Moral March to the Polls Forward Together Tour...
Today, a brisk wind and first cold of the season did not dampen the crowd's enthusiasm.
Rev. William Barber came to town. And his timing could not have been more fortuitous.
As I write, community leaders, Democrats and students are on pins and needles waiting for the final resolution of having a polling place on campus or not. It's a long story but we all know this one too well; Republicans have attempted to disenfranchise students and suppress the vote by moving their normal precinct polling place off campus.
A NC judge has ruled the Republican's attempted hijinks to be unconstitutional and has mandated the state board of elections intercede and choose a polling place on campus.
The NC Court of Appeals has refused to stay the order, but, only silence comes from the NC Supreme Court, so far. Will the Supreme Court rule at the last minute and stay the order? We don't know. Early voting begins tomorrow.
We are all very proud of our County Democratic Party and concerned citizens and students who sued the State Board of Elections for supporting our county's Republican majority board of election's decision to make it difficult for college students and university staff to vote.
If all the county parties across the country were as organized, dedicated and willing to fight; and fight we must, the repugs would lose.
For background of the voter suppression shenanigans click here and read our kos diarist's excellent work, h/t irmaly: http://www.dailykos.com/...
To stay up to date click here:http://www.wataugademocrat.com/...
An order mandating an early voting site on the Appalachian State University campus remains in effect, as the N.C. Court of Appeals on Tuesday denied the State Board of Elections' motion for a stay. The early voting period begins Thursday.
SBOE spokesman Josh Lawson said Tuesday that the state board would likely hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday afternoon to determine where the early voting site should be located on the ASU campus. The SBOE last week solicited and received input from the Watauga County Board of Elections and ASU about an on-campus early voting site in case the Superior Court order was allowed to remain in effect.
Rev. Barber's visit is part of a state-wide tour sponsored by the North Carolina NAACP and Forward Together Movement. They are traveling across the state over the next two weeks to mobilize voters as part of its Moral March to the Polls Forward Together Tour.
You rock Rev. Barber and many thanks to ALL!
4:01 PM PT: I was able to meet Rev. Dr. Barber in person when
he came to Burnsville NC this afternoon on his tour to G.O.T.V., and I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with him briefly.
Surprisingly he is a very quiet man one on one, but once again, his words were uplifting to the small crowd of 50 or so that were in attendance. I thanked him for giving a great speech at Netroots Nation (although I was not there, but caught the video), and for the opportunity to allow for others in the Progressive Daily KOS family in attendance at Netroots Nation from all over the country the chance to learn about him, and to hear his words.
He is a most gracious and very intelligent person, and I was glad to have shook his hand, and to have wished him well in his efforts for all of the people in NC.
Forward Together, Not One Step Back!
"This is our time..."
- Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II
We must win the fight in North Carolina. Jim Crow must not be allowed back into our state, ever.~
LamontCranston
UPDATE: we won: ASU is open for voting; in respect, I'll wait for the leader to write the concluding diary. Again every Democratic County Party in America should be so bold; proof, if you fight and you are right, you can win. Thanks again to my community's leaders!