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NATIONAL
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Thousands in N.C. March for Change
by Melde Rutledge
Special to the NNPA from the Carolina Peacemaker
RALEIGH, N.C. (NNPA) – If the North Carolina General Assembly decides not to heed the call of the thousands who marched to the state’s Legislative Building on Feb. 10, N.C. NAACP President William Barber avows that the group will return to the state’s capitol each year until their demands are met.
“We’re not just marching to gather for one day,” Barber said. He spoke to reporters during the press conference at Memorial Auditorium in Downtown Raleigh prior to Saturday afternoon’s HK on J (Historic Thousands on Jones Street) event.
“We’re not here just to scream at the darkness,” he added. “This is the beginning of a fresh movement in the state of North Carolina. “It’s about unity.”
Scores of North Carolinians from across the state answered the N.C. NAACP’s call for unity that weekend in Raleigh–arriving in cars, vans and buses.
Those in attendance took part in the mass gathering to point out their disapproval of state lawmakers’ alleged lack of concern regarding the needs of the poor and working class citizens of North Carolina.
As a superior court judge in North Carolina for nearly 20 years, Milton F. Fitch Jr. said, “Folks on Jones Street have stopped listening to people.”
The People’s Agenda, a 14-point list of demands that was officially presented to the state’s General Assembly that weekend, is what many demonstrators consider to be a key resolution to help the poor and working class in North Carolina.
“We really need to set an agenda, stick to it and achieve goals,” said Munir Ali, a resident of Durham who came to the event with his grandson, Dane.
The People’s Agenda includes: increasing the state’s minimum wage to a “livable wage,” providing affordable healthcare, “lift every historically black college and university,” redress state discrimination of hiring and government contracting, supply affordable housing for low income citizens, abolish the death penalty and mandatory sentencing laws, allow state employees to participate in collective bargaining, and protect the rights of Latin Americans.
“Today’s event marks the beginning, and only the beginning of our commitment to unite our effort and combine our struggle for the changes that we need to see for our Latino immigrants and African American communities in North Carolina,” said Marisol Jimenez McGee, the director of advocacy at El Pueblo. El Pueblo is an advocacy and public policy organization for the Latino community in North Carolina.
HK on J began in the Memorial Auditorium and included a dance performance, spoken word and music. After the audience was presented the People’s Agenda, they voted for all parts of the 14-point agenda by being asked to stand up from their seats.
Participants then marched to 16 West Jones Street in the nippy weather through downtown Raleigh to demand that the
General Assembly adhere to their agenda.
HK on J organizers have also created a plan of action for each of the agendas. Barber noted that HK on J campaigners will insert the People’s Agenda in every political discussion and debate until each one of the agendas become a reality.
“We’re going to go to the legislature. We’re going to go to Congress. We’re going to go to whoever has power to bring about change, because our communities are in crisis,” said Dr. Jarvis Hall, the political action director of the N.C. NAACP and one of the architects of the People’s Agenda.
There were numerous speakers at HK on J, representing over 70 organizations that partnered with the N.C. NAACP to coordinate Saturday’s event and to continue the HK on J campaign. Some government elected officials were also present to show their support, including Guilford County Commissioner Carolyn Coleman and State Representatives Alma Adams (Guilford County) and Larry Womble (Forsyth County).
“Many of the points that are mentioned in this agenda I can relate to because they are speaking specifically to the people in my district,” Womble said while walking in the march.
Womble, who is also a member of the NAACP, said that he traveled to Raleigh from Winston-Salem with a convoy of about four buses and two vans.
In Greensboro, two tour buses left from New Light Baptist Church to the state’s capitol.
The Beloved Community Center organized the excursion, which included trip organizers Rev. Nelson and Joyce Johnson, and New Light pastor and Greensboro NAACP President Cardes Brown.
A separate bus trip to Raleigh was also scheduled to depart from Greensboro that morning at N.C. A&T State University.
Barber said that the demonstration was scheduled on Saturday because most of the working class people have to work on weekdays.
Greensboro resident, Sinda Lewis said it was important for her to attend HK on J because she remembers how demonstrators took a stand against segregation when she was a child.
“It was real spiritual for me, and I just feel blessed to have been just one in the thousand, because it’s time to make a change,” she said
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