Over 3,500 people gathered in downtown Asheville for the second Mountain Moral Monday yesterday. For 67 straight weeks, Moral Monday, a statewide movement led by the North Carolina NAACP, has brought together advocates and community members to speak out against extremist legislation that has been passed by the current North Carolina General Assembly – including cuts to public education, a refusal to expand Medicaid, the approval of fracking, Amendment One, and attacks on voting rights.
The Campaign for Southern Equality was proud to be among the more than 50 partner organizations that participated. CSE’s Executive Director Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara and Board Chair Rev. Joe Hoffman joined speakers who addressed specific policy issues and called for high engagement in the 2014 election cycle. The highlight of the event was North Carolina NAACP President Rev. Dr. William Barber’s keynote address. The wide-ranging speech outlined Barber’s policy critique of recent legislation, reflected on the history of social justice movements, and urged participants to continue building a united front to oppose an extreme political agenda.
“Together we will resist extremism. Together we can put our state back where it belongs. Together, let’s vote like never before.”
Encouraging protesters to use the power of the ballot box in order to push for fair, just policies in North Carolina was a key focus of yesterday’s event, which was organized by the Mountain People’s Assembly and the North Carolina NAACP. Rev. Barber had an “altar call,” as those who came forward to register 10 to 15 new voters ahead of the election this November.
The Campaign for Southern Equality will be working with partners on voter registration efforts in the mountains.
