Examining issue of mass incarceration in Fayetteville, “13th”

13^th Movie and Discussion, by Fayetteville NOW President Sharon Johnson

Fayetteville NOW, continuing its efforts to improve race relations through constructive dialogue, sponsored a showing of the documentary, 13^th, on Monday, June 19, 2017.  Outstanding turnout at an event with many co-sponsors.

This documentary examines the disproportionate number of African-Americans incarcerated in the U.S. The film included interviews with prominent civil-rights activists and politicians, and examines the nation’s legacy of racism via such events as the rise of the Ku Klux Klan and the passage of Jim Crow laws in the South.

Take Action on SCOTUS Nominee Neil Gorsuch NOW

NOW Urges that ​Senator(s) filibuster the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch and, should a filibuster fail, vote “no”.

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There are many things wrong with this man as a judge and worse as a Supreme Court justice.

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According to NOW, “Neil Gorsuch has a long history of hostility towards the claims of workers, consumers, children, immigrants, LGBTQIA people, incarcerated people, people with disabilities, and others seeking protection from the privileged and powerful. Equally disturbingly, “his track record on money in politics comes down decisively on the side of billionaire donors and big corporations.” As if that weren’t enough: Gorsuch has shown, through previous judicial decisions, that he is not a supporter of women’s rights, will not protect their access to birth control, nor their constitutional right to abortion through Roe v. Wade.”

Neil Gorsuch Photo Credit: Aaron Burnstein/Reuters

From another view, can you imagine the Republicans allowing Hillary Clinton to nominate someone to the Supreme Court while she was under investigation by the FBI and by Congress?

Coverage during and after the Women’s March On Raleigh

Trying to keep track of press coverage of the WMOR during and after the march. Attendance estimates are now up to 40,000 based on people studying and estimating based on pictures of the actual march.

At Moore Square, see NOW sign on right. Photo Credit: Maggie McGee.

Thanks to Sarah Moncelle for putting this together at https://womensmarchonraleigh.org/press/.

Womens March On Raleigh was Huge! 1/21/17

We had a super successful Women’s March On Raleigh (WMOR). Original estimates we heard near the stage were 17,000 people at WMOR while the rally was in progress. An organization that helped us organize, Ready The Ground, had estimated 30,000 on the march route. People studying aerial view pictures after the march estimated over 40,000. As another gauge, it took almost over an hour and a half for the last people to leave City Plaza.

People In the Streets for the Women’s March On Raleigh Photo Credit: Matthew Lenard (via CBS)

Raleigh NOW members Sarah Moncelle, Shana Becker and Gailya Paliga were a few of the organizers of the WMOR. We pulled in our friends to help, as did other organizers.

It’s hard to tell how many people are going to something. Earlier in the week, we were using 3000 people, and later we talked about 3000-5000 people. Some organizers speculated 5000-7000 since interest on our facebook event page started growing by 1000 a day! We had programs and pledge cards printed for 3000. Didn’t want to waste paper. Then 17,000-30,000 people showed up at City Plaza, many in their pink pussy hats!

Women’s March On Raleigh: Women Mobilize NC on 1/21/17 – Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press contacts:
Salma Mirza, 716-432-1576, salma.m.mirza@gmail.com
Anna Grant, 484-326-4399, Anna@carolinajewsforjustice.org

January 6, 2017

Triangle Women Planning Rally and March On Raleigh for 1/21/17

Hundreds Expected to Protest Politics of Division

Raleigh, N.C. – A multiracial, multi-religious, and multi-generational grassroots group of women are planning a Women’s March on Raleigh (WMOR). It is a solidarity event with the Women’s March on Washington, also taking place January 21st, 2017.

Dozens of women and allies have been planning the march from the basement of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church for the past several weeks. Reverend Michelle Laws of the NAACP is a confirmed speaker, as well as MaryBe McMillan of the NC AFL-CIO and Sarah Preston of Lillian’s List.

Read the entire press release, including quotes from organizers Salma Mirza, Carly Jones, Anna Grant, and NC NOW’s President, Gailya Paliga at WMOR Press Release.

 

Women’s March on Raleigh 2017 – Spread The Word!

More information on the 2017 Women’s March on Raleigh. The theme is “Women Mobilize NC.”  Ours is one of the many marches in solidarity with each other and with the Women’s March on Washington.

 

Going into the New Year, we will not be silent! It is time to make our movement explode onto the scene. SPREAD THE WORD!!!

Women’s March on Raleigh: Women Mobilizing NC

I know you have heard about the Women’s March on Washington. The idea sprang up right after the awful 2016 presidential election, and spread. After much work, and Alice Cohan (Feminist Majority/NOW) working on getting permits, the Washington march has a permit and a starting site. See details at “Women’s March on Washington officially has a permit for Jan. 21,” 12/15/16, Washington Post.

Moore Square Raleigh – our Women’s March on Raleigh will rally here on Jan 21, 2017. Photo Credit: Real estate brothers

Not everyone can go to DC, and not everyone wants to go to DC – with hotel prices through the roof and other problems. Many people would love to participate locally, and marches are being organized around the country. This is also true around NC, including in Raleigh. We are having a Women’s March on Raleigh on Jan. 21, 2017. March and rally from 11am to 1pm. Join us any time after 10am to march. 

Find us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/349823032061399/. Members of Raleigh and NC NOW are some of the organizers, which include many individuals who really wanted a local event. See the website and facebook page and twitter account id in the next article, ‘Women’s March on Raleigh, Spread The Word.’

There are two purposes for the Women’s March on Raleigh on Jan 21, 2017. We want to stand in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington and we want to mobilize women to get involved with organizations advocating for progressive causes that impact women, their families, and minorities in NC and the nation. 

Join us! or look for another march that is closer to you here.

December plans for Fayetteville, Triad, Asheville and Chlt NOW chapters

Fayetteville NOW:

• Dec. 3 Annual wreath laying in memory of Beryl Mitchell – DV victim. Here is a link to an article about Fayetteville NOW’s 2015 memorial – “Not a bad father, daughter says, except ..“
• Dec. 5 Third Mirrors of Privilege, part of a series to open discussions on racism. This series follows the Cracking the Codes series discussed in the newsletter and at the NC NOW conference – read more at NC NOW Newsletter Oct-Nov 2016
• Dec. 6 Court Watch training
• Dec. 13, 6:00 pm, Holiday Party – Scrub Oaks Restaurant
• Dec. 14 – practice court watch training at court with Rakeem Jones assault victim at Trump event.

Activist Mandy Carter being honored again

It has been my honor and my pleasure to introduce long time activist and my friend, Mandy Carter at past events. NC National Organization for Women (NOW) claims her, but her work and interests reach beyond women’s issues. Carter has spent her adult life as an activist working for women, on lesbians and gay issues, for African Americans. She works to better our lives and has founded organizations to continue and formalize work on these issues.

Mandy Carter Reading Reverend Doctor Pauli Murray’s Poetry at the 2016 NC NOW Conference on 10/1/16. Photo Credit: Rachel Goldstein

What to do now…

First, we mourn this great unexpected loss. Hillary Clinton was everything many of us wanted in a president – a compassionate, resilient, intelligent woman and politician with the necessary experience and temperament for the job of leading our country. Clinton had an inclusive vision, policy knowledge and skills to spare. You can read “133 reasons (and counting!) Hillary Clinton should be our next president,” Huffington Post, 10/28/16. At the same time, you can read why the Trump/Pence ticket was and is our greatest fear. For many or most of us, a fear not even recognized as a real possibility until it happened before our shocked and disbelieving eyes. Read why we fear Trump and for the safety of friends and neighbors and minorities of all kinds at “An American Tragedy.” Many of us feel,  as the article states, “[t]he election of Donald Trump to the Presidency is nothing less than a tragedy for the American republic, a tragedy for the Constitution, and a triumph for the forces, at home and abroad, of nativism, authoritarianism, misogyny, and racism. ” That bad. Donald Trump is America’s “Brexit” (New York Times, June 2016). The world is still wondering ‘How did Brexit happen,’ 6/24/16, in the same way it wonders how did Donald Trump win.

Then we buck up and look toward the future. We suggest a few main things to do, once we get our minds around this new and darker future.