This interesting New York Times article graphically illustrates the practical strategic impact of North Carolina's Moral Mondays movement (our weekly mass demonstrations and peaceful little-old-lady-rich civil disobedience at the state Legislative Assembly building in Raleigh).
North Carolina was once considered such a promising state for the Democrats that they held their national convention in Charlotte in 2012. Last year’s ambitious Republican agenda unleashed a tide of liberal outrage in the state, including the protest movement known as Moral Mondays, which has seen hundreds of activists arrested at the Capitol in civil disobedience actions. In an Elon University poll in April, 27 percent of respondents said they approved of the job the General Assembly was doing.
In the face of Moral Mondays' incessant reminders of NC voters' discontent and revulsion, state Republicans (not too long ago a fearsomely united bloc) are beginning to unravel at the seams.
I credit Moral Mondays in large measure for this. More viscerally than any opinion poll could, Moral Mondays demonstrations graphically illustrate to state politicos that large numbers of NC voters are mad as hell and we want our state back. Oh, sure, individual state legislators from safely deep-red districts (and NC has a lot of those) couldn't care less...they know we demonstrators come to Raleigh every Monday mostly from heavily Democratic districts that they needn't concern themselves with. But politicians such as Gov. McCrory and U.S. Senate candidate Thom Tillis, who have to run their campaigns statewide, are clearly scared sh*tless. Only 31% of NC voters are registered Republicans, so statewide candidates know they need to appeal to large numbers of middle-of-the-road (and even some liberal) voters if they hope to get and stay elected. Consequently, they feel the need to (at least seem to) move toward the center. The resulting internal tension in the state GOP -- tea-baggers vs. 'RINOs' -- is beginning to tear the Republican juggernaut apart, which is fantastic. Divide and conquer.
It's easy to think that an endless stream of little old ladies gettin' hog-tied and frog-marched onto sheriffs' busses is nothing but pointless feel-good political theater. But I would argue that, if it is properly organized and tirelessly sustained (as here in NC, thanks to Rev. William Barber's inspirational leadership and the NAACP's organizational genius) it is an awesome political force that cannot fail to draw blood.
The logic behind North Carolina's Moral Mondays movement is beginning to spread...first to South Carolina and Georgia, and soon(?) across the country. I would argue that there's a lesson to be learned here by progressives everywhere. Just Show Up: it's free, it's fun, and it's good for what ails America.