North Carolina

Hundreds of supporters crowded the third-story balcony above the 84 participants in civil disobedience plus media covering the prohibited peaceful gathering at the NCGA on June 10, 2013.

The start to yesterday's Moral Monday at the N.C. General Assembly in Raleigh was delayed a bit because of tornado warnings and a sudden spate of harsh weather, but pouring rain didn't dampen the spirits of the many hundreds of protesters who gathered at the Halifax Mall behind the General Assembly building to speak out against the raft of odious bills being pushed through the state legislature by the Republican supermajority.

The total number of arrests in six waves of what the NAACP-North Carolina has dubbed "Moral Monday" was brought to 388 by the 84 people (myself and a couple other Kossacks, including the fantastic joank, who was also celebrating her birthday through civil disobedience) who entered the General Assembly to sing songs of resistance, to pray in front of the doors of the second-story N.C. House chambers, and to hold up protest signs (which are prohibited in the building) and refusing to disperse. Click here for the News & Observer's photos of the arrests.

This week, however, an 85th arrest was made: Charlotte Observer religion reporter Tim Funk was handcuffed and detained by G.A. and Raleigh police officers for "failure for disperse." Funk was visibly wearing media credentials and was interviewing Charlotte-area clergy attending the protest and arrests.

We saw Funk amongst us, along with other journalists, and he was clearly taking notes in a notebook, interviewing clergy, not singing or praying, carrying no signs, and holding up his media credentials and explaining his role to the G.A. police officers when they made the dispersal announcements. Those of us near him also explained to officers that Funk was not a green armband (designating civil-disobedience participants) and was not among our group. Nonetheless,

Funk, who was wearing Charlotte Observer identification, was handcuffed and taken along with the arrested protesters to the Wake County magistrate’s office to be arraigned on misdemeanor charges of trespassing and failure to disperse.

Jeff Weaver, police chief for the General Assembly Police in Raleigh who oversaw the arrests, told The Associated Press that Funk did not heed a warning from officers to disperse before the arrests began.

Funk was taken to the Wake County Detention Center with the 84 civil disobedience arrestees and processed for charges, then released around 11 p.m. with the fourth busload of arrestees.

June 2, 2013: This weekend commemorated the North Carolina Association of Teen Democrats 50th Annual Convention. Since 1963 our members have gained valuable skills, from public speaking to organization, and I nearly experienced a culture shock when looking bad at pictures from the 1964 Teen Democrats convention. Deanne Brickhouse stands in front of a house with other teenagers, holding a large sign supporting his Vice-President election. Another picture shows students working on posters with cartoons holding signs saying "Tucker for Vice President." They were all white, properly dressed and more nuclear than Beaver. Forty nine years later at Haw River State Park the Teen Democrats represent a new kind of political youth. Everyone's not white, not men, not wealthy, not straight. We're not all liberal, and we don't all have political goals.

Teen Democrats Hold 50th Annual Convention in Browns Summit

Raleigh, May 25, 2013: The North Carolina Association of Teen Democrats will hold their 50th Annual Convention at Haw River State Park, accompanied by the first annual North Carolina Youth Political Summit. Groups from Asheville to Nags Head will be coming to hear from prominent political leaders as well as to elect officers of the state-wide organization.

The event begins on Friday, May 31 at 6 PM with dinner and orientation to acquaint new and old members from across North Carolina. Saturday morning, North Carolina Representatives Marcus Brandon and Pricey Harrison will conduct an open forum. This leads into a reception open to the public at 11:00 AM with College Democrats of America President Tori Taylor, Greensboro City Council Candidate Jamal Fox, and former US Senate Candidate Jim Neal speaking on the many achievements of the Teen Democrats.

More than 200 people gathered May 13 to support the 49 people arrested for peaceably protesting at the N.C General Assembly building in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Garrison Keillor opens his monologues with "It's been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon." But North Carolina is not a quiet town on the prairie, and we are no longer being quiet.

This week in North Carolina started with 49 arrests at the N.C. General Assembly -- arrests of people peaceably assembled and singing songs of peace and unity to protest the ALEC-ification of our state. This brings the total number of civil-disobedience arrests so far to 96, including 17 arrests April 29, 30 arrests on May 6, and 49 arrests on May 13.

This afternoon, Mecklenburg Dems were treated to an informative presentation about the (short) history of the US budget deficit from Congressman Mel Watt (NC12).

We learned a lot, but most of all we (re)learned that facts have a well-know Liberal bias.

Follow the link for images, commentary, and the facts.

Take action now – tell the North Carolina legislators to keep unemployment benefits strong

Thankfully, earlier this week Congress fulfilled its (minimum) obligation to the long-term unemployed by passing an extension of federal unemployment benefits as part of the “fiscal cliff” deal.

Koch Industries, the Kansas-based oil and chemical conglomerate whose owners Charles and David Koch have played a leading role in financing the fight against government regulation, is stepping up its investment in North Carolina politics at a critical moment for the state's energy future.

Obama and Romney tied in North Carolina

PPP's newest North Carolina poll finds Barack Obama and Mitt Romney tied at 48, representing a small shift in Obama's direction from a week and a half ago when Romney led 49-47. This now makes 27 out of 28 polls of the state PPP has conducted this cycle where the candidates have been within two points of each other.

Obama has built up a lead over the first week of the early voting period in the state. Among those who say they've already voted he's at 57% to 42% for Romney.

Read more from Public Policy Polling here.

When Bad Laws Cost Lives: The Case for 911 Good Samaritan Laws in NC: Interview with Chad Sanders, Who Lost a Sister to Overdose

Few experiences are more painful than the sudden passing of a family member. For Chad Sanders, a nurse in Durham, North Carolina, the pain is sharp and fresh as the seven-year anniversary of his sister’s death approaches this November. Chad lost his little sister, 19-year-old Shelly Sanders, to a drug overdose in 2005. He remembers her as a beautiful, spontaneous young woman who loved adventure, travel, dancing, and helping others. She died in her student dorm room in Asheville amidst piles of books and clothes and study guides for exams she’d never take. The most painful part of this loss, other than the fact that he’ll never see her again, is knowing that Shelly’s death was preventable.

Alcohol and the Law in North Carolina (Know Your Rights)
Guest Blog by Natalie Rich

Getting an alcohol citation can be expensive, embarrassing, and downright frustrating. Many students can easily minimize their risk of getting a drinking ticket by becoming informed. So, before you make any decisions about purchasing or drinking alcohol, make sure you know the law; know the consequences; and know your rights.

Know the Law:
It is ILLEGAL to….
• Purchase or attempt to purchase alcohol if you are under 21. This includes attempting to order a drink at a bar or purchasing beer at a grocery store