of the power of the African American vote.

We continue to fight efforts to resegregate our state and diminish the power of the minority vote through cleverly disguised race-based schemes. We will not stand idly by when 48% of the African American voters are packed into just 3 U.S. House Districts, 52% of the African American voters are packed into just 27 of the 120 State House Districts and 47% of the African American voters are packed into just 10 State Senate Districts. The plans unnecessarily and unjustifiably split 563 voting precincts throughout the state, usually along racial lines. Voters in the same neighborhood or same street are split into different political districts.

###

Read More

Grindr: HACKED: The the complains about privacy began…

The Sydney Morning Herald reports:

A popular "meat-market" smartphone app that spawned a sexual revolution in Australia's gay community has been compromised by a Sydney hacker, potentially exposing intimate personal chats, explicit photos and private information of users. The location-aware Grindr app enables gay men to meet other gay men who may be just meters away, making use of their smartphone's Global Positioning System (GPS). It had about 100,000 Australian users as of August last year and more than one million users worldwide. Now a hacker has pushed the app developer into a security crisis that has left its users seriously vulnerable considering the vast amounts of private information traded through the app - in many cases naked photos. The hacker discovered a way to log in as another user, impersonate that user, chat and send photos on their behalf.

Excuse me guys but you are the ones who is butting it out there for all to see, so shut up about being hack, and your photos of your private parts being shown to all.

Read More

NYPD Silencing Protesters For Informing The Public About The NDAA That Has Passed

Protester went to Grand Central Terminal NYC to inform the Public that NDAA passed but was met with arrests.

Read More

Totino's Pizza Rolls Commercial–Show?

Is this a real life look what the future holds for children.. Kids so depended on their parents that they can’t read or look for food in their own freezers..

More and more of these types of commercials are out there, That portrays today’s youths uneducated and right down lazy.. Yet not one is bitching about these commercials, but let a teacher to suggest this to a parent and all living hell breaks lose..

Read More

Is Kay Hagan in the Closet???

Yes she is, and I’m not talking about her sexuality neither.

So what Closet is it that I’m talking about, the Republican one.. Is she a sheep in Wolf clothing?

Kay Hagan is once again on the wrong side of an issue. She also supported (and defended) the bill that allowed for the indefinite detainment of US citizens by the military.

Also we know that she has sold herself to Corp of America..

She more concerned about protecting the $$ of multinationals and less about Americans' freedoms.

So Please Hagan do us the flavor and go head and switch sides now. So we can vote you ass out in the next election and get a true Democrat in there..

Read More

Perdue: 3/4 sales tax Proposal

Gov Perdue would like to bring back the penny sales tax (well3/4 of a penny.)

This tax will to improve our Education system here is NC. Which this would not be problem if the GOP gang in NCGA left this tax in place. I don’t have a problem with this tax.

"It's a fraction of a penny for progress," Perdue said, recapping much of what she talked about Tuesday.

and this

"They can see all that damage now," she said. "They know the reality. These things aren't just smoke and mirrors."

I can only hope that the GOP Douchebags won’t deny this. Since they are the ones who almost destroy the Education systems of NC.. for their own political gain..

Read More

Rick Perry Drops out of the race..

Can you believed it, Perry couldn’t take the heat so he running from the Kitchen.. Maybe this Texan knew we could afford another President from Texas..

Speaking at a news conference in Charleston, South Carolina, Perry said there was "no viable path forward" for his campaign. He said Gingrich has the "heart of a conservative reformer."

The move comes two days before the South Carolina primary and hours before the final debate ahead of the voting, which will take place Thursday night and be broadcast on CNN.

The campaigns of Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum reached out to the Perry campaign Thursday morning in an "aggressive effort" to get his endorsement, according to a source close to Perry.

Sadly he as endorsed Newt Gingrich. With Perry now out of the race, that only leaves Romney, Gingrich, and Santorum as potential winners. I guess we can count our blessing that Palin isn’t running.

Photo Credit to Doneky Hotey, via Flickr

Read More

Senator Beau McCory want to Ban All Cities LGBT Protection

MCCOY: It just merely says that if we’re going to change the protected classes … we need to come to the Capitol to do it so that it’s consistent across the state.

So he has introduced to a bill (lb 912) to ban and prevent municipalities  across the state from creating any nondiscrimination protections, while failing to introduced a statewide bill that would add those items to the state nondiscrimination protections.

So in other words He doesn’t want the cities to out do his sorry ass.

He doesn’t what to protect those who need these protections. He is basically doing what Tennessee did where they invalidated LGBT protections that were passed in Nashville.

Beau McCoy, author of law to revoke and
ban local gay rights ordinances throughout
Nebraska. McCoy (bmccoy@leg.ne.gov)
represents Dist. 39, including parts of Omaha.

Just in case you would like to send a email expressing your concern or outrage.

 

Here is what's in the bill,

LB912 includes the following language:

Sec. 3. (1) It is the purpose of this section to improve
intrastate commerce by ensuring that no county, municipality, or
other political subdivision will subject businesses, organizations,
or employers operating in Nebraska to varied and nonuniform protected
classifications in nondiscrimination laws, ordinances, resolutions,
rules, or policies. Further, it is the purpose of this section to
focus and thereby improve the effectiveness of the efforts of
counties, municipalities, or other political subdivisions to punish
and eliminate discrimination based on the protected classifications
identified in laws enacted by the Legislature.
(2) A county, municipality, or other political
subdivision shall not adopt or enforce a local law, ordinance,
resolution, rule, or policy that creates a protected classification
unless such classification is contained in the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act, the Nebraska Fair Employment Practice Act, the
Nebraska Fair Housing Act, or sections 20-126 to 20-143 or 48-1219 to
48-1227. This subsection does not apply to a law, ordinance,
resolution, rule, or policy that applies only to the employees of the
county, municipality, or other political subdivision.
(3) Any local law, ordinance, resolution, rule, or policy
adopted before the effective date of this act that violates
subsection (2) of this section is null and void.

But you know there is always one bigot involved in these bills. It funny how these GOP’s bigots can always find a Baptist church to back them up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo credit the "Nebraska Unicameral Information Office"

Read More

Military Boats Coming and going In the Chesapeake Bay

These shots were on 19th of August 2011 on the Chesapeake Tunnel Bay Bridge Rest stop.  40mm focal length at Exposure time of 1/500 iso of 400 f/11

Read More

Courtney urges Congress to scrap SOPA

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Joe Courtney today released the following statement urging Congress to scrap the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), and begin work on a new approach to addressing online piracy:

“Online piracy is a serious problem that must be addressed, but doing so should not muzzle free speech, stifle innovation or harm cybersecurity. SOPA as it exists today fails that standard, and it should be scrapped entirely. An axe instead of a scalpel, this bill would unacceptably and fundamentally change the architecture of the internet. The Judiciary Committee should start from scratch and craft a solution that ensures due process from a public entity that resolves infringement issues.

“Over the weekend, the White House urged content creators and internet platform providers to work together on voluntary measures that would reduce online piracy. That is a good start, but I encourage them to include consumers in the discussion as well. Over the past several weeks I have heard from thousands of constituents who are deeply concerned about the bill's approach and the speed at which this process is moving forward. Grassroots activists across the country voiced serious concern with SOPA. Ensuring that their voices are heard from square one will ensure that a viable approach to addressing online piracy emerges in the end.”

###

Read More

The Truth & Hope Tour of Poverty in North Carolina Kicks Off

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 18, 2012

 

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

                                           Mrs. Amina Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

 

For Media Assistance:       Rob Stephens, Office Manager, 336-577-9335 

 

The Truth & Hope Tour of Poverty in North Carolina Kicks Off  

on Thursday, January 19

 

WHAT: The Truth & Hope Tour of Poverty in North Carolina
WHEN: Thursday, January 19 - Friday, January 20
WHO: The North Carolina NAACP, NC Justice Center, and UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity and the Institute for Civic Engagement and Social Change at North Carolina Central University
WHERE: Washington, Roper, Elizabeth City, Winton, Scotland Neck, Rocky Mount 

 

RALEIGH (January 18, 2012) - On Thursday, January 19, the North Carolina NAACP, NC Justice Center, UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity and the Institute for Civic Engagement and Social Change at North Carolina Central University will kick off the first leg of the "Truth and Hope Tour of Poverty in North Carolina," a state-wide tour of rural counties and inner city neighborhoods where North Carolinians struggle to find work, decent housing, transportation, and sufficient food for their families.

 

Departing from Raleigh on Jan. 19, a bus full of activists, reporters, foundation leaders, and scholars will travel through the northeast quadrant of the state, engaging in town hall meetings, sessions with local leaders, and tours of neighborhoods directly affected by poverty.

 

"If we see the faces of poverty, maybe then we will have as a state the moral motivation to do the long, hard, necessary and righteous work of turning this reality around for the good of the whole of our state and nation." said Rev. Dr. William Barber II, chair of the NC State NAACP.

 

A video trailer of the tour, which contains footage from listening sessions, is available online. Click here to view the video. 

 

"We mean, through this modest effort, to illuminate and highlight barriers to opportunity in North Carolina, these moral and social transgressions that hold us all back," said Gene Nichol, director of the UNC Center on Poverty, Work and Opportunity. "We want to do so not simply through data, and statistics, and documents and reports - but through the words and voices and protestations and hopes of those most directly affected."

 

Communities of color have been hit particular hard by the economic crisis. Organizers say the tour is a way to listen as well as a means to highlight the concerns of North Carolinians most affected by poverty and economic injustice.

 

"We want a North Carolina with real opportunity and prosperity for all," said Melinda Lawrence, executive director of the NC Justice Center. "To get there, we have to remember those places hit hardest by the recession - and do the hard work necessary to bring opportunity to the places it is most needed."

 

The tour schedule:

 

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19

 

9:30 a.m. - BEAUFORT COUNTY. Metropolitan AME Zion Church, 102 W. Martin Luther King Jr., Drive, Washington, NC 27889  

 

12:00 p.m. - WASHINGTON COUNTY. Eastern NC & VA Headquarters Building, 111 June Street Roper, NC 27970  

 

6:30 p.m. - PASQUOTANK COUNTY. Elizabeth City State University, K.E. White Graduate Center (Room 130), 1704 Weeksville Road, Elizabeth City, NC 27909    

                                                                                 

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20

 

8:30 a.m. - HERTFORD COUNTY. "Old" C.S. Brown High School, Cafeteria, 101 C.S. Brown Drive, Winton, NC 27986

 

1:00 p.m. - HALIFAX COUNTY. Brawley High School, E. 16th Street, Scotland Neck, NC 27874    

 

4:30 p.m. - EDGECOMBE COUNTY. Rocky Mount OIC, Auditorium, 402 E. Virginia Street, Rocky Mount, NC 27801

 

###

Read More

WOW: 1Million Signatures to Recall the Walker Douchebag

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports:

It would mark the first such gubernatorial recall in state history and would be only the third gubernatorial recall election in U.S. history. Organizers Tuesday also handed in 845,000 signatures against Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch as well as petitions against four GOP state senators including Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau.

The sheer number of signatures being filed against Walker - nearly as many as the total votes cast for the governor in November 2010 and almost twice as many as those needed to trigger a recall election - ensure the election will be held, said officials with the state Democratic Party and United Wisconsin, the group that launched the Walker recall.

"It is beyond legal challenge," said Ryan Lawler, vice chairman of United Wisconsin.

The filing marks a milestone following Walker's controversial legislation ending most union bargaining for public workers. But Democrats have challenges before them to winning a recall election, including Walker's substantial fundraising and their lack of a candidate.

Can you believe this, to bad we here in NC can’t recall some the douchebags in the NCGA…

Read More

O’ What in Gay Hell.

Ok, so where are the books on Preventing the following,

1. Teen suicides
2. Bigotry
3. racism
4. stupidity
5. Rape
6. Child abuse by Religious leaders
7. teen pregnancy

and so on..

Read More

Graphic Artists Guild is piss over a Contest for the DNC.

To the latest headache for the DNC: Late last month the Graphic Artists Guild sent a letter to Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz calling a poster contest run by the convention leadership "shameful" for underpaying graphic artists in violation of the guild's ethical and professional guidelines.

First off, it should be known that many Graphic artists’ works never see the light of day. Just like most photographers work. Most of these Artists sit and wait for their big day, hoping someone will give them a chance. For many this Contest is the very chance they are waiting for. Also it’s a way for them to show their work to the world. 

I know this was the case for me. I' consider myself  an amateur photographer; who is still waiting for my million dollar image. I was lucky enough once to get paid for my work.

One day back in summer of 1998 I was lucky enough to photograph a terrible auto accident. The driver of a medical supply truck hit the back of a propane tanker. Busting off the main valve and sitting off the gas.

A house was completely burned to the ground, the driver of the propane truck die inside of the cab. It took three fire depts. over 6 hours to putt this fire out, while till the all the propane burnt out that is. All they could do was to stop the other two homes catching on fire.

I told over 6 rolls of film of the fire. While standing on the sidelines, a news reporter from VA Beach asks me if I plan to sell any stops to my local paper. I told her no, since their photographer was on the scene. She suggested that I try VA pilot in Va Beach, since they are a daily paper and my local was a weekly one. I took her advice and travel to VA Beach. The paper brought ten shots of the accident and fire. This was the first time I was paid and publish in a newspaper.

Read More

VA Judge Says No to Perry

Rick Perry keeps trying—and failing—to get his name on Virginia's primary ballot.

Read it at MSNBC First Read

Following the reasoning of the federal judge who rejected Perry's request last week, a three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond said Perry "had every opportunity to challenge the various Virginia ballot requirements at a time when the challenge would not have created the disruption that this last-minute lawsuit has."

As usual Perry already thinks he is above the law..

Read More

US Congress Now want to take your US Citizenship away

The Enemy Expatriation Act (H.R. 3166; S. 1698), an act that the U.S. Congress is now considering, that will allow the U.S. Government to take away citizenship of anybody that is considered a hostile enemy or supporting hostility towards the U.S. Government, is similar to the Nazi Factions Nuremberg laws where Adolf Hitler took away Germans citizenship based on race, bloodtypes, and those against the Hitler regime.

 

S. 1698: Enemy Expatriation Act

112^th Congress: 2011-2012

A bill to add engaging in or supporting hostilities against the United States to the list of acts for which United States nationals would lose their nationality.

Sponsor: Sen. Joseph Lieberman [I-CT]

Status: This bill is in the first step in the legislative process. Explanation: Introduced bills and resolutions first go to committees that deliberate, investigate, and revise them before they go to general debate. The majority of bills and resolutions never make it out of committee. [Last Updated: Oct 18, 2011 6:22AM]

Shock to see this is by a Democrat,

 

Sen. Joseph Lieberman [I-CT]

U.S. Senator, Connecticut

State:
Connecticut [map]

Party:
Democrat

Birthday:
Feb 24, 1942 / 69 years old

To contact Joseph Lieberman, visit his official website. (Read our tips for communicating with Congress.) See the Project Vote Smart page for Lieberman for more biographical and issue information.

Read More

Has Kay Hagan sold herself to Corp-America?

From EdCone.com,

Why do Kay Hagan and Mel Watt support legislation that would harm the open internet?

The rest of NC's honorable are as yet undeclared; more here on finding out who backs SOPA and PIPA.

More here.

Another shock move by Hagan. I thought she would never out do herself after one,

A BILL

To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to modify provisions relating to the exemption for computer systems analysts, computer programmers, software engineers, or other similarly skilled workers.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

The short is, the bill would allow Corps to stop paying over time to its IT workers.. work 65 hours one week would be equal to reg. pay.. not time and half..

It would seem to me that Kay Hagan is selling out her constituency for big under the table paydays..

Did Pam Spaulding hit the nail on the head of Kay's Problem,

U.S. Senator Kay Hagan has a communications closet problem. While the North Carolina Democrat is a supporter of LGBT rights generally – she voted in favor of the current federal hate crimes law and to repeal DADT, she has a history of trying to fly under the public radar in doing so, as if the right wing isn’t going to notice her voting record.

In 2010 she voted to end DADT, while after claiming  support for the Dream Act to those who live in her district, she voted against in 2010..  I firmly believe on the DADT and Dream Act there as some horse trading, between Burr and herself

So where does Hagan stand on current issues? It seem she more for Corp America then for the people who elected her to office..

Read More

MITT ROMNEY Fights with Reporter After Being EXPOSED as a LIAR

Uploaded by RestoreConstitution8 on Jan 9, 2012

Please spread this video aggressively now! Mitt Romney is for special interests, not the American People! It critical that Mitt Romney NOT win New Hampshire Primary! you know you head the nail on the head when after Conf. they come for you.

Read More

Canadian Government: 1000′s Of Foreign Same Sex Marriages Are Now Not Valid

the Canadian government, has issued a statement that those marriages are now NOT LEGAL if the couples had no right to marry in their home countries.

The Harper government has served notice that thousands of same-sex couples who flocked to Canada from abroad since 2004 to get married are not legally wed. The reversal of federal policy is revealed in a document filed in a Toronto test case launched recently by a lesbian couple seeking a divorce. Wed in Toronto in 2005, the couple have been told they cannot divorce because they were never really married – a Department of Justice lawyer says their marriage is not legal in Canada since they could not have lawfully wed in Florida or England, where the two partners reside.

The government’s hard line has cast sudden doubt on the rights and legal status of couples who wed in Canada after a series of court decisions opened the floodgates to same-sex marriage. The mechanics of determining issues such as tax status, employment benefits and immigration have been thrown into legal limbo. The two women – professionals in the their early 30s – cannot be identified under a court order. But Martha McCarthy, a prominent Toronto lawyer who represents them, said the government’s about-face is astonishing

Read More

Thom Tillis is losing it..

First I can’t believe that Thom tweets this, I bet he will claim it was a staffer..

If Tillis and his stupid pretty so-called grown men keep attacking education like they are doing now, that number will continue to drop, till one day the Federal gov’t steps in and takes over NC’s Education system.. Do we really want that. Its bad enough that we 49th in education..

Tillis need to get a grip and open his eyes, he is not protecting the kids of NC, he is in face destroying their lives before they can even have one.

read more here

is this before are after you cause every teacher in this state to lose their jobs…

Read More

Cop Tells Children Not to Buy Lemonade!

More cops that don't like to be recorded in pulic, but you know if you touch their cameras while filming, you would be under arrest...

Female office breaks the law,but you know she won't be arrest because of the blue law.. Cops out of control.. Police state in DC

Read More

U.S. Marines urinating on the bodies of alleged members of the Taliban.

This is really making us look bad guys..  full story here

"Headquarters Marine Corps has recently been made aware of a video that portrays Marines urinating on what appear to be deceased members of the Taliban," the USMC statement said. "While we have not yet verified the origin or authenticity of this video, the actions portrayed are not consistent with our core values and are not indicative of the character of the Marines in our Corps." The video surfaced on several websites early Wednesday. On one website, the member who posted the video identified the Marines as belonging to the 3/2 Marine battalion out of Camp Lejeune. The battalion served in the northern Helmand Province in Afghanistan last summer.

ABC hide the face,, but in the video they are not hidden at all.. These Five men need discharged..

Read More

You just gotta love these Wack-out Religious leaders

Read More

The Vote Against Project

Here's an easy way to take a public stand against the amendment

The Vote Against Project - Welcome! from Vote Against Project on Vimeo.

Lend your face to the cause. Tour dates below the fold. Find out when the photo shoot will be happening near you!

Vote Against Project

Read More

A Democrat will try to out Foxx from her district

Yes finally someone is running against this Hag of hate and stupidity.  Well it seems to will challenging her for her seat.. Lets hope one of  them will win,so we can put this fox out in the wilds of NC hills..

Elisabeth Motsinger, a Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school board member and  Wilkes County Democratic Party Chairwoman Treva Johnson are hoping to unseat Foxx this year.

Let’s not forget that voted against helping the victims of Katrina, and against the Voting Rights Act of 2006. The first bill sponsored by Foxx to have been signed into law since 2006, the Hero Act, signed by President Bush on Memorial Day, 2006, allows U.S. troops to increase their retirement savings by investing a portion of their combat pay into Individual Retirement Accounts.

We all know how she feels about the LGBT community.. So really lower herself worth when she told member of Congress that Matt’ death was hoax in front of late Matt’s mother who was sitting in the gallery.

Matthew Shepard Act

In April 2009, Foxx expressed opposition to the Matthew Shepard Act, claiming that the murder of Matthew Shepard was not a hate crime. While debating the act at the House of Representatives, which was attended by Matthew Shepard's mother, she called the incident a "very unfortunate incident" but also "we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay." She continued that "It's really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing hate crimes bills.” However, that statement is disputed by the police reports, the ensuing police investigation and by the trial testimony of the accused themselves. She was criticized by several media outlets and some congressional colleagues for that statement. It was also noted that Matthew Shepard's mother was present at the time.

Yet the boys told the judge in court, that they chose him because he was gay. I can only guess she didn’t have her glasses on,where she reading that part in the newspapers..

Let’s hope this year one of these to fine people can unseat her bigoted ass right out of office..

Read More

Here we go again, will there be Hostages?

As of last week, extended benefits recipients who visited the Division of Employment Security’s website got a nasty shock – a red-letter warning that their benefits were expected to run out on Jan 28th.

So will what will the Berger-Tillis Gang do about? I mean they claim to have pass many jobs bills, wait where is that list of new jobs.? 

Will the B&T Gang hold the unemployed of NC once again as political hostages, to get what they want?

remember this

Last spring, Democratic Governor Bev Perdue and Republican legislative leaders got into a heated political battle over exactly the same problem. That standoff lasted seven weeks, affecting nearly 50,000 people.

Read More

Bus Confrontation Caught on Video in Bellflower

This is why the cops that want you to  record them in Public,, Watch the bald headed Cop.

View more videos at: http://nbclosangeles.com.

Read More

NEWS CONFERENCE ALERT: NC NAACP and HKonJ People's Assembly Coalition Announces 6th Annual March on Raleigh

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 11, 2012

 

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

                                           Mrs. Amina Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

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

 

(DURHAM) - A week after extremist leaders in the NC Legislature forced a vote on teachers' rights, the Historic Thousands on Jones Street People's Assembly Coalition announces it will bring thousands from across the state to protest these attacks on basic human rights.The North Carolina NAACP and partners in the Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ) People's Assembly Coalition will gather outside the NC General Assembly (16 W. Jones Street) on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 4:00 PM to announce the 6th Annual HKonJ People's Assembly in Raleigh, NC.  The sixth straight People's Assembly is set for a month from now--February 11, 2012.  

In the case of rain, the news conference will take place inside the General Assembly in room 1228, next to the Press Conference Room.  

"In the face of the extreme right wing's attacks on voting rights, public education, workers, women, voting rights, public services to poor people and minorities, and in light of the lack of commitment to address the economic crisis, create jobs or deal with poverty by the leadership of the NC General Assembly, the anti-racist, anti-poverty and progressive movement in North Carolina announces today the 6th Annual Historic Thousands on Jones Street People's Assembly in Raleigh," says Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, president of the NC NAACP.  

 

"While the extremists violate minority rights after midnight, when they hope no one is watching or listening, we convene our 6th Annual HKonJ People's Assembly on Saturday morning, February 11th, 2012 in broad daylight," Barber continued. "Our coalition is broad and deep; we welcome all people who believe in doing what is best for the good of the whole.  The midnight tactics of the right wing will not prevail.  The people's movement will never back down.  We will never give in to these regressive forces."

 

The annual People's Assembly gathers at the historic Shaw University at 9:30 AM Saturday, February 11, 2012 and marches to the General Assembly on Jones Street. The theme for this year's People's Assembly is "Forward Together, Not One Step Back!"

 

The Coalition will also announce a visit by National NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Jealous to take place later this month.

 

"The nation is watching North Carolina as a crucial state where voting rights and economic justice are under attack," stated NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous. "On February 11th, people of all colors will come together to challenge persistent poverty, unequal education and voter suppression in North Carolina. We will show the nation that America is at its best when we struggle together for inclusiveness, diversity and opportunity."

 

###

 

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.

Read More

Ok, What is wrong with this Picture???

Read More

And you thought NC Education cuts were bad.. Check out Pennsylvania cuts to education..

The Chester Upland School District in Delaware County, Pennsylvania suffered a serious setback when Gov. Tom Corbett (R) slashed $900 million in education funds from the state budget. The cuts landed hardest on poorer districts, and Chester Upland, which predominantly serves African-American children and relies on state aid for nearly 70 percent of its funding, expects to fall short this school year by $19 million.

The teachers have agree that many would still work as long as they could.. why not getting paid..

The Governor decided it was more important to protect the special interest groups tax breaks instead of providing an education for the poorest kids in PA.. It would seem that Big Oil and Gas and Tobacco has PA Governor in their pockets..

Teachers going with out pay..  While here in NC Tillis claim they only teach for the money.. and they don’t care about the kids..  Gov. Tom Corbett is a fucking crook who should be arrest for placing the welfare of the gas, oil and tobacco companies above the education of PA children.

He slashed $900 million, then praises the 80 million in grants for education programs..

And I bet this statement is a true fucking lie, thought up by a PR firm for his sorry ass self,

“I know, from my time spent as a teacher and with my own two children, that a
one-size-fits-all approach to education does not create a successful learning
environment,” Corbett said. “Our students need quality options that fit their
academic abilities and their aspirations for the future. We must have educators who
are prepared and capable of meeting the needs of our diverse student population.”

Fun Facts: via Wikipedia.org,

Budget

Corbett became governor on January 18, 2011. One of his first actions was the proposal of a new state budget that would decrease spending by 3%. The proposed budget received significant criticism due to its cuts in state-supported higher education by 50%. Under the new budget, funding granted to the 14 universities of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and state-related universities Penn State, Pittsburgh, Temple, and Lincoln would be cut in half, totaling $625 million. Corbett has said, however, that he will not attempt to limit collective bargaining, as have Republican Governors John Kasich of Ohio and Scott Walker of Wisconsin.^[15]

Natural gas

As governor, Corbett maintains that Pennsylvania should not tax the natural gas industry.^[16][17] In February 2011, Corbett repealed a four month old policy regulating natural gas drilling in park land, deeming it "unnecessary and redundant" according to a spokesperson. The Pennsylvania Democratic Party called the repeal a "payoff" to oil and gas interests which donated a million dollars to Corbett's campaign.^[18] According to Corbett, "had they not given me a dime, I would still be in this position, saying we need to grow jobs in Pennsylvania.".^[19]

I can only hope that our Teachers would do the same if Tillis and his crooks did what Corbett did.. Just to prove to Tillis that they aren't solely in it for the money..

Read More

GOProud endorses Romney..

Read More

Pope Benedict XVI: Same Sex Marriage is bad, yet messing with young children is ok

Pope Benedict XVI today unleashed some of his strongest antigay rhetoric yet, telling diplomats from about 180 countries that same-sex marriage threatens “the future of humanity itself.”

You gotta love those Pope’s they don’t like the gays or same sex marriage, but have the nerves to cover up the sexual abuse of young boys and then protect their priests by moving them around.

Reuters reports:

He told diplomats from nearly 180 countries that the education of children needed proper “settings” and that “pride of place goes to the family, based on the marriage of a man and a woman.”

“This is not a simple social convention, but rather the fundamental cell of every society. Consequently, policies which undermine the family threaten human dignity and the future of humanity itself,” he said.

Wasn’t this the same type of message that the Nazis and Hitler had about the Jews.  Also don’t forget that this Pope has an involvement with the Nazis youth Movement. Maybe he wishing for those wonder days of his youth to come again.. 

Read More

Tillis and his Gop-gang isn’t going to like this…

newsobserver.com @newsobserver

Judge grants embattled NC teachers' association a temporary delay on last week's dues legislation: bit.ly/zPbFru

The NC Association of Educators won a small victory by getting a Judge to order a temporary restraining order, putting the mid-nite override bill on hold.

This vote will be the undoing of the NCGA GOP. Tillis is face a backlash over this vote, where is claims that they had the right to do.. But we all know if the was reverse they would be doing the complaining and whining about it. That the Dem’s over step their power and so on.. Its ok when they do, not when the other side does..

I can only hope that this will wake up NC citizens, so they can see what the GOP is doing to our state before it too late..

NCAE President Sheri Strickland said “This law is an attempt to bully us into silence.”

Read More

NC LGBT Event Also Draw these young Bigots

It's funny how its always the young bigots who shows up to make their so-called religious case against Same Sex Marriage and Homosexuality.. I guess they learn this from their parents and grandparents, who are just to old and afraid to look us in the face.

Read More

Ok, Where everything now days equals a crime.

Recently in or near Chesterfield, Va. A young child shared their snack with another child at school while at recess. The child didn’t know that the other child had an allergy to Peanuts. The child with the allergy told a teacher and the teacher reacted fast, However the child died.

Knowing how most cops and DA just love destroying the lives of children when they make a childhood decision/mistake. Not knowing what they did wrong or why its was wrong. The DA wants to make a example of the child and press charges against the child.. Which these day there is really no juvenile court.. kids being trialed as adults.. just wrong…

I’m wouldn’t be shocked in the future to see that the child who share their snack be arrested and charge with some type of charge.. I’m sure the parents of the child who died will be suing the other child parents, Claiming their child should have known better..

We have become a society that has to blame and punish someone for everything and then sue sue sue sue..

Read More

Thom Tillis: NC’s Very Own JackAss..

here is a video, make sure you check out the comments on YouTube

Read More

Cindy Jacobs: God told me, he is going to send a Blizzard to Wiped out Gay Rights.

Well someone please get this poor women some mental help please, are get her off what ever she is taking or smoking..

Read More

NC NAACP Statement on Midnight Veto Override Vote

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 5, 2012

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

                                           Mrs. Amina Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

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

(DURHAM) The current leaders of the General Assembly believe they can hide their shameful acts in the darkness of the night. They need to know we are watching. No amount of darkness will mask the disgraceful acts they continue to carry out.   

Under the cover of darkness, in an unscheduled late-night legislative session, the ultra-conservative Republican leaders in the General Assembly used trickery and distortion to attack North Carolina's teachers and overturn one of Governor Perdue's vetoes.  The legislature met in Raleigh yesterday to take up only one issue, an override of Senate Bill 9, a bill that would repeal the Racial Justice Act.  When it became apparent the votes were not available to override the bill, the tea party backed majority leadership of the legislature called another unannounced special session to convene just after midnight so they could take up other issues that were not on the agenda.  This unannounced session was intended to take advantage of the fact five Democrats were absent due to illness, deaths in the family and foreign travel and that as the night dragged on other members had to leave due to illness or age.

They used this unconstitutional and unethical session in the middle of the night to consider overriding three more of Governor Perdue's vetoes, the Voter ID bill (H351), the drilling/fracking bill (S709) and Senate Bill 727, which stops the North Carolina Association of Educators from collecting dues from teachers' paychecks via payroll deduction.  They were successful in overriding Senate Bill 727, a bill that was introduced merely as retaliation against the teachers' union for opposing the destructive budget bill passed last summer. The budget bill was another regressive and harmful bill that was taken up in a midnight session of the General Assembly last summer in an effort to escape the eyes of the public.

We will continue to fight against these regressive forces that are trying to take North Carolina backwards.

###

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.

Read More

You look petty and vindictive NC GOP

so to the point..

Read More

The Crooks of NCGA are at it once again..

sources, newspaper, twitter, blogs

Lets see, The GOP hold a late night/early Morning session, to try to override a few Veto Bills. The main one was the Racial Justice Act, which the GOP make it sound these folks would be simply able to walk out of prisons which isn’t so.

But, they instead they vote on and override the NCAE bill,

Just after 1 a.m. today, in a secreted session critics called unconstitutional, Republican legislative leaders passed a bill aimed at weakening the state's largest teachers association.Two Democrats -- state Reps. William Brisson and Jim Crawford -- broke party ranks to join Republicans in a 69 to 45 vote to override Perdue's veto of the measure, Senate Bill 727. The 1:12 a.m. vote means teachers who belong to the N.C. Association of Educators can no longer have their NCAE dues deducted automatically from their paychecks.

This bill was a revenge bill period.. Revenge, Yes.

how you might ask, this is how, taken for the Greensboro & the Triad Newspaper.

So why single out NCAE?

The teachers group has used their organization’s funding and membership to oppose House Republicans both during the 2010 elections and when the General Assembly convened in 2011. In particular, the group worked to pressure five Democrats who sided with Republicans on the state budget to flip their votes. It was particularly vocal about cuts to education funding.

During a House Republican Caucus meeting, which would normally be secret but was accidentally broadcast to the state legislative press room in June, Tillis made clear that the check off bill was constructed to punish the teacher’s group.

“The reason we’ve decided to do that is the NCAE has gone into all five districts with mailers hammering these Democrats,” Tillis said. “We just want to give them a little taste about what’s to come.”

Lewis said he was told by House Republicans that its group had become a target because of its political advocacy.

“The Republicans in the General Assembly didn’t have the votes to get what they wanted legally," Perdue said in a written statement. "So, in the dark of night, they engaged in an unprecedented, unconstitutional power grab. I am saddened for the people of North Carolina that the Republicans abused their power and chose this destructive path.”

Yet, we know if the Democrats try these backhanded and backroom deals the Republicans in the NCGA would be cry foul like  a bunch of Screaming Queens.

But we know that GOP is mostly made up of a bunch crooks and lairs.

However you can bet that their will a lawsuit over this override vote bill, which will cost the state more money.. Which I sure will be more then these $50,000 sessions at NCGA…

Read More