Hundreds of HKonJ activists have joined a new social network on NING, modeled after the Obama campaign site, to share news, information, photos, videos, to get to know each other and to join together on specific projects. Check it out at www.hkactivists.com.
Video by Independent Voices
Strike Enters Ninth Month. A "Day of Solidarity" with striking workers was held on March 16 in Pittsboro. The Chatham County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution supporting the workers. See Sanford Herald story.By Lori Hoyt
We continue our picket line support for the Moncure Plywood strikers, Local 369 of the International Union of Machinists. Members who organized the union over 35 years ago are engaging new owners whose plant managers are trying to divide a strong Black, Latino and White union, push a 60-hour mandatory work week, jack up premium costs for health care, end seniority and other rights the union has long negotiated with previous owners. The company has been fined for safety violations, is facing unfair labor charges for refusing to negotiate and hiring replacement workers. Most recently a noose was hung inside the plant property near the road and strike line. Together, we can help the workers win a just contract, secure union rights and benefits, and let the owners and managers know that the there is no place in our community for the abuses workers at Moncure Plywood are suffering.
See News and Observer article, Moncure Plywood, Strikers Stand GroundContribute to the strike fund. Send checks to IAM Local Lodge W369, P.O. Box 318, Moncure NC 27559. For more information, call L. 369 President Lewis Cameron at 919.770.5836 or VP Allan Moore 919.302.3354.
Call Atlas Holding’s CEO, Tim Fazio at 203.6229138. Atlas owns Moncure Plywood. Urge him to sit down with union leaders and negotiate a just contract.
Some 300 activists attended People of Color Justice and Unity Legislative Day in Raleigh on March 25. They met with state legislators in support of various parts of the HKONJ agenda. Listen to an audio file of Rev. William Barber speaking. Download Poc
This print, 24' X 36', a collage from the 2008 march, suitable for framing, is available for pick-up for $10.00 (but not available for mailing), from the NC Justice Center or the NC NAACP. To order, email debra at ncjustice dot org.
Watch this video on Youtube.com.
Cash Michaels has produced a powerful highlight video of the third annual "Historic Thousands on Jones Street" (HKONJ 3) in Raleigh.
Related:
At the Feb. 18 press conference, Irving Joyner, attorney for James Johnson, explains the unusual "Alford plea" in which Johnson did not admit guilt but simply acknowledged that the court might have enough evidence to convict him of being an accessory after the fact in the murder of Britney Willis of Wilson. It is not a conviction. Rev. Barber adds that the only mistake that Johnson made was that he did not take a lawyer with him when he went to authorities to reveal that Kenneth Meeks had murdered Britney Willis. He was too trusting that the system would not place him in legal jeopardy, though he broke the "no snitch" rule of the street. This clip is about one and a half minutes in length.
Watch this clip on USTREAM.COM.
Were you among the "Historic Thousands on Jones Street" in Raleigh on Feb. 14? What did you think? What did you learn? Post your thoughts in the comments section below or in our Facebook group. Post your photos to Flickr.com, your videos to Youtube.com and provide links in the comments section.
Did you blog about HKONJ? Post a link to your blog in the comments section below.
Photos Posted to the Kodak Picture Network by Curmulus DancyPhotos Below Posted to FLICKR By Jim Buie, taken with a Blackberry Storm:
AFLCIO-NC, representing North Carolina's Union Movement, has posted a number of interesting pictures from HKONJ on FLICKR.com.
"Mary" on FLICKR.com, aka Mar is sea Y, has posted dozens of HKONJ 3 photos, as well as HKONJ photos from previous years.
News Coverage: The News and Observer published a photo essay on the march, and a story, "Marchers CAll for Budget Justice Historic Thousands event seeks protection for the poor as lawmakers prepare to cut state spending." WTVD (Channel 11) broadcast a story, "Marchers Want Change in NC." WRAL (Channel 5) led its newscast and website with "NAACP Spearheads March to State Legislative Building"
Channel 14 broadcast "March Brings Thousands to Jones Street in Raleigh"
Blog Coverage: Somner Brokaw interviewed a number of participants in the march for The Triangle Tribune.
Webmasters for all HKONJ partner organizations are encouraged to put the HKONJ logo and syndication feeds on your websites, and spread news of the event through your email networks. For instructions tailored to your specific web site, email jimbuie2 at gmail.com.
Download, print out and distribute.
We are making the brochures available free to groups across the state, in conjunction with the NC NAACP and NC Fair Share.
Here is a link so you can see the brochure (it folds in half, so part that you view is upside down):
http://www.democracy-nc.org/improving/mlk2009.pdf
We would be happy to send you brochures, to arrive by January 14 or 15. We printed 100,000 - so feel free to ask for as many as you can realistically use.
Please let me know the street address for delivery and what quantity you would like. Please also send a phone number, in case there is a problem with delivery. (We will use UPS for quantities over 200 so be sure to give a street address for larger orders.)
I look forward to hearing from you; and best wishes for an inspirational and educational King Day, Inauguration, Black History Month, and more!
Bob Hall
Democracy North Carolina
Telephone 919-489-1931
Email: sprc at mindspring.com
Watch this video on Youtube.com
An exciting political alliance is emerging in North Carolina. It has already achieved important victories and can win more – if you get involved.
The next HKONJ -- Historic Thousands on Jones Street in Raleigh -- is set for Saturday, February 14, 2009.
The H K on J coalition is united in support of a 14-point People’s Agenda for better schools and health care, equal justice, affordable housing, worker fairness, voting rights, environmental justice, and more.
The 2008 election revealed the power of unified, progressive action in NC. Let’s push forward for real change! H K on J begins with a rally and continues all year. Come to the H K on J 3 rally on February 14 at Chavis Park, 505 MLK Jr. Blvd at 9:30 am and march to the General Assembly building on Jones Street at 10:30 am. Be a part of this vital new movement for change.
Download, forward by email, print out, photocopy and widely distribute this flyer, inviting friends, colleagues, members of your congregation and civic associations to this event.
Download 2009 HKonJ flyer version 3
INTRODUCE YOURSELF on this site. Network with other NC progressives in our Facebook group. Make new friends and reconnect with old friends -- 516 people have already joined. With this new medium, we can build a powerful and permanent progressive movement in North Carolina. Update: Facebook users can now RSVP to HKONJ3 here.
Please let us know of other events of interest to progressives in NC. Email announcements of your event to hkonjpartnerevents@googlegroups.com. To subscribe to individual event announcements, send email to hkonjpartnerevents-subscribe@googlegroups.com.
“We shall have to master the art of political alliance. . . . The future of the deep structural changes we seek [is] in new alliances of Negroes, Puerto Ricans [Latinos], labor, liberals, certain church and middle class elements. . . . Necessity will draw us toward the power inherent in the creative use of politics.” - Martin Luther King, Jr., 1967
“In 2007, the North Carolina NAACP and dozens of groups launched a mighty coalition with the Historic Thousands on Jones Street (H K on J) march and rally. We vowed to work together to promote a 14-point People’s Agenda that would address the deep structural changes we urgently need.
“In 2008, we came back with a report card that graded what the General Assembly did, and didn’t do, on our Agenda. We also launched a massive ‘get out the vote’ effort using one of the victories of our movement – same-day registration. By Election Day, millions of voters of all races turned out and altered the political landscape. Now, let us gather on Feb. 14 at H K on J 3 and declare that the changes our progressive alliance seeks must come not only in Washington, but also in Raleigh and all across North Carolina.” - William J. Barber II
Prepared By HKONJ Partner Democracy North Carolina.
North Carolinians voted in record numbers in 2008 and showed how the ballot can help change our state and the U.S. “By the power of the vote,” said Dr. King, “we will transform” society." Remember these facts:
