'Uh-Oh, Instead of Defeating Us They Made Us Defiant'

[xchrom]

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/09/24-2


Local 1199 members came from New York to be arrested, and at least 1,000 teachers mobilized for the final Monday. (Photo: Ajamu Dillahunt)

Since April, North Carolina has made national and international news with a remarkable social movement that has gathered thousands to protest, with nearly 1,000 arrests for civil disobedience.

The Forward Together Movement, led by the North Carolina NAACP, showed up at the General Assembly in Raleigh for 13 consecutive Mondays while the Republican/Tea Party-controlled legislature was in session.

Although 17 clergy members made up the first wave of arrestees, the activists who formed the backbone of the actions were part of the six-year-old, NAACP-led HKonJ Coalition (Historic Thousands on Jones St.—site of the legislature), which had mobilized thousands to the Capitol every February for a 14-point progressive agenda.

It includes civil rights, labor, environmental, and other social and economic justice groups. With each Moral Monday, more groups and thousands of individuals joined the ranks.

[liberal_at_heart]

1. That is terrific. I certainly hope we see some action on voting rights when election time comes.

People and legislators have been relatively quiet about it. Most politicians never bring anything up until election time.

[hollysmom]

2. you have to get the citizens of NC to vote.

My sisters said when she worked outside the polls - x many yards, she would remind peopel to vote for the democratic ticket and people would tell her they were just there to vote for Obama. She tried to explain that it was easy to vote for the ticket, but no - and Virginia Fox was re-elected as well at that swill in the legislature now. people have to vote in local elections - they have to grow brains and see how it affects them. She said no amount of talking to them mattered.

[BlueToTheBone]

4. That's why it is such a great idea to use

Slate Cards. State and Local candidates "coat tail" on major candidates and the cards go to all Democratic voters with a big reminder to take the card with them to the polls and vote that way. It was very helpful to our local candidates when I was working in the party in CA. Of course the top tier candidates pay the most for the mailings as it it in their interest to get the people to the polls. Local parties can help pay for the mailings also since most local candidates have shoe string budgets.

[Control-Z]

3. Dear Lord. I read that sign in the photo 3 or 4 times,

and still, for the life of me, could not figure out why anyone would want to stop the war on Bank of America.

[zipplewrath]

5. The mind is a terrible thing

I lost a credit card because I read what I was expecting on the vending machine, not what was actually written. Once something is in your head, it's really hard to get it out.