Undeterred by Extremists' Attempts to Silence Us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE,

May 16, 2014

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

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

Undeterred by Extremists' Attempts to Silence Us, the North Carolina NAACP and the Forward Together Moral Movement Return to Raleigh for Moral Monday on May 19

Why Moral Mondays Are Back - Press Conference

4:15 pm on May 19, 2014

First Baptist Church,

101 S. Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601

Moral Monday Rally, Love Feast and Action

5 pm on May 19, 2014

Bicentennial Mall - in front of the General Assembly

16 West Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601

DURHAM, NC - After Speaker Thom Tillis and his extremist allies in the General Assembly changed the legislature's building rules yesterday in an attempt to stifle and stop the Moral Mondays actions, the North Carolina NAACP and the Forward Together Moral Movement announce today that we will not be deterred. At Moral Monday on May 19 and throughout this short session, we will "assemble together to consult for the common good" and "apply to the General Assembly for redress of our grievances" - rights guaranteed to us under our state constitution.

"These rule changes are an attempt to bully and to intimidate the people of North Carolina; Thom Tillis is trying to formalize in the rules the position that he articulated three years ago that this is his House, not the People's House," said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, president of the North Carolina NAACP and architect of the Forward Together Moral Movement. "These extremist lawmakers hide behind a cloak of civility while they pass laws that take away our voting rights, deny us life-giving health care access, give tax breaks to the wealthy and corporations, place greater tax burdens on the poor and working class and slash funding from our schools and teachers. On Monday, we will dramatize just how dangerous to debate in our democracy this action by Tillis and their allies could be if it is not challenged by a movement."

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.

WHO:                         North Carolina NAACP and the Forward Together Moral Movement

WHAT:                      Moral Monday Rally and Action

WHEN:                      4:15 pm - Pre-Rally Press Conference

                                    5 pm - Rally and Action

WHERE:                   First Baptist Church - Pre-Rally Press Conference

                                    101 S. Wilmington St, Raleigh, NC 27601

                                    Bicentennial Mall - Moral Monday Rally and Action

                                    16 West Jones St, Raleigh, NC 27601

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

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