Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Guns, state fair what could go wrong??
 | WRAL NEWS in NC (@WRAL) |
Pro-gun group to challenge @NCStateFair gun ban: http://t.co/5sX0UwTurh #wral http://t.co/HCSqlZX9fg | |
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Saturday, September 27, 2014
Americans for Prosperity mail out false voting info
 | cuentafrijoles (@cuentafrijoles) |
Americans for Prosperity misinforms NC voters about voter registration procedures. http://t.co/Fa0xMWhVNt @AFPhq @AFPFNC | |
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Friday, September 26, 2014
NCC Drama Club presents TwilightZone
 | NashCommunityCollege (@NashCC) |
The NCC Drama Club presents #TwilightZone Oct. 30, 31 and Nov. 1! #RockyMountNC http://t.co/s5GxTchJDs | |
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Thursday, September 25, 2014
North Carolina NAACP Today Argued Before a Federal Appeals Court that Voter Suppression Law Will Block Access to the Ballot this November
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2014
Contact: Victoria Wenger, Advancement Project
202.728.9557 or vwenger@advancementproject.org
WASHINGTON - To ensure equal access to the ballot this November, the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP today presented oral arguments before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Charlotte in their appeal of a district court's denial a preliminary injunction to block the state's massive voter suppression law from going into effect for the midterm elections. The North Carolina NAACP was represented by the legal team of national civil rights organization Advancement Project, the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, and North Carolina lawyers Adam Stein and Irving Joyner. Lawyers argued that unless the appeals court reverses the judge's order and blocks the law, the right to vote may be out of reach for hundreds of thousands of North Carolina voters in November.
"This appeal is a crucial step in restoring the sanctity of voting rights in the State of North Carolina," said Advancement Project Co-Director Penda D. Hair. "As we argued in court today, the District Court's narrow reading of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) missed the mark of the law, and means that many North Carolina voters will face high burdens in order to access the ballot this November if the law is not blocked. This is why we are appealing the case. The VRA and the U.S. Constitution both provide protections to ensure that voters do not face undue hurdles on their path to the ballot box - particularly when those barriers tactically target voters of color, who have overcome a history of systematic discrimination and disenfranchisement. When anyone is denied their vote, our democracy is weakened. We continue to fight to make sure that is not the case in North Carolina during this election cycle."
The state's voting law, commonly referred to as H.B. 589, includes the elimination of same-day registration, limits on early voting, and the rejection of out-of-precinct ballots, among other provisions. While a full trial on the merits of H.B. 589 will be heard next summer, a preliminary injunction is needed to ensure these provisions do not limit voters from the ballot in this election. In addition to the provisions addressed in this appeal, next summer's trial will also address the law's restrictive photo identification requirement set to go into effect in 2016.
"Elections have consequences," said Kirkland & Ellis partner Daniel T. Donovan. "This November's will be no exception. As it stands, H.B. 589 burdens the ability of numerous North Carolina voters to cast a ballot. Those votes will be forever denied; those voters will have lost their chance to have a voice in this election. The harm is irreparable. A preliminary injunction is necessary to make sure that democracy is fulfilled in North Carolina this November. Ultimately, a full reversal of H.B. 589 is needed to ensure that elections are free, fair, and accessible to all in this state."
The legal action taken by the North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP in this appeal is coupled with broad grassroots efforts to mobilize voters across the state as part of theForward Together Moral Movement.
"For the state to argue that there is not enough time to correct an unconstitutional law is both illogical and ahistorical," said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President of the North Carolina NAACP. "The evidence and the courts have said that African Americans will be discriminatorily burdened because of the changes this law imposes. We believe there should be an injunction granted, and voting procedures in North Carolina should return to the status quo prior to the confusion caused by the rapid and irregular passage of H.B. 589. Through litigation in the courts and a movement in the streets, we will keep fighting to ensure North Carolina's regressive voting law is permanently overturned and the voices of all voters in our state are heard. Our mission builds on the legacy of countless civil rights leaders who have come before us, who fought to make sure all people are treated equally in our democracy. There is no greater assessment of our equal citizenship than equal access to the ballot. We will continue our fight until the right to vote is secured and realized for all North Carolinians."
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Wednesday, September 24, 2014
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF CHARLOTTE TO HOST REV. DR. WILLIAM J. BARBER, II
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Reverend James C. (Jay) Leach
Senior Minister, Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President of the North Carolina NAACP, will be a guest speaker at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte on Sunday, September 28. He will address the congregation in their regular 9:15 a.m. and11:15 a.m. services and will speak at a 5 p.m. gathering that is open to the public.
Rev. Dr. Barber, recently named the recipient of this year's Fellowship of Reconciliation Martin Luther King Jr. Award, is the architect behind the Forward Together/Moral Monday effort. This broad-based coalition effort has included the massive Historic Thousands on Jones Street marches begun five years ago. It has been visible in its challenge to extremist policies in North Carolina and is now being emulated in an increasing number of states throughout the country.
Unitarian Universalists have been active participants in the Moral Monday effort. A reported 1,500 Unitarian Universalists from around the U.S. participated in this past February's HKonJ rally. Rev. Jay Leach, minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte, has been a regular speaker and very involved in the effort locally and in Raleigh. He was among those arrested in our state's General Assembly for exercising his rights and has spoken throughout the community about his involvement. Said Leach: "We've been honored to join with many across lines of race, religion, and political affiliation to speak for a more just and equitable vision for our state. Now, we are especially honored to host my friend and colleague, Dr. Barber, acclaimed by many as the leading civil rights voice in our nation."
Rev. Leach and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte are inviting all Moral Monday participants in the Charlotte area to the afternoon gathering, where Rev. Dr. Barber will speak about the successes of the Moral Monday efforts to date and about plans for the movement going forward.
The afternoon gathering, like the morning services, will include the collection of financial support for the efforts of the NAACP both locally under the leadership of Rev. Kojo Nantambu and statewide under Barber's leadership.
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte is the oldest and largest Unitarian Universalist congregation in North Carolina. It is a part of the progressive Unitarian Universalist Association headquartered in Boston. The congregation is committed to "working with others to overcome the barriers that divide the human family." Its Mission invites participants to "discover deeper spiritual meaning" and offers extensive programming for children, youth, and adults. Leach is in his twelfth year as the minister of the congregation.
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Tuesday, September 23, 2014
CANDIDATES' FORUM
CANDIDATES' FORUM
Sponsored by Raleigh-Apex NAACP (919) 662-5006
Saturday, September 27, 2014 - 4:00 pm
Pine Acres Community Center
402 McLean Street - Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
All candidates in the upcoming general election have been invited to attend and participate. This will serve as an opportunity for you to meet, speak to and query those on the slate. You may submit questions in advance. We encourage individuals, community groups, churches, businesses and organizations to attend this important event. The offices on the slate are:
US House & Senate, NC House & Senate, District Attorney, Board of Commissioners, Clerk of Superior Court, Sheriff, NC Supreme Court Chief Justice, NC Supreme Court Associate Justice, NC Court of Appeals Judge& NC Superior District Court Judge, NC District Court Judge, and Wake Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor.
If you have a question that you would like to submit in advance please email to:
raleighapexnaacp@gmail.com
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Friday, September 19, 2014
Moral Monday March to the Polls Rally To Be Held in Burnsville, NC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2014
Contact: Tom Wolf, NC NAACP - tiwolf13@gmail.com or 504-940-4441
Moral Monday March to the Polls Rally To Be Held in Burnsville, NC
Moral March to the Poll Rally
September 22, 2014
Burnsville, NC
Town Square
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Wake County D.A. Dismisses Moral Monday Protester Charges
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 19, 2014
Contact: Tom Wolf, NC NAACP - tiwolf13@gmail.com or 504-940-4441
Wake County D.A. Dismisses Moral Monday Protester Charges
A Statement from the North Carolina NAACP
RALEIGH, NC - This morning, the Interim Wake County District Attorney dismissed charges against many of the Moral Monday protesters. The dismissals represent a victory for the "Rule of Law" in North Carolina and uphold the rights of citizens to protest and instruct their representatives in the North Carolina General Assembly, the People's House. The North Carolina NAACP released this statement:
They are Back: Return America will hold Rally at the #NCGA over Same Sex Marriage
Return America is calling on you once again to take a stand for our values!
One large, historic turnout to break all records is NEEDED to remind Roy Cooper, liberal judges, and others that we expect them to do their job and support our laws legally voted in by the people--our Marriage Amendment!
The Fourth Circuit Court has ruled against Virginia's constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, and liberal activists now have our amendment as their target. North Carolina has the possibility of being affected by this ruling as we are a part of the Fourth Circuit. We MUST come out once again in a large number to unanimously show our support for our Judeo-Christian values that have made America great.
Take your stand NOW and join us for this historic event!
Attorney David Gibbs, III, of the National Center for Life and Liberty will be joining us.
Take a day of vacation--set your usual plans aside, grab a lawn chair, put on your patriotic attire, and let's show some good, old-fashioned patriotic spirit as we Rally in Raleigh for our Marriage Amendment!
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
NAACP slams Sen. Phil Berger on voting right
@Rob_Schofield: #NAACP rightfully slams Senator Phil Berger's new voter suppression efforts http://t.co/tCkoN9AHeh #ncga #ncpol #voterID #bluenc #consnc
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7th Circuit grants stay
 | LGBTQ Nation (@lgbtqnation) |
#7thCircuit grants Wisconsin's request for stay in same-sex marriage ruling - http://t.co/D9c7nfFNcS #gay #LGBT | |
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Tuesday, September 16, 2014
HKonJ Press Conference Summary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2014
Contact: Tom Wolf, NC NAACP - tiwolf13@gmail.com or 504-940-4441
RALEIGH, NC - The Historic Thousands on Jones St. Coalition gathered this morning to host a press conference in which Reverend Dr. William J. Barber, II, Professor Irving Joyner, Al McSurely, and Bob Hall both addressed the false and intimidating nature of Senator Phil Berger's televised ad, and explained their efforts to mobilize voters between now and the November elections.
Rev. Dr. Barber opened the press conference by noting that nearly 800,000 North Carolinians still have not registered to vote. Reaching them in addition to the 250,000 African Americans and 400,000 white women who voted in 2008 and 2012 but not in 2010 will be a central to the NC NAACP's Get Out the Vote efforts leading up to the election. Rev. Dr. Barber said, "We are ensuring that all our branches are pushing everybody we know and say 'This is the time we must vote!'"
To get out the vote, the NC NAACP established the Moral Freedom Summer program, in which almost forty young people knocked on the doors of and spoke to thousands of North Carolinians. It will also organize Freedom Sabbaths at churches, synagogues, and mosques throughout the state, as well as the March to the Polls rallies, over the next several weeks. Lastly, the NC NAACP will reach out to people across the state by telephone and social media.
Rev. Dr. Barber also addressed the regressive voting laws implemented in North Carolina in July 2013, which, if not overturned, would curb voting access for people from all walks of life. "That is why," he said, "we've had veterans join the Moral Monday rallies. They have said they did not want to fight for freedom overseas only to see their freedom at home undermined."
Irving Joyner, Professor of Law at NCCU, explained that our appeal against these voting laws is being expedited in the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, and is set to be heard startingon September 25th. Furthermore, Professor Joyner related the decision handed down by Judge Donald Stephens last week, which ruled the arrest of Leonard Beeghley unconstitutional. This decision, he said, has implications for the nearly thousand Moral Monday demonstrators who were arrested in the summer of 2013.
Al McSurely also spoke at the news conference, condemning the deceptive ad endorsed by Senate Leader Phil Berger. The NC NAACP played the ad, after which Mr. McSurely said, "Senator Berger not only needs to take down this ad, but he also needs to get his backers to pay for an ad from now until election time saying that you do not need an I.D. to vote."
The North Carolina NAACP has filed a complaint against Senator Berger with Kim Strach, Director of the North Carolina State Board of Elections, and Doug Henderson, Guilford County District Attorney. The complaint states: "On August 29, 2014, North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger aired a 30-second ad on television in Guilford County and other areas which boasted that Sen. Berger had passed a law that required North Carolina voters to have a photo ID if they wanted to vote in North Carolina elections. On information and belief, Sen. Berger has spent $122,000 on this ad, and similar ones, in an effort to intimidate and discourage people who do not have a photo ID for the 2014 elections."
The NC NAACP then showed its own fact-checked video, which provides specific information regarding what voters need to know before the November elections.
Several members of the media were present, so if you would like more in-depth coverage, tune in to your local television or radio stations tonight for more information.
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Monday, September 15, 2014
News Conference to Address Senator Berger's Misleading Voter Information
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2014
Contact: Tom Wolf, NC NAACP - tiwolf13@gmail.com or 504-940-4441
Corrected:
News Conference to Address Senator Berger's Misleading Voter Information
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
RALEIGH, NC: One of the primary tactics used by the extremist right to confuse voters in North Carolina has been to spread false information. Most recently, this manifested itself in the form of a television ad endorsed by the North Carolina Senate Leader Phil Berger, in which the Senator blatantly distorts key elements of the new voting laws.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Moral Monday March to the Polls Rally
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2014
Contact: Tom Wolf, NC NAACP - tiwolf13@gmail.com or 504-940-4441
Moral Monday March to the Polls Rally To Be Held in Wilmington, NC
Moral March to the Poll Rally
September 15, 2014
5:30 p.m.
Riverfront Park
5 N. Water St., Wilmington, NC
To watch the rally live, click HERE.
WILMINGTON, NC - Almost five decades after the passage of the Voting Rights Act, which eliminated unjust voter restrictions that plagued our nation's democratic principles, the North Carolina NAACP and the Forward Together Movement are fighting to eradicate them once again. The Forward Together Movement will gather in Wilmington on September 15th to voice its aversion to these Jim Crow-era laws.
"From the mountains to the coast, people are speaking out against the state legislature's attempt to suppress our vote and silence our voice," said Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, president of the NC NAACP. "We have organized in the streets, in the courts, and now we are heading to the ballot box. In Wilmington, people are ready to organize, register, and vote this November."
The Wilmington Moral March to the Polls rally will be the fifth in a series of Forward Together Movement voter mobilization rallies across the state leading up to the November election.
The North Carolina NAACP and allies like the United Steelworkers and the League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear - among others - will meet at the Riverfront Park to stand up for moral voting laws as well as affordable health care, public education, gender equality, and environmental justice.
WHO: The NC NAACP and the Forward Together Moral Movement
WHAT: Wilmington Moral Monday March to the Polls
WHEN: 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 15, 2014
WHERE: Riverfront Park, 5 N Water St., Wilmington, NC 28401
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