• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
NC Council of Churches

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

Get Involved Donate
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Statements
    • Board
    • Careers
  • Voices
  • Our Priorities
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • The PHW Collaborative
      • Focus Areas
    • Eco-Justice Connection
      • Faith
      • Advocacy
      • Energy
      • Environmental Justice
      • Food
      • Global
      • Health
      • Resiliency and Restoration
    • Racial Justice
      • Confederate Monument Removal
      • Reparations to Restoration
    • Criminal Justice Reform
      • Cash Bail Reform
      • Death Penalty Abolition
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Workers’ Rights
      • Paid Sick Leave / Paid Family Leave
      • Raising Wages
    • Overdose Response
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Healthcare Justice
    • Farmworkers
    • Public Education
  • In the News
    • NCCC in the News
    • Press Releases
  • Events
  • Resources

Search NC Council of Churches

Raleigh Report: Racial Justice Act Veto Override and Lobby Day to Stop Fracking Bill

June 4, 2012 by Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Raleigh Report masthead

Two time-sensitive issues for advocates: 1) A vote to override the Governor’s veto of the Racial Justice Act could come up any time. 2) There is a lobby day tomorrow in opposition to fracking. We will send more information on fracking, including other related bills, later in the week. If you cannot attend the lobby day, note the suggestion below of calling your senator and representative tomorrow.

Racial Justice Act Veto Override

Raleigh Report members worked tirelessly for the passage of the Racial Justice Act, which allows defendants in death penalty cases to introduce statistical evidence of racial bias. Last year, Governor Perdue vetoed a bill which would have negated the RJA. The Senate has overridden the veto but, so far, the House has not had the required 3/5 vote for an override. House leaders have put the RJA back on the calendar and could bring it for an override vote at any time they have the necessary votes.

One RJA challenge to a death sentence has gone to trial. The judge in that case found that race had been a significant factor in the sentence and changed the death penalty to a sentence of life in prison without parole. So the RJA is being used, and it has already revealed one instance of racial bias in death penalty sentencing.

Even if you’ve already contacted your Representative about the Racial Justice Act, please do so again now.

To find out who your state representative is, click here. Once you know who your representative is, you can find phone numbers and e-mail addresses here: NC House

Lobby Day to Stop Fracking Bill, Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Pre-lobby briefing starts promptly at 10:00 am at the Marbles Kids Museum (Venture Hall in IMAX Building, follow signs), 201 Hargett St., Raleigh Please allow 20 minutes for parking.

Before you come:

  • Look  up the names of your NC senator and representative. You’re encouraged to call your senator and representative beforehand to set up an      appointment or at least let them know you’re coming.
  • E-mail your own group contact (see list below) or katie@cwfnc.org to let us know how many  people are coming with your group.

Legislative Briefing: 10:00-11:15, Marbles Kids Museum, 201 E. Hargett St., Raleigh (Directions: Marbles Website or Google Maps)

  • Meet the rest of  your lobbying team
  • Find out tips for lobbying effectively
  • Hear “talking points” on fracking’s impacts and pending legislation

Travel to the NC Legislature to Meet with Decision-Makers: 11:20, finish no later than 2:00

  • Short walk together to the Legislative Building
  • Meet with your legislators
  • Leave by 2:00, unless you wish to stay and watch the House in session
  • Phone in the results of your meeting to your group contact

To join a carpool from your area, contact:

Western NC: Katie Hicks, Clean Water for NC, 828-251-1291, katie@cwfnc.org

Anson Co.: Denise Lee, Anson Co. W.A.L.L., 704-826-6324, ansoncountyswall@yahoo.com

Charlotte area: Jenny Marienau, 350.org, 678-492-8100, Jenny@350.org

Stokes Co.: Dan Wolber, No Fracking in Stokes, 336-813-0205, donwoppa@aol.com / Linda Hicks, 336-427-3320, lhallhicks@aol.com

Rockingham County: Jesse Epperson 336-908-2176, jepperson@hughes.net

Chatham/Guilford/Rockingham/Alamance/Durham/Orange Cos., Elaine Chiosso, Haw Riverkeeper, 919 542-5790, info@hawriver.org

Moore Co.: Ruth Stolting, Save Our Sandhills, 910-235-3861

Chatham Co.: Deep River Clean Water Society, deeprivercleanwater@gmail.com

Triangle area WILPF: Lib Hutchby, Triangle Branch of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, 919-606-8280, libhutchby@earthlink.net

Lenoir/Johnston/Craven/Wayne Cos.: Alissa Bierma, Neuse Riverkeeper, 919-856-1180, alissa@neuseriver.org

Statewide groups: Blue Ridge Envr. Defense League: Therese Vick, 919-345-3673, therese.vick@gmail.com ~ Food & Water Watch: Renee Maas, 919-593-7752, rmaas@fwwatch.org ~ Clean Water for NC: Maribel Sierra, maribel@cwfnc.org, NC Sierra Club- Travis Hargett 919.833.8467 travis.hargett@sierraclub.org

If you can’t make it in person, please call your senator and representative and let them know that North Carolina should maintain the de facto ban on fracking until and unless it can be proven to be safe. Your legislators’ contact info can be found here, or you can call the operator at the General Assembly (919 713-7928) and ask to be connected if you know who represents you.

Also, please sign the online petition here.

–George Reed, Executive Director

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Raleigh Report Tagged With: Christian Unity, Civil Liberties, Criminal Justice, Death Penalty, Environment, Equality & Reconciliation, Fracking, Good Government, Human Rights, Interfaith, Race/Ethnicity, Rural Life

About Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Aleta Payne first joined the Council staff in the spring of 2001 as the Communications Associate. She continues to oversee that work along with development, represents the Council in several partnership efforts, and serves in other administrative roles, as well. Aleta is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in government and foreign affairs and spent much of her early career as a journalist. She has three young adult sons who continue to come home to Cary for dinner, or at least groceries, and two young adult terrier-mix dogs who keep the nest from feeling too empty.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Subscribe

Click here to subscribe to newsletters and blog updates.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2023 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine