Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / July 16, 2015, edition 1 / Page 9
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PRE-MORAL MONDAY MARCH EVENT ? m Film showing at WSSU draws huge crowd before Moral Monday march bytevinstinson t^r chronicle On Thursday, July 9, over 150 filed into the Student Activity Center on the campus of Winston-Salem State University to learn more and about the N.C. 2013 voter law and the Moral Monday March. The turnout has sparked plans for more such meetings atWSSU. During the town hall-style meeting, a documentary titled "Ferguson. A Report from Occupied Territory" was shown, followed by an open discussion mediated by members of WSSU Student Government Association. The film, directed by Tim Pool, examines the prob lems of racial injustice in and around the town of Ferguson, Missouri. In the documentary, Pool turns to the residents of St. Louis County to tell viewers what it's like to be racially profiled. After the film showing, community members and stu dents from WSSU talked about how the struggles of the people in Ferguson relates back to the Moral Monday March and all it represents. WSSU Student Body President Kyle Brown believes it is important for a younger generation to take charge and make a difference. "The film was very powerful," Brown said. "It is time for our generation to take charge of the movement. These laws that are set in place will affect us the most." The law being dubbed the "Monster Voter | Suppression Bill" by the N.C. NAACP attacked young people's right to vote by eliminating pre-registra tion for eligible 16- and 17 year-olds. "I want young people to participate and get involved." Brown said. Linda Sutton, member and organizer for Democracy N.C., said the film showed her that this is not just about politics but quality of life. "If nobody says anything, nothing will happen," Sutton said. "We have to wake up and make a change not only with politics but quality of life as well." Democracy N.C. is a nonpartisan organization that uses research and organizing to increase voter participa tion and reduce the influence of big money in politics. For over 20 years. Democracy N.C. worked to protect democ racy in the state and promote citizen ownership of govern ment. After the town hall meeting, Demonte Alcord, first vice president of the N.C. NAACP Youth and College Division, talked about the schedule for the rally and how important it is to be educated on the case and get involved. "We can't just sit by and watch our rights be taken away from us like this," Alcord said. "We will not just sit by and just watch times change. This is the new South, and I believe we can make a difference." The event was so successful that throughout the upcoming school year, the SGA of WSSU will hold simi lar town hall meetings to continue the discussion on racial suppression in the state and ways to extinguish it. "I want to keep this going," said Brown. "We will write down everything that was discussed here today and keep it for later discussions we have late in the year." Photos by Tevin Stinsoo Over ISO people filled the Student Activity Center on the campus ofWSSU on Thursday, July 9 for a viewing of the documentary Ferguson: A Report from Occupied Territory, and to discuss the Moral Monday March for Voting Rights. Events from pageAl Voting Rights Act of 1965; and the strug gle that is still ongoing today for voters' rights and the impact that it has on African Americans. Holmes-Johnson urged the crowd to be strategic as part of the move ment and to continue the struggle to the fight. The session proceeded with words from the opening speaker, Attorney Theodore Shaw, who is also director of the UNC Center for Civil Rights. Shaw dis cussed Vernon Dahmer, who was killed in 1966 fighting to register voters. He dis cussed Dahmer's saying that he quoted during his lifetime, "If you don't vote, you don't count," which was why he lead the struggle that he led. Shaw then discussed the importance of voting, for he explained how the Right to Vote is sacred, and that one has to fight or one can't win. Shaw then followed it up by saying, "Life has meaning only in struggle; let us celebrate in the struggle." The Teach-in also contained a video viewing of "This is Our Selmawhich was followed by panelist speakers Tyler Swanson. nolitical * I action chair of the N.C. NAACP Youth and College; Vashti Hinton, N.C. A&T student and arrestee; Isela G u i t i e r e z , Democracy N.C. Swanson dis cussed his overall concern about hav- . ine the risht to vote. c -~o ? * * which is slowly being taken away. Swanson also urged everyone to be involved in every election. Hinton discussed the effect H.B. (House Bill) 589 has on the college stu dents, such as not having the right to vote. She also expressed the importance of being able to vote. Guitierez discussed H.B. 589, also known as the Monster Bill, and the tour that is used to help educate the people about the ramifications within the law that ic til'ir?rr ou/otr ru?r?_ to iuimii^. unuj pvv/ pie's right to vote. Guitierez also dis cussed the dangers that are contained within the law. Sessions on the agenda also includ ed: "Racial Violence and Criminal (In) Justice: From jcuiia IU Charleston"; "The Fight for Economic Justice and Living Wages"; and "Building Coalitions to Sustain a Social Justice Movement." City Council Member Derwin Montgomery was at the teach-in. He dis cussed his hope in the court responding to the N.C. NAACP position and expressed his concern with the law. Montgomery expressed doubt that he would currently have his position if the law were in place when he was elected, for he is a product of early/same day registration. Montgomery believes that voting rights should be made as easy as possible for the people. Montgomery said he is trying to help in his own way by educating the people about what is exactly going on, and how it affects more than a few individuals. University of North Carolina at Greensboro student and Ignite N.C. mem ber Femi Shittu hopes the N.C. NAACP wins, for she expressed the struggle she has seen firsthand when trying to vote. "Last time I voted, half of the students was not able to get to vote," Shittu said. Shittu ultimately expressed her concern about the voting laws affecting the overall livelihood of people, for she feels it affects living choice and trying to get established. Shittu Montgomery Clean. Safe. Secure. Closing coal ash basins in the Carolinas. Across the Carolinas, we're making significant progress to clean up and permanently close all our coal ash basins. We've partnered with some of the nation's top scientists and engineers to develop smart, effective ways to safely close basins and protect our communities' natural resources. We're setting a new standard in leading the Carolinas to a safer, cleaner energy future. DUKE ENERGY. www.duke-energy.com/SafeBasinClosure Quick fact: We recycle nearly half of the coal ash produced by our company today and are looking for new ways to safely reuse even more of this valuable construction material. Message paid for by DuKe Energy shareholders.
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
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