Last Monday the General Assembly began its legislative session amid rallies both for and against House Bill 2. The protest against House Bill 2 ended that evening with 54 people being arrested outside House Speaker Tim Moore’s office.
Lisa Leonard, from Raleigh, was one of those arrested. It was her first time protesting.
“I am a 54 year old straight, white, married woman who had never protested anything before. But this legislation and the way it was passed was for me the last straw in a string of contemptible actions by our current state legislature and governor,” said Leonard.
Leonard spoke at a press conference hosted by the Forward Together Moral Movement and the NAACP, with others who were also arrested at the sit in.
These organizations along with dozens of other advocacy groups have formed the “Anti Hate Bill 2” Coalition, in opposition to the recently passed law limiting LGBT rights in the state.
Leslie Coburn of Chapel Hill, who participated in the sit in, said the bathroom portion of the bill, which says people must use the bathroom corresponding with their biological sex opposed to their gender identity, was not the real purpose of the bill.
“This is not a bill about bathrooms, you have probably used the bathroom besides a trans person, how do you suppose they’ve been going? This is about breaking backs, as a tiny few climb the ladder,” said Coburn.
Rev. Dr. William Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP said supporters of this bill are using the same argument people used to justify segregation years ago.
“This language about protecting women and children is a farce. It’s as old as when in the deep south, racist politicians would say in the name of protecting our children, we support separate but equal,” said Barber.
Barber has been a very vocal advocate against House Bill 2 and the Republican led general assembly in recent years.
Barber also announced plans for another Moral Monday on May 16 and said more details would be released next week.
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