NC NOW Legislative Update #7, GOP Overreach ICE and Medicaid Bill Issue– 18 Mar 19

See whole NC NOW Legislative Update #7.18Mar19 here.

In 2018, voters in North Carolina’s biggest counties elected seven new sheriffs who campaigned on pledges to no longer work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) because their practices have become increasingly brutal under the Trump administration.  The will of the voters was clear.  But this week Republicans filed a bill (HB370) that would force sheriffs to cooperate with ICE or face fines of up to $25,500 per day.  This bill is yet another example of the conservative Republican majority in the legislature attempting to force its agenda on urban counties that elect more moderate to liberal Democrats to local offices. This bill has the support of Republican leadership; Governor Cooper has not stated a position.  For more information, see https://abc11.com/politics/nc-republicans-file-bill-to-force-county-sheriffs-to-work-with-ice/5194070/

Sign from Tuesdays With Tillis protest against ICE taking children. Photo Credit: Michael Eisenberg

The drive to expand Medicaid hit an unexpected hitch this week.  Expanding Medicaid is a priority of Cooper’s legislative agenda, and companion bills (SB3/HB5) have been introduced in both the House and Senate.  But hopes for passage of a bill during this session (2019-2020) were crushed through a rookie error by a freshman legislator. 

Advertisements

Stop Kavanaugh Events Around NC – starting 9/4/18

The Senate Confirmation Hearings for Judge Brett Kavanaugh begin on 9/4/18. Protests are planned around the state this week, many on Tuesday, September 4th. Feel free to make your own and post in a comment or email president at raleighnow.org so we can help advertise. 

.

These events are focused on our US Senators, Thom Tillis and Richard Burr, since our Senators get to vote on this nomination. In fact, it is their Senate duty of “advice and consent.” Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate. The Senate’s job is to make sure the nominee is qualified, and if not, to vote no. 

#SaveScotus rally in Raleigh on 7/10/18 with Tuesdays With Tillis group. Photo Credit: Gailya Paliga

Raleigh at Tillis’ office- The weekly Tuesdays With Tillis rally topic is “Stop Kavanaugh.” We always have a great showing for these, but this week we’re pulling in speakers on a variety of topics – reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, civil rights/discrimination, environment, workers’ rights, abortion access threats, immigrant rights, threats to Planned Parenthood services. These areas and more are threatened should Brett Kavanaugh get a lifetime appointment on the US Supreme Court.
Date: Tuesday, 9/4/18
Time: 11:30am-12:30pm
Place: 310 New Bern Ave, Raleigh NC
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/587332478330068/.

Charlotte  – Grassroots protest on the first day of confirmation hearings.

NOW Charlotte Supporting County Opposition to 287g

NOW Charlotte was well represented at the Mecklenburg County Commissioner’s meeting on March 20, 2018, supporting county opposition to 287g. The federal 287g program is a collaboration between state or local law enforcement and Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) federal program that allows local law enforcement to carry out immigration enforcement duties. The Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office has deported over 15,000 people in Mecklenburg County. NOW Charlotte signed onto an anti-287g letter that was signed by over 40 organizations demanding the end of the program.

Deportation Can Be A Death Sentence

What many Americans don’t understand is that deportation can be a death sentence.

According to “When Deportation Is A Death Sentence,” 1/15/18, New Yorker, “Hundreds of thousands of immigrants in the U.S. may face violence and murder in their home countries. ” What about “the U.S. government’s duty to protect prospective deportees who plead for their lives”?

“Before Laura crossed the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge into Mexico, she turned to the Border Patrol agent supervising her return to Mexico. “When I am found dead,” she told him, “it will be on your conscience.”” She was murdered.

On 3/6/18, our Tuesdays With Tillis protest is for a Clean DREAM Act and Justice For Immigrants. The facebook event can be found here. El Centro and El Pueblo organized the program. They give us some more stats on how deportation is a death sentence.

Defend DACA Protest from January 2018; Photo Credit: Jacalyn Engler

Can we make immigrant children safe in schools?

You are invited to a community forum about the calls for a Safe Zone Resolution and Policy for immigrant students in Wake County Public School (WCPSS).

WCPSS Board members, County Commissioners, the Mayor and City Council members have been invited to listen to stories from immigrant students, families, and advocates about their experiences in schools in the current political climate, the increase in racist incidents, and the clarification of boundaries for School Resource Officers’ (SRO’s) interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Durham Community rallying to protect Wildin Acosta, a student grabbed on his way to school one morning. Photo Credit: ABC News

 

The description is available in Spanish as well as English at the FB Page Event at 
https://www.facebook.com/events/517175588665368/

Upcoming events for May and June 2017

Here are some of the upcoming events around NC. 5/18/17 – Added the Health Care Moral Tuesday event on 5/23/17 and the Independent Judiciary Town Hall meeting on 5/25/17.

1) Tell Burr & Tillis: Special Counsel NOW!

There are many opportunities to reach Senators Richard Burr and Thom Tillis about the need for Congress to find Special Counsel to investigate Russian interference into the U.S. Presidential election. 

a) In May, people are protesting in front of Senator Thom Tillis’ office in Raleigh every Tuesday at 11:30am. Bring signs – and NOW signs are welcome! Go to 310 New Bern Avenue, Raleigh NC. You’ll see people. 

b) Senators Burr and Tillis are featured at an event in Raleigh on May 12, 2017 at the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel. Some people are going to protest there all day, basically.

Protest permit was issued for 11:30am to 9pm on Fayetteville St, by the hotel. The press conference will be at 4pm – so go at 3:30pm if you can.

Burr/Tillis Town Hall – their presence in posters only – on 3/5/17. Photo Credit: Sarah Sydney

Protesters demand that NC senators support a call to

First Community Voices Event With WMOR Organizers, March 29, 2017

It’s been almost two months since the Women’s March drew a half million protesters to Washington, an estimated 30,000 people to a sister rally in downtown Raleigh, and people to 12 more marches around NC that same day. The question on everyone’s mind – including the News & Observer is – “What next?”

Photo Credit: Carly Jones

At the James B Hunt Library at NC State University, four of the organizers of the Women’s March on Raleigh were asked to sit on a panel to answer questions from the N & O, as well as ABC11 and an audience of about 100+ people. Panelists were

Events week of 4/16/17, great tax march signs!

Did you go to any of the many tax marches that were around the country on 4/15/17? Buzzfeed captured some great signs.  There was wonderful coverage of the Tax March On Raleigh with HUNDREDS of people on many TV stations, including WRAL. See WRAL’s at “Raleigh ‘Tax March’ protesters demand release of Trump’s tax returns.” The News and Observer really low-balled the count in “Protesters say Trump keeping tax returns secret is worrying“, not clear why. 

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”.

.

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

.

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?

Why Tillis does not know what to expect at Town Halls

In “Tillis is open to town halls, minus shouting,” 3/6/17, N&O, Senator Thom Tillis alleges that people who go to his town hall meetings shout and call names, so he doesn’t go. In fact, he has not been to a town hall meeting this year (the $25 a head Durham Chamber of Commerce meeting on March 6 does not count, nor does the March 7th phone call he offered with only an hours’ notice on social media). It is natural he does not know what to expect.

Senator Tillis, we have been to two town hall meetings held in your honor, and you’ve got it all wrong.   

First, the people there are not scary or menacing. They look like, well, people. You don’t have to take our word for it though, there are lots of pictures online.

Speakers lined up at this town hall meeting to share their concerns and fears. Respectful pictures of Senators Tillis and Burr at front of room. Photo Credit: Sarah Sydney