Thousands Attend Moral March on Raleigh

Despite freezing temperatures thousands came to downtown Raleigh Saturday morning to protest for voting rights and other causes.

The tenth annual Moral March on Raleigh and HK on J People’s Assembly was organized by the NAACP.

Handwritten signs called for healthcare for all and an end to private prisons, among dozens of others.

Tyler Swanson, an NAACP youth leader, said Raleigh was a good place to hold such a march.

“We stand in a city, we stand here on the shoulders of the great youth that came before us, to organize, to pave the way for us so that we can live in a better future,” said Swanson.

The crowd gathers before the march begins

Advocates, like Kim Porter with NC Warn, spoke out for environmental protection.

“It’s a moral issue and an environmental justice issue when we worry about the water we drink, the air we breathe and the food we eat,” said Porter.

The event began near Shaw University before making its way down Wilmington and Fayetteville streets to the state capitol, with marchers chanting along the way.

The main theme of the march was voting rights. The NAACP is the lead plaintiff in a recent federal case regarding North Carolina’s photo ID requirement to vote.

Even though supporters for presidential candidates were there, Rev William Barber, leader of the North Carolina NAACP, said the march did not support any specific politicians.

“You can come but you can’t have the movement, you can’t hijack the movement, whoever you are supporting that’s fine but we are supporting economic sustainability, addressing poverty and labor rights,” said Barber.

Moral March with State Capitol in background

Critics of the movement say that their demands would cost tax payers thousands of dollars.

Organizers passed out filers encouraging people to register to vote, as well as spreading information for the upcoming primary.

“At the end of this march we are going to do a mass organizing and we need to sign up thousands of youth to join a volunteer army,” said Barber.

Marchers were enthusiastic and the energy was high but it remains to be seen if these efforts will increase voter turnout on Election Day.

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Thousands Attend Moral March on Raleigh

Despite freezing temperatures thousands came to downtown Raleigh Saturday morning to protest for voting rights and other causes. The tenth annual Moral March on Raleigh and HK on J People’s Assembly was organized by the NAACP. Handwritten signs called for healthcare for all and an end to private prisons, among dozens of others. Tyler Swanson, […]

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