October #StopKavanaugh Events – Women are Rising Up! 2018

We already know about three #StopKavanaugh this first week of October, 2018. And I know a lot of women and allies will get out and party when this unfit #SCOTUS nominee goes down, either for his history of sexual assault or his perjury during the 2018 and 2006 hearings. He should be disqualified based on his terrible behavior during the Ford/Kavanaugh hearing alone (see cartoon). We are counting on the FBI to do its job, and to help them, many of Kavanaugh’s former classmates have publicly contradicted what Bratt Kavanaugh said about his drinking, his temper, and the sexual things written in his yearbook.  Since he lied about those basic things, how can he believed on anything else.

Weekly rallies at Senator Thom Tillis’ office in Raleigh include this walk around the fence, so his staff can see us! Photo Credit: Michael Eisenberg

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“Dare To Struggle, Dare To Win” Message at #StopKavanaugh Rally on 9/11/18

We had many exceptional speakers at the #StopKavanaugh rally at Senator Thom Tillis’ office on 9/11/18. Five of of our regulars spent days in Washington DC at the #KavanaughConfirmationHearings. Four of five of them got arrested as part of their protesting.

Photo Credit: Michael Eisenberg

Rev. Dr. Portia Rochelle, president of the Raleigh/Apex NAACP spoke of dangers of Kavanaugh and also of NAACP suing over perjury! She talked about what a Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court will be like for minorities and for women. “Appointing #Kavanaugh would result in civil rights rollbacks.” Also .. there would be “rollbacks in voting rights, reproductive rights, health care – things that affect our daily living.”

Outraged North Carolinians Pull Together Protest of NCGA Veto Overrides, 8/4/18

Citizen outrage sparked creativity at a protest of the latest day of this special session series, when the #NCGA was called to return on a rare Saturday to override very valid vetoes from Governor Roy Cooper. The signature costume for this event was a man dressed up in regal attire who called himself “Berger King.” The legislature voted to override the two vetoes, but the outraged citizens were speaking out and watching. First article, “Facing protesters, NC legislators override vetoes” was posted at 12:24pm on 8/4/18.

Many of the protesters were returning, since they had protested one or more days of the hastily called #DeceptionSession that started on Jul 24, 2018 with fewer than 24 hours notice. Protesters went today on short notice again as the outrage grew over the last few days. The Aug 4 session agenda included vetoes of last minute legislation intended to deceive citizens into voting away their rights in one of the bills. 

Tell the NCGA to stop their dirty tricks. #NixAllSix! 8/4/18

Should North Carolinians be tricked into giving the NC General Assembly a “blank check” to do whatever it wants to our state? NO!

Come greet the NCGA on Saturday morning, 8/4/18, as they return to Session to try to override the Governor’s vetoes of their hastily enacted legislation intended to deceive North Carolinians into voting away their rights.

Some of the many protesters at the hastily called legislative special session on 7/24/18 at which the #ncga leadership planned to interfere with constitutional amendments and judicial races yet again. Photo Credit: Phil Fonville

Meet out front at 10:30 AM Saturday to see the legislators as they head into session at 11:00 am at the State Legislative Building at 16 W. Jones Street.

Events Against Gun Violence – RTP Area

The latest school massacre, which was in Parkland Florida on Valentines Day (2/14/18), may have more of a lasting impact that previous ones. The teen survivors are calling out the blame mongering and refusal of Congress and Trump to do their jobs in protecting children and teachers – and making a concerted effort to pull in others through social media. And they are not putting on a polite front in their speeches or in interviews. For example, teen survivor Emma Gonzalez gave an amazing, heartfelt, passionate speech calling out President Trump, the GOP, and the NRA for enabling the murder of children at an anti-gun rally. 

“How about we stop blaming the victims for something that was the shooter’s fault?” [Emma Gonzalez] demanded, and called out those who do deserve to shoulder that blame.

Emma Gonzalez speaking at anti-gun rally following Parkland Florida High School massacre. Photo Credit: CNN.com

Coverage of NC’s 9 Women’s Marches and Rallies on 1/20/18

Here are links to a few articles on those 9 women’s march anniversary events that were held on 1/20/18.

Triad – Women’s March On The Polls, 12-3pm,
“Thousands march, protest at Winston-Salem Women’s March” at http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/thousands-march-protest-at-winston-salem-women-s-march/article_6c3ccae9-f348-5cd0-9e89-b6e733ccf450.html

“We are a nation looking for villains to blame and heroes to save us. We can do better,” speaker Madison Kimrey said. “The issues didn’t start with the outcome of an election. We must march as the change we want to see.”

Photo Credit: Mary Catherine Kimrey

The WFMY News coverage said, “Speakers focused on different topics such as education for children, discrimination in the workplace, and reproductive health.”

Quotes from the Women’s Rally On Raleigh, 1/20/18

10,000 -15,000 determined, compassionate, and resilient North Carolinians poured into the state capital for the Women’s Rally on Raleigh on Saturday, 1/20/18. The Raleigh event was in conjunction with events in at least 9 cities around NC, and with all these people in all these cities celebrating women’s rights and raging against bad policies, against dangerous votes, against vicious political maneuvers, against terrible tweets and against worse behavior! In Raleigh, women leading the resistance sang, recited, and spoke about voter suppression, sexual assault, domestic violence, access to affordable quality healthcare, immigrant rights, Islamophobia, LGBTQ rights, public education and more. Our rally cries rang across North Carolina​: ​the resistance is here to stay.

Civil Rights Attorney Anita Earls on stage Photo Credit: Vicky DeGroote

Here are some quotes from our speakers and performers. See almost two hours of the event from right in front of the stage on WRAL here. 

“When I hear the word justice/freedom/resistance, it makes me think about women.” – Performer Randa McNamara

“Don’t call me baby. It’s CEO, director, president. Change is coming—that’s evident.”
– MaryBe McMillan, delivering a poem that she wrote for our event! @marybemcmillan, President of the @NCStateAFLCIO

“Unfortunately it needs to be said. We are not leeches coming from shitholes.”
-Eiman Ali, @EimanAliii, on the contributions of immigrants, and the scapegoating and abuse they endure.

“We have a message for you, can’t hide in the world of #metoo.” – MaryBe McMillan

Raleigh Women’s Rally calls for Gender Equality and More!

The Women’s Rally on Raleigh was a wonderful event! So Many People! Excellent speakers and performers! Inspiring Emcees! Perfect weather! Whether you were with us in body or in spirit (or both) here are things you may not know! 

WROR, Halifax Mall, 20 Jan 18 Photo Credit: Vicky DeGroote

“Residents from all over North Carolina gathered on Halifax Mall on Saturday for the Women’s Rally on Raleigh. There were musical performers, tables, and a diverse line-up of speakers meant to energize citizens into engaging with their government on issues that affect them and their communities,” from “Women’s Rally on Raleigh draws several thousand to Halifax Mall” at http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article195785414.html

And then there were nine (Women’s March Anniversary Events in NC)

NINE Women’s March anniversary events are being planned in NC so far. These are for January 20th, 2018. 

Triad – Women’s March On The Polls, 12-3pm,
Corpening Plaza, 231 W First St, Winston-Salem
facebook.com/triadwomensmarch
Raleigh – Women’s Rally On Raleigh, 9-1, Raleigh NC.
Theme is “Women Leading The Resistance!”
https://www.facebook.com/events/1611316172263531/
Charlotte – Charlotte’s Women’s March, 10am-2pm,
First Ward Park, 301 E 7th St, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202
https://www.facebook.com/events/135395813840257/

Hillsborough – 2018 Women’s March Into Action!

Hillsborough NC in Orange County is having their own Women’s March and rally Event. They are the seventh NC city to have one  on Jan 20, 2018 (to NC NOW’s knowledge). Their theme is March Into Action!!

Date: January 20th, 2018
Time: 3-5 p.m.
Place: 100 E. King Street, Hillsborough NC, 27278
At the Historic Courthouse lawn and River Park Farmers Market Pavilion (East Margaret Lane)
Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/284533385405088/

Organizers of this march wrote the following:

Several individuals working in collaboration have organized a local rally to be held on January 20th, 2018, from 3 to 5 p.m. This event is a “sister” march to the National Women’s March on Washington, as well as the Women’ March event being held in Raleigh, North Carolina.