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Photos by Michael Burns, Duke Divinity School Intern
I finally had the chance to go my first Moral Monday earlier this week. Walking around Halifax Mall with our Executive Director, George Reed, I was struck by how many people we both knew. I’m deeply proud of the involvement by clergy and faith communities in particular. So many of our members are represented not only in the crowd but also in the faces of those participating in civil disobedience and getting arrested. As we celebrate Independence Day this week, we give thanks not only for the many freedoms our country offers, but in particular for the countless faithful voices speaking up and speaking out for those who are being pushed to the margins by this General Assembly.
From its humble beginnings just several weeks ago, this flourishing movement continues to build momentum – and the country is watching. While state leaders like Governor McCrory and Sen. Thom Goolsby dismiss the protests, all of the national media coverage should get their attention. Here’s a quick collection of recent coverage, much of it focused on the role of faith communities:
- Moral Mondays: Religious Progressives Protest North Carolina Policies (Time)
- How to Get Arrested on Moral Monday: A North Carolina Minister’s Protest (The Atlantic)
- Protests Swell as Republican Party Remakes North Carolina (Business Week by Bloomberg)
- How North Carolina Became the Wisconsin of 2013 (The Atlantic)
- NC Drops Long-Term Unemployment Benefits (BBC)
- War on the Unemployed (NY Times Op-Ed)
What’s next? Stay tuned, and see you next Monday.
-Chris Liu-Beers, Program Associate
