MONDAY 8/21/17 CALL TO ACTION: Magnified

“You didn’t shut her up, you just magnified her.”

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Peace Vigil on Friday. I cannot (and don’t want to) imagine the heartbreak of losing a child. And to lose that child to something so stupid as racial hatred manifested in a terrorist attack on people engaging in their First Amendment right to protest is just unconscionable. Heather’s mother has been the epitome of grace during this time of mourning. If you can, take a moment to watch her comments about her daughter. And keep the Kleenex handy.

Several local Facebook pages tried their best to whip up conflict by putting out “less than accurate” information about what was happening. We were also invaded by some agents provocateur who tried to stir up conflict with the people who came to protest our peaceful gathering. We must not allow those who benefit from the status quo to derail us from moving our society forward toward equality. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I firmly believe that. We will win and we will make this world a better, more peaceful and equitable place for our children and grandchildren.

Now, on to the call to action.

Redistricting

 

The new maps are out for the NC House.

New map reveals part of NC Republicans’ redistricting plan

The maps were released Saturday without the data and files the mapmakers used to shape the new districts. Because of that, the attorneys representing the challengers of the 2011 districts have not been able to analyze the effect of the new lines.

Bob Hall, executive director of Democracy NC, a voting rights organization, said it’s difficult to tell much from the maps without the supporting data, other than which lawmakers have been placed in the same districts.

 

Redistricting in order to correct the Republican-run NCGA’s unconstitutional, racially biased gerrymandering is the most important thing happening in North Carolina right now. The gerrymander in our General Assembly (and in our congressional districts as well) are the most important hurdle we have to making North Carolina’s vote fair and equitable.

I believe that people want to know their vote counts. Gerrymandering rigs the vote and dilutes the power of each individual vote. The redrawing of districts MUST be handled by a nonpartisan commission. See RCDP’s resolution that was adopted at our 2017 convention.

The information below is from a Facebook posting I read on Sunday. It sums up what this next week has to be about: ensuring that we have fair redistricting maps.

As you may know, SCOTUS ruled that the NC voting districts are unconstitutionally gerrymandered, and has tasked the NCGA with drawing new maps. What you may not know is that this Tuesday will be the ONLY time NCGA reps will allow their constituents to make their voices heard. If that seems short notice and inconvenient, I’m sure it’s by design. Pay attention to these times and places, and if you are able to go and speak up for fair, non-gerrymandered voting districts, please do.

All hearings will be held on Tuesday at 4:00pm at the following locations:

Triangle: Legislative Office Building Room 643, 300 N. Salisbury St. in Raleigh

Charlotte: Central Piedmont Community College, 1112 Charlottetowne Ave. (Hall Building, Rooms 215/216)

Fayetteville: Fayetteville Technical Community College, 2817 Fort Bragg Road (General Classroom Bldg)

Western NC: Caldwell Community College, 2855 Hickory Boulevard (Bldg B) in Hudson

Triad: Guilford Technical Community College Jamestown Campus, 601 East Main Street (Medline Campus Center) in Jamestown

Northeastern NC: Halifax Community College 100 College Road Bldg 100 Room 108 in Weldon

There are 6,777,881 registered voters in NC and only six sites around the state where those voters may make public comments on redistricting. That’s 1,129,647 people per venue. Not a very good ratio, in opinion.

Call your legislators in Raleigh:

Representatives: Allen McNeill, Pat Hurley

Senators: Jerry Tillman, Rick Gunn

SCRIPT: I am calling from Sen/Rep__________’s district. I am calling to express my support for fair and equitable districts, which are true representations of North Carolina’s voters. For too long NC has been subject to gerrymandering and it is time for this to stop. I also support the addition of more venues for public comment on Tuesday. The ratio of voters to venues limits the number of people who will be able to voice their opinions. Surely you wouldn’t want to limit voters’ voices.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

RC Democratic Women’s Monthly Breakfast Meeting – August 26, 2017 9:30am at the Archdale Public Library 10433 S Main St, Archdale, NC 27263  Bring a breakfast item to share if you like.

Lunch & Learn Voter Registration Workshop with Melissa Johnson, Director RCBoE – September 12, 2017 at Asheboro Library in the downstairs meeting room at 12PM.

The Democratic Women of North Carolina invite you to the 57th Annual State ConventionSeptember 22-24, 2017, in Winston-Salem at the Hawthorne Inn & Conference Center.

9th Annual Defending Democracy Blue Jean Gala – Saturday September 23, 2017, 6:00PM – The Exchange – 204 S Fayetteville St, Asheboro, NC  Special guest speakers will be Rep. Graig Meyer, NC House District 50 and NCDP Second Vice Chair Matt Hughes.