Nice!! THANK YOU!: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 12, 2014 Contact: Sarah Bufkin, NC NAACP - smbufkin@gmail or 404.285.3413 CORRECTION: A previous version of this release only listed four of the plaintiffs in the NC NAACPs court challenge to the Legislative Buildings new rules. Stella Adams is also a plaintiff in the suit in addition to Douglas and Vicki Ryder, Sylvia Barnes and OLinda Gillis. The NC NAACP Files Complaint in Superior Court to Challenge New Building Rules as Crafted Specifically and Strategically to Silence Moral Monday Protesters NC NAACP Superior Court Hearing: Tomorrow, Friday, June 13, 2014 Courtroom 10C in Wake County Court House 316 Fayetteville Street, Raleigh, NC RALEIGH, NC - The North Carolina NAACP, along with five other plaintiffs, filed a complaint in Superior Court on June 11 challenging the new building rules that criminalize constitutionally protected conduct in the NC General Assembly and attempt to silence the Forward Together Moral Mondays Movement. The legal team leading the fight against these rules include Attorneys Irving Joyner, Al McSurely and Scott Holmes. The Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order will be heard on June 13 by Superior Court Judge Anthony Fox. The building rules were initially adopted December 19, 1984 and amended November 18, 1987. Fifteen years later, and only one day prior to the first Moral Monday protest of the 2014 legislative session, the Legislative Services Commission reconvened on May 15, 2014 to adopt new building rules. Under the new rules, anyone who disturbs the General Assembly - particularly through singing or chanting - or who poses an imminent threat of disturbance is violating the building access rules. Yet they do not define disturbance or imminent threat, allowing legislative members and law enforcement unbridled discretion to shut down protests and petitions from North Carolinians they disagree with. It is clear that the new building rules were conveniently and strategically adopted in time for the return of the Moral Monday protesters. The rules are vague and violate the North Carolina Constitutions, including Article 1, Sections 12, 14 and 19 as well as the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. The NC NAACP and individual plaintiffs, including Douglas and Vicki Ryder, Stella Adams, Sylvia Barnes and OLinda Gillis, are calling for the court to temporarily, preliminarily and permanently enjoin the legislature from enforcing the unconstitutional policies against Moral Monday protesters. They - as the Forward Together Moral Movement is fond of chanting in the General Assembly building - shall not be moved from exercising their constitutional rights.
Posted on: Fri, 13 Jun 2014 13:01:24 +0000
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