HISTORIC THOUSANDS ON JONES STREET (HKonJ) PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY COALITION
“A MOVEMENT, not a Moment!”
Members from the more than 125 North Carolina State Conference NAACP branches, youth
councils, high school and college chapters from the four corners of the state and members and friends of over 140 other social justice organizations make up the “Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ) People’s Assembly Coalition!”
BRIEF HISTORY:
In December of 2006, under the leadership of HKonJ Convener, Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, who also serves as the President of the NC NAACP State Conference, HKonJ held its first organizing meeting with a diverse group of some of the state’s best organizers, political scientists, lawyers, religious leaders, and activists. Less than two months later, HKonJ kicked off its first annual “HKonJ People’s Assembly” in February of 2007 where more than 3,500 supporters attended as they sanctioned and signed the coalition’s “HKonJ 14-People’s Agenda (with detailed ‘Action Steps’).” The HKonJ Coalition transformed the 14-Point People’s Agenda into comprehensive reform bills that have been introduced in legislative sessions.
HKonJ achievements include, but are not limited to successful voting, mobilization, legal, and public awareness campaigns aimed toward preventing the unconstitutional resegregation of Wake County Schools (the largest school system in NC); an increase in the minimum wage; successful passage of The Racial Justice Act; obtained Same Day Voting; won Smithfield workers their right to unionize; secured Governor’s veto of Voter I.D. Laws, veto of unfair budget, veto of legislative efforts to repeal the Racial Justice Act; and helped to initiate groundwork for the Governor’s pending “Eugenics Compensation Program Bill.”
THE HKONJ PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY COALITION GROWS:
HKonJ has become a fusion movement which works 365 days per year! Barber, the HKonJ Convener, now works with a professional team which includes a full-time HKonJ Coalition Coordinator, a full-time Legal Redress & Public Policy Analyst, and a growing NC NAACP staff. The more than 140 partnering organizations are further “coordinated” with the help of a volunteer “HKonJ Steering Committee” headed by two Co-Chairs.
The HKonJ Annual Mobilization has grown from approximately 3,500 attendees in 2007 to approximately 15,000 in 2012! Each year, on the 2nd Saturday, in February, at 9:00 a.m., thousands of HKonJ marchers flood downtown Raleigh, NC where the “HKonJ People’s Assembly” convenes and ultimately marches to the North Carolina General Assembly on Jones Street.
HKONJ STANDS TO PROTECT “LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL”
Above, thousands of HKonJ marchers ‘flood the streets’ at “HKonJ5” in 2011; the following year, “HKonJ6” of 2012 would nearly double in participation.
There at the Legislative Building, the HKonJ coalition unites to visibly challenge the extremist right wing attacks on voting rights, economic justice, public education, and equal protection under the law.
The HKonJ coalition pushes back against radical ultraconservative legislation which violates the rights of children, African Americans, Hispanics, Women, LGBT individuals, and others who are considered “minorities”.
The nonpartisan HKonJ movement holds all lawmakers accountable to the HKonJ 14-Point People’s Agenda, while rallying around the theme: “Forward together, not one step back!” The HKonJ Coalition transformed the 14-Point People’s Agenda into comprehensive reform bills that have been introduced in legislative sessions.
