Democracy

Salisbury Post: Harrison Peel “Tillis owes voters real answers”

By Alanna Joyner / July 7, 2020 / Comments Off on Salisbury Post: Harrison Peel “Tillis owes voters real answers”

A few weeks ago in an opinion editorial by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, Tillis claimed that he will remain committed to,“my work of listening to the concerns, opinions, and experiences of North Carolinians”. But since 2014, the senator yet has demonstrated a pattern of dodging voters’ concerns during his town halls and in his decisions.…

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WRAL: Legislative partisanship triumphs over real progress for N.C.

By Alanna Joyner / June 30, 2020 / Comments Off on WRAL: Legislative partisanship triumphs over real progress for N.C.

The North Carolina General Assembly concluded its session Friday without approving a proposal to increase weekly unemployment benefits, among other unmet needs. Amid the pandemic, the legislature refused to address vital needs such as Medicaid expansion, increasing teacher pay, public school funding, unemployment benefits and systemic racism.  Rather than address long-standing issues, Republican lawmakers have…

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Trump Administration targets immigration system, passes sweeping policy changes

By Alanna Joyner / June 25, 2020 / Comments Off on Trump Administration targets immigration system, passes sweeping policy changes

The Supreme Court just issued a ruling that will potentially allow the Trump administration to move forward in deporting tens of thousands of immigrants living in the United States with little oversight.  In a 7-2 decision, the justices found that newly arrived immigrants do not have the right to challenge their expedited removal in federal…

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Charlotte Observer: Are you serious about reopening the NC economy, Republicans? Then act like it.

By Alanna Joyner / June 22, 2020 / Comments Off on Charlotte Observer: Are you serious about reopening the NC economy, Republicans? Then act like it.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, the concerns of Republican lawmakers have not been towards the people of North Carolina, but rather corporate profits. Despite various public health safety measures implemented by Gov. Roy Cooper based on health officials and White House guidelines, Republican lawmakers have continued to push bills that undo months of…

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N.C. Policy Watch: North Carolina dreamers heartened for their futures after Supreme Court ruling

By Alanna Joyner / June 22, 2020 / Comments Off on N.C. Policy Watch: North Carolina dreamers heartened for their futures after Supreme Court ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Trump administration cannot carry out its plan to shut down the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA), which has allowed nearly 700,000 young people, known as Dreamers, who came to the United States as children, to live and work in the United States. In a 5-4…

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As communities fight for justice, Juneteenth sheds light on Black History and freedom

By Alanna Joyner / June 19, 2020 / Comments Off on As communities fight for justice, Juneteenth sheds light on Black History and freedom

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. But 155 years after, the nation is still struggling with the issues of systemic racism and injustice. The celebration of June 19, coined “Juneteenth“, marks a day in 1865 when Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that…

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America’s Great Divider: Trump

By Alanna Joyner / June 17, 2020 / Comments Off on America’s Great Divider: Trump

Since taking office in 2016, Trump has sown division and has targeted his hatred towards swaths of people — including veterans, immigrants, disabled people, and Muslims, among others — while inciting fear about the future of the country. The recent actions of Trump and his administration are among a growing list of calculated tactics to…

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Gov. Cooper signs bill addressing fall election under COVID-19

By Alanna Joyner / June 15, 2020 / Comments Off on Gov. Cooper signs bill addressing fall election under COVID-19

On Friday, Governor Roy Cooper signed into law legislation that will provide money to help run North Carolina elections safely and securely during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill also expands vote-by-mail measures, making it easier to cast mail-in absentee ballots this fall. The bill was created in bipartisan effort that will allocate over $27 million…

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Safe Elections, Not Voter Suppression

By Alanna Joyner / June 10, 2020 / Comments Off on Safe Elections, Not Voter Suppression

The Bipartisan Elections Act of 2020 or HB1169 — an N.C. House Republicans and Democrats jointly sponsored a voting safety bill — passed unanimously last month in an effort to ensure accessible voting in November, but the bill remains to have a few shortfalls.  The House Bill 1169, reduces the number of witnesses needed for…

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Why the Protests in the U.S. are an Awakening for Non-Black People Around the World

By Alanna Joyner / June 9, 2020 / Comments Off on Why the Protests in the U.S. are an Awakening for Non-Black People Around the World

For nearly two weeks, protests and demonstrations have been held across the United States and the world, calling for an end to racism and police brutality against Black Americans. The widespread movement is one of the largest mobilizations, spawning from the murder of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was killed by police in…

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