Democracy

T.R.U.E Report Delivers the Facts on Real Issues Impacting North Carolina Schools

By Alanna Joyner / November 9, 2021 / Comments Off on T.R.U.E Report Delivers the Facts on Real Issues Impacting North Carolina Schools

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 9, 2021  Contact: Durrell Johnson, Communications Director                  Durrell@progressnc.org The lack of funding has resulted in crumbling schools, teacher shortages and North Carolina’s students being the victims of state politics. NORTH CAROLINA – For too long, the Republican-led North Carolina General Assembly has underfunded North Carolina’s schools, leaving teachers and staff left…

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Voting district maps crafted by Republican lawmakers advance

By Alanna Joyner / November 3, 2021 / Comments Off on Voting district maps crafted by Republican lawmakers advance

On Monday, North Carolina Republicans advanced a proposed congressional district map for the next decade that, if enacted, would give the GOP a clear advantage — placing 10 out of 14 congressional seats in favor of the Republican Party.  The Princeton Gerrymandering Project gave the plan an “F” grade for partisan fairness, for it’s bias…

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NC redistricting hearing speakers criticize GOP proposals

By Alanna Joyner / October 27, 2021 / Comments Off on NC redistricting hearing speakers criticize GOP proposals

This week, North Carolina Republican lawmakers began posting draft versions of new congressional maps online, with several of the maps visibly indicating that GOP leaders are yet again drawing districts that give their party an advantage in future elections. Local community members, activists and Democrats called out the GOP’s efforts during redistricting public hearings on…

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Progress North Carolina Action Launches the T.R.U.E. Report Portal

By Alanna Joyner / September 29, 2021 / Comments Off on Progress North Carolina Action Launches the T.R.U.E. Report Portal

Today, Progress NC Action launched the True Reporting of Underfunding Education (T.R.U.E.) Portal, a website for parents, educators, and community leaders to submit testimonies of challenges facing our cash-strapped schools.  For years, the Republican-led legislature has systematically violated the constitutional rights of children across the state by failing to provide a sound basic education as…

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Citizens are speaking up to legislators. Adopt non-partisan redistricting now

By Alanna Joyner / September 22, 2021 / Comments Off on Citizens are speaking up to legislators. Adopt non-partisan redistricting now

With eight out of the 13 public hearings on redistricting completed, North Carolinians are sending a strong message to legislators, particularly Republicans; we need a fair, inclusive and transparent redistricting process. Historically, Republicans have consolidated power through voter suppression laws and gerrymandering — making it difficult for Black and Brown North Carolinians to cast their…

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Time for GOP-leaders to drop irresponsible rhetoric, racially-motivated voter ID laws

By Alanna Joyner / September 21, 2021 / Comments Off on Time for GOP-leaders to drop irresponsible rhetoric, racially-motivated voter ID laws

On Friday, a state court struck down North Carolina’s voter ID law noting that the Republican-backed law, “was motivated at least in part by an unconstitutional intent to target African American voters.” In the Holmes v. Moore case, two of the three trial judges declared the December 2018 law unconstitutional — making it the second…

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Roasts, Critics and More Populates Lt. Gov. Robinson’s Task Force Submissions

By Alanna Joyner / September 16, 2021 / Comments Off on Roasts, Critics and More Populates Lt. Gov. Robinson’s Task Force Submissions

In March, Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson launched his very own right-wing outrage driven initiative dubbed F.A.C.T.S. (“Fairness and Accountability for Teachers and Students)”. Mirroring the controversial steps taken by Joe McCarthy, Robinson touts the task force’s website as a tool to snuff out indoctrination that is occurring in North Carolina’s classrooms.  As one veteran public…

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Redistricting started in North Carolina. Here’s how to get involved

By Alanna Joyner / September 14, 2021 / Comments Off on Redistricting started in North Carolina. Here’s how to get involved

Last week kicked off the first bout of public hearings on redistricting, which will redefine the boundaries of congressional and legislative districts for the next ten years. Lawmakers are traveling to 13 locations throughout the state, giving North Carolinians a chance to protect their communities’ representation by demanding fair maps. Historically, politicians have manipulated the…

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Questions Surrounding Transparency from F.A.C.T.S. Task Force Group

By Alanna Joyner / August 23, 2021 / Comments Off on Questions Surrounding Transparency from F.A.C.T.S. Task Force Group

Mirroring the well-funded, coordinated effort by the GOP across our country, in recent months top North Carolina Republicans have focused on racialized fearmongering to distract from their continued effort to underfund K-12 public education and the state’s university system. Most notably, one cog within the manufactured crisis comes from North Carolina’s Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s…

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In the Case of Justice Phil Berger Jr., North Carolina Judges Must Be Impartial

By Alanna Joyner / August 18, 2021 / Comments Off on In the Case of Justice Phil Berger Jr., North Carolina Judges Must Be Impartial

NAACP and SELC (Southern Environmental Law Center) have asked State Supreme Court Justices Phil Berger Jr and Tamara Barringer to recuse themselves from their lawsuit that contests the 2018 constitutional amendments on Voter ID and the income tax cap. Both groups have asked Justice Berger Jr. to remove himself from ruling on the lawsuit due…

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