North Carolina Republicans have been very busy punching citizens in the gut these pst few years, with one bogus bill after another. Speaking of bills, more than a few Super Pac greenbacks were poured into the red state during the 2010 and 2012 elections. Since the GOP lawmakers have taken over the majority in the state's House, Senate, Governor's office and NC Supreme Court, they have passed, or attempted to pass, laws that blatantly override the wishes of the people, and often the laws of the U.S. Constitution.
Along with Moral Mondays, a new petition had been created to protest a North Carolina General Assembly, that seems to have lost touch with reality. On July 8, as part of the 10th week of 'Moral Mondays,' over 2,000 protesters gathered in the state's capital of Raleigh, to protest bills that violate voting rights, abortion rights, freedom of speech and freedom of religion. This week, many pro-choice supportersdonned their Planned Parenthood pink, and came out to protest the HB695 restrictive anti-choice bill, along side Moral Monday protestors. I imagine they will be there next week as well.
Here is a video of Monday's rally:
To give more examples, North Carolina Republican lawmakers have cut unemployment benefits and vetoed a prisoner 's right to appeal a death penalty conviction suspected to be racially biased. The state's GOP even tried to pass a state religion, while raising taxes on the poor and middle class - and cutting taxes on the rich. (Wow, can you imagine what this country would have been like if Romney had won?)
The list seems endless and it's out of control. This week 64 protesters were arrested, bringing the total citizens arrested, during Moral Monday protests, to well over 700. What does that tell us? It tells us a GOP-owned NC General Assembly, is promoting a bigoted agenda clearly against the wants and needs of the the people. And the people won't have any of it.
One NC citizen, Shawn Trimble, started a petition on MoveOn.org to stop this massive abuse of GOP political power and government control.
This petition is to be delivered to: The North Carolina State House, The North Carolina State Senate, and Governor Pat McCrory
PETITION STATEMENT
We stand in solidarity with the thousands protesting on Moral Monday and demand that Governor Pat McCrory stop pushing aggressive and regressive politics in North Carolina.
Petition Background
The policies and laws from the Republican-controlled N.C. General Assembly and governors office have gone too far. The plans to cut unemployment benefits, slash Medicaid assistance, shift taxes toward middle- and lower-income taxpayers, repeal environmental measures, and enact the new voter ID bill are immoral and unacceptable. We stand in solidarity with the thousands who have been protesting on Moral Mondays against the conservatives' takeover in North Carolina.
Here is Trimble's petition to sign/share:
Petition: Governor McCrory; We stand in solidarity against the Conservative takeover in North Carolina
A more in depth explanation of Moral Monday movement is contained in this
video:
It's refreshing to see more and more Americans becoming pro-active and voicing their objections in peaceful protest, yet loud and clear. It seems some lawmakers simply forget the country belongs - to the people.
Cross-posted.