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Please jump the fold for reporting on Saturday’s Moral March in Raleigh.
Apologies for being off schedule this week, internet issues impacted the timing of this weekly blog.
Thanks for contributing, have a great week.
AM Joy with Reverend Barber on Sunday morning.
THOUSANDS JOIN RALEIGH'S 'MORAL MARCH' ON HOST OF ISSUES
Saturday, February 11, 2017
RALEIGH, North Carolina (WTVD) -- The voices of thousands filled the air over downtown Raleigh during the annual civil rights march Saturday.
It was the 11th annual HK on J March that in recent years has focused on fighting the conservative-leaning agenda in North Carolina state government.
"There's an extreme amount of people showing up, which is amazing," said marcher Maggie Murphy. "I love seeing that! And I feel like there's real concern."
A coalition of social justice advocacy groups organized by the North Carolina NAACP also included speakers focused on opposition to actions by President Donald Trump, particularly on immigration. Other rallies held in Raleigh this year have been critical of Trump.
The "J" in "HK on J" stands for Jones Streets, where state lawmakers meet. Most of Saturday's marchers oppose policies pushed by the Republican-led legislature.
Saturday's protesters also pushed for the repeal of House Bill 2, which limits LGBT rights and which bathrooms transgender people can use. Other topics include opposition to gerrymandering in redistricting and to the repeal of former President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
RESIST: 80,000 March in Raleigh for Voting Rights, Democracy & #MoralResistance
'A loud majority is outraged and the whole world is in turmoil asking what can we do. Well, we know we’ve got a hard fight ahead, but we know how to win'
Outrage over the Trump administration helped bring tens of thousands of marchers to downtown Raleigh, North Carolina on Saturday. Trump and the policies he will try to enact with the GOP-led Congress on immigration, health care and civil rights motivated many at Saturday’s march.
Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP branch and leader of the “Moral Monday” movement, said in a speech: “A racist and greedy extremism that came to power in North Carolina four years ago now controls the White House and the Congress in D.C. Millions are afraid. A loud majority is outraged and the whole world is in turmoil asking what can we do. Well, we know we’ve got a hard fight ahead, but we know how to win.”
Barber called Trump an “extremist, narcissistic con artist” who is “obviously unsuited for the job of president.” He said they march “because it’s wrong to defend and excuse the lies and the fear and the hate of Trumpism” that has brought “extreme federal appointees and white nationalists into the White House. It’s wrong and it’s racist and it’s demonic to (instill) fear into our immigrant and our Muslim brothers and sisters. It’s wrong to build a wall to keep Mexicans out while you let the Russians in. Bowing down is not an option. Standing down is not an option. The guy in the White House is a mortal, not a god.”
Becky Goldman was born to march. “My parents are animal rights activists and they had a protest sign in my hand since I was in a stroller,” she said.
On Saturday, the sign in Goldman’s hand displayed a brief message: “OMG GOP WTF.” It was adorned with the kind of plastic gemstones one buys to glue on a homemade princess wand. Waiting with her friends for Moral March on Raleigh to begin, she was stopped often and asked to pose for a picture.
Goldman flew from Seattle to join her best friend, Fuquay-Varina resident Rachel Weber, for the eleventh annual event, which drew estimated crowds of about eighty thousand people. Organizers say it may be the largest, youngest crowd yet to attend the march, which is put on by the N.C. NAACP and a coalition known as Historic Thousands on Jones Street, or HKonJ.
Walking from the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts to the Capitol, marchers carried signs calling for health care for all, the repeal of HB 2, and the end of gerrymandering, hate, and Islamophobia. Others hoisted up a cell phone, live streaming the action around them or taking a selfie. There were people with walkers and people with strollers.