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Democracy NC Sponsors #ProtectOurVoteNC Day of Action to Push for Safer Voting Access

Amid the NCGA Short Session, a broad coalition of North Carolina organizations and advocates are uniting May 27th for a day-long event aimed to shed light on and win the difficult fight ahead for fair, safe, and accessible elections in 2020.

Media Contacts:
Forward Justice – Damola Akintunde; dakintunde@forwardjustice.org
NC Black Alliance – Deryle Daniels; deryle@ncblackalliance.org
Democracy NC – Sailor Jones; sailor@democracync.org

RALEIGH, N.C. (Tuesday, May 26, 2020) – As state legislative leaders begin debating COVID-related election bills, more than 30 local and national civil rights and social justice groups will unite Wednesday to fight together to ensure that North Carolina’s 2020 elections are free, fair, safe, and accessible. The May 27th #ProtectOurVoteNC Virtual Day of action will serve as a unifying and mobilizing day to assert that we will fight “from now until November” for a just democracy. The Day of Action will be hosted via several Zoom events beginning at 2 p.m., and will feature an opening session, breakout sessions, and rally and keynote by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II and other special guests. Event registration is available at protectourvotenc.org.

Leaders of several #ProtectOurVoteNC Day of Action sponsoring organizations, including Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, President, North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP, Marcus Bass, Deputy Director, NC Black Alliance, Tomas Lopez, Executive Director, Democracy NC, and Caitlin Swain, Co-Director, Forward Justice, announced the event on Tuesday from a virtual press conference. A recording of the press conference is available at demnc.co/media.

“...we are calling on the North Carolina General Assembly to turn the page on that chapter, and commit to making North Carolina a laboratory for making our democracy the most accessible in this nation — the most free, the most fair, the most just, the most safe.” –Rev. T. Anthony Spearman, NC NAACP

“North Carolina is a testing ground for this nation,” said Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman. “The fight over our democracy has dominated cycles and cycles of news coverage. We have won tremendous victories against bold, unapologetic efforts to silence and suppress the voices of Black voters, Latinx, the poor, women, immigrants, workers. Tomorrow we are calling on the North Carolina General Assembly to turn the page on that chapter, and commit to making North Carolina a laboratory for making our democracy the most accessible in this nation — the most free, the most fair, the most just, the most safe.”

The #ProtectOurVoteNC Virtual Day of Action corresponds with the continuation of the North Carolina General Assembly’s short legislative session when crucial decisions are being made that could shape the state’s 2020 elections. Participating organizations are dedicated to fighting against barriers to our vote imposed by the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, and those who would choose to use a deadly pandemic for political gain and profits.

Participating organizations include:  Forward Justice, Democracy North Carolina, North Carolina State Conference of the  NAACP (NC NAACP), NC Poor People’s Campaign, NC Voters for Clean Elections, Repairers of the Breach, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, NC Second Chance Alliance, Emancipate NC, Common Cause NC, NC Black Alliance, NC Black Women’s Roundtable, Black Voters Matter, National Black Workers Centers, Fayetteville Police Accountability Community Taskforce, A Better Chance A Better Community (ABC2), Action NC, Advance Carolina, Carolina Jews for Justice, A Woman’s Choice of Charlotte, A Woman’s Choice of Greensboro, A Woman’s Choice of Raleigh, North Carolina Council of Churches, NC League of Conservation Voters, Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, Coalition for Health Care of NC, NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina, Poder NC Action, League of Women Voters of North Carolina (LWV), ACLU NC, Raise Up for 15, SpiritHouse, Justice Served NC, Wash Away Unemployment, North Carolina Justice Center, Community Success Initiative, North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE), National Association of Social Workers North Carolina.

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 About Forward Justice

Forward Justice is a nonpartisan law, policy, and strategy center dedicated to advancing racial, social, and economic justice in the U.S. South. Our work catalyzes success for social movements and expands opportunities for people affected by injustice. Learn more at www.forwardjustice.org

About Democracy North Carolina

Democracy North Carolina is a statewide nonpartisan organization that uses research, organizing, and advocacy to increase civic participation, reduce the influence of big money in politics, and remove systemic barriers to voting and serving in elected office. Learn more at www.democracync.org

 About NC NAACP

North Carolina State Conference of the NAACP (“North Carolina NAACP”) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization composed of over 100 branches throughout the state of North Carolina. The fundamental mission of the North Carolina NAACP is the advancement and improvement of the political, civil, educational, social, and economic status of minority groups; the elimination of racial prejudice; the publicizing of adverse effects of racial discrimination; and the initiation of lawful action to secure the elimination of racial bias. Learn more at www.naacpnc.org

About NC Black Alliance

The North Carolina Black Alliance addresses policy and economic issues to enhance black communities by developing and promoting systemic policy change as well as youth and leadership development. We also seek to collaborate with strategic partners to advance the work of those organizations and to enhance intentional collaboration with black constituencies. https://ncblackalliance.org