Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Turns to Motorcade to Celebrate HKonJ Rally

Facing challenges caused by the pandemic, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP used a motorcade to celebrate the annual HKonJ rally in the local area.

The Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ) People’s Assembly Coalition is made up of the more than 125 NAACP branches, youth councils, and college chapters in North Carolina, as well as members of over 200 other social justice organizations. Residents used the rally to to push for causes ranging from racial equity and justice to equal healthcare.

Diane Robertson, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Political Action Committee co-chair, said it was important for the organization to have a presence during the pandemic.

“We wanted to make sure that our partners and allies across the state knew that even though there was a pandemic, the issues that we care about have not gone into lockdown,” Robertson said. “So we organized, across the state, virtual motorcades under the theme of, ‘We are done dying, burying oppression and lifting up hope.'”

Saturday saw a similar motorcades held in Raleigh and elsewhere across the state, as hundreds of residents turned out to push for racial justice. The motorcade from the Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP traveled down Franklin Street and passed by Carrboro Town Hall.

Robertson said that although the HKonJ rally is held in February during Black History Month, it is important to recognize Black history as American history.

“It really is important that we start thinking about the stories that are related during Black History Month as part of our entire history,” she said. “There is no U.S. history or American history without the story of the enslaved people that were brought here.”

Residents attach signs to their cars at Chapel Hill Public Library as part of the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Political Action Committee co-chair Diane Robertson attaches signs to a funeral hearse as part of the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Residents attach political action signs to cars as part of the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Rebecca Cerese poses for a picture with her car as part of the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Political action signs are attached to the front of a funeral hearse as part of the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Grace Davis (right) and Katie Jenifer pose for a portrait in their car before the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Mary Jenne attaches political action signs to her car as part of the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Signs displaying “Bury Cash Bail” and “Bury White Supremacy” are attached to a car as part of the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Chapel Hill. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

A funeral hearse leads the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Carrboro. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Political Action Committee co-chair Diane Robertson waves from her car as part of the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Carrboro. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

Residents wave from their cars as part of the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Carrboro. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

A “Black Lives Matter” sign is displayed from a car as part of the Local HKonJ motorcade on Saturday, February 6 in Carrboro. (Dakota Moyer/Chapelboro.com)

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