Human Rights

Moral Mondays returns to Raleigh, advocates and community members push for change

By Alanna Joyner / March 29, 2022 / Comments Off on Moral Mondays returns to Raleigh, advocates and community members push for change

On Monday, faith leaders and community activists in Raleigh gathered together to push lawmakers to enact policies that center the demands of poor and low-wealth North Carolinians.  The Moral Monday revival is part of a national movement leading up to a major march in the nation’s capital on June 18, the “Mass Poor People’s and…

Read More

Before Rosa Parks, Sarah Keys refused to back down.

By Alanna Joyner / February 14, 2022 / Comments Off on Before Rosa Parks, Sarah Keys refused to back down.

Before Rosa Parks made history by refusing to give up her bus seat, Sarah Keys did the same.  On August 1, 1952, the young Army private traveling to Washington, North Carolina, refused to give up her seat on an interstate bus for a white Marine. From NCPedia: Sarah Keys decided to stay seated to defend…

Read More

Before the Greensboro Four, there was Durham’s Royal Seven

By Alanna Joyner / February 11, 2022 / Comments Off on Before the Greensboro Four, there was Durham’s Royal Seven

In an effort to celebrate Black History Month, Progress NC Action is highlighting prominent Black leaders from North Carolina, who have shaped our state through their contributions to arts, sciences, politics, and more. North Carolina’s place in the civil rights movement is largely connected with the 1960s Greensboro Four sit-in. But three years prior, a…

Read More

Wake commissioners unanimously pass ordinance protecting LGBTQ community

By Alanna Joyner / October 20, 2021 / Comments Off on Wake commissioners unanimously pass ordinance protecting LGBTQ community

This week, the Wake County Board of Commissioners and Raleigh City Council unanimously approved a nondiscrimination ordinance that would establish protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, natural hairstyle and more. The expansion of protections marks Wake County and Raleigh as the 14th and 15th local government to pass a nondiscrimination ordinance. The…

Read More

House budget writers adopt the extreme view that NC constitution is optional

By Alanna Joyner / August 16, 2021 / Comments Off on House budget writers adopt the extreme view that NC constitution is optional

Last week, the Republican-led state House unveiled it’s 600+ page budget that falls short of truly investing in North Carolina. House lawmakers voted 72 to 41 on Thursday to give final approval to their $25.7 billion budget plan that prioritizes tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy while ignoring the needs in education, public health…

Read More

Right thing to do.’ In historic vote, Charlotte expands LGBTQ protections

By Alanna Joyner / August 10, 2021 / Comments Off on Right thing to do.’ In historic vote, Charlotte expands LGBTQ protections

On Monday, Charlotte’s City Council unanimously voted in favor of a nondiscrimination  ordinance that would establish protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, natural hairstyle and more.  The expansion of protections marks Charlotte as the tenth North Carolina community to pass a nondiscrimination ordinance. This comes after 5 years since the state blocked…

Read More

CDC announces limited, targeted eviction moratorium until early October

By Alanna Joyner / August 4, 2021 / Comments Off on CDC announces limited, targeted eviction moratorium until early October

On Tuesday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new eviction moratorium amid the rising spread of the delta variant,saying that evicting people could be detrimental to public health and would interfere with efforts to slow the pandemic. This comes after the previous federal and state eviction moratoriums ended last weekend — …

Read More

‘Jim Crow 2.0’: Voting Rights Groups Denounce GOP Rewrite of NC Voting Laws

By Alanna Joyner / June 15, 2021 / Comments Off on ‘Jim Crow 2.0’: Voting Rights Groups Denounce GOP Rewrite of NC Voting Laws

Concerned North Carolinians and local organizations denounced on Monday a group of bills advancing through the state Senate that would make changes to absentee voting and limit sources of funding for election administration in North Carolina.  Republican backed Senate bills 326, 724 and 725, which are expected on the Senate floor this week, mirror the…

Read More

Freedom Riders movement celebrates 60th anniversary

By Alanna Joyner / May 26, 2021 / Comments Off on Freedom Riders movement celebrates 60th anniversary

This month marks 60 years since 13 Freedom Riders–including a young John Lewis– set out on two buses from Washington, DC to challenge the segregation of public transportation.   In the weeks that followed, the Freedom Riders were threatened, arrested, and attacked by violent mobs throughout the Deep South. They attracted the attention of the nation…

Read More

Health care professionals condemn proposed abortion ban in open letter to legislative leaders

By Alanna Joyner / May 14, 2021 / Comments Off on Health care professionals condemn proposed abortion ban in open letter to legislative leaders

Last week, the North Carolina General Assembly has fast tracked two intentionally inflammatory anti-abortion bills — House Bill 453 and Senate Bill 405, which aims to further restrict abortion rights in the state.  If enacted, House Bill 453, would prevent a person from obtaining an abortion based on the presumed race of the fetus or…

Read More