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

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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.

Two more Women’s March Anniversary Events – Wilmington and Fayetteville

Exciting news! We have two more women’s march anniversary events in NC to the list of women’s events on Saturday, January 20, 2018!

Fayetteville, NC

Date: Saturday, January 20
Time: 1:00pm or noon (will clarify and update)
Place: Market House in downtown Fayetteville
Theme: Reproductive Rights Rally
(The 45th anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision which gave women control over their own bodies is Jan 22nd.)

Wilmington, NC

Women’s March Anniversary Events (2018) in NC

Women’s march anniversary events are being planned.  Some are marches, some are rallies, some may be both. These are happening on January 20th, 2018. #womenriseupnc #womensequalitydaync #womenlead #ReMarchable

Women’s March On Raleigh, 1/21/17 Photo Credit: James DeAlto

• 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.” This is a rally, not a march.
  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/
• Asheville – Anniversary Women’s March On Asheville, 11am-1pm
  Roger Mcguire Green, 121 College St, Asheville, North Carolina 28801
  https://www.facebook.com/events/408751532894308/

Wilmington may be doing something in March.

Will add more as we learn about them.

13 marches were documented around NC on 1/21/2017 by Yevonne Brannon!

Things we can do to fight all this!

People are asking ‘what do we do now’ in response to the US Senate passing that horrifying and devastating tax bill in the middle of the night on 12/2/17 (Friday night/Saturday morning). Others asked last night after watching the real status of women at the Equal Means Equal discussion.

We have many things we can do – fight this! We are not alone! We can use our voices! Go to protests if you can, but we have other ways to protest too. Protest from home – by phone and email! Write letters. Write ‘letters to the editor’ or op-eds to reach new people. Talk to people. Some truly aren’t hearing how bad things are. Fight in any ways that work for you!

Tuesdays With Tillis – We Will Not Be Silent! Photo credit: Gailya Paliga

Added on 12/13/17: Song sheet of tax cut parodies to classic Christmas songs. See below.

Busy Week in Raleigh, Starting Today

Busy week in Raleigh starting on Tuesday, Nov 7. Important events on Nov 7, 8, 9 and 10! Plus topic for next Tuesdays With Tillis is #MeToo. Do you have a story to share?

Tuesday, Nov 7, 2017

Be sure to vote on 11/7/17 in most municipalities! Local elections is where people have the most say. And many elections in NC have hinged on a single vote. See “Your vote matters: 31 NC elections decided by 1 vote, 69 elections by 5 or fewer,” News and Observer, 10/24/17.

Photo Credit: Jacalyn Engler

The weekly Tuesdays With Tillis protest is 11:30am-12:30pm at 310 New Bern Ave, in Raleigh. The theme is Defeat the #TrumpTaxCuts. Tuesdays With Tillis at 11:30am at the Federal Building on New Bern in Raleigh. We have a great new sign! I love this protest, also because it is done in an hour. This is the 42nd week. Find on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/526075321078863/.

Raleigh NOW meeting on Nov 7, at 7:15pm, at Cameron Village Library in Raleigh (note: new location). Topics are pro-choice signature ad, and planning for the January Roe event.