By Sean Kosofsky
2010 was just awful. Economic fear, racism, Citizens United and Tea Party ideology created a devastating blow to our democracy. Legislative chambers all over the country changed control and the redistricting process cemented this reality for years to come. In my new home of North Carolina, this meant big change. We braced ourselves for 40 years of progress to be erased.
North Carolina is the most progressive state in the South. Voters here are very proud of investments in education, election reform and other innovations. We have benefitted from forward thinking lawmakers who positioned our state far ahead of the rest of the South. We passed trans-inclusive anti-bullying legislation in 2008 and were the first southern state to pass comprehensive sex-education (both efforts I was proud to be a part of). So you can understand why many of us would not stand by and watch our gains be taken from us easily.
Even though we knew 2013 would be hard, we still wanted to fight. An annual, Black-led, multi-racial coalition had been forming for years, called HK on J (Historic Thousands on Jones Street). "Jones Street" is where our state legislature meets. This coalition, led by the North Carolina NAACP, hatched the plan for the "Moral Monday" movement.
The forces of regression had us outgunned and out funded; but we had warm bodies and public opinion on our side. Moral Mondays was a focused and brilliant tactical assault on the special interest agenda of the new Raleigh regime. From April until the end of session, activists from around the state would gather, every Monday to demonstrate against the horrible bills being proposed and passed. Republicans were rolling back reproductive rights, environmental protections, voting access, criminal justice reforms and attacking teachers and our vulnerable citizens. This broad and aggressive campaign against the people of North Carolina galvanized the public in ways we have never seen.
With each passing Monday, crowds grew larger and our coalition expanded, earning us national attention and making our new governor unpopular. What we could not do in the general assembly we did in the court of opinion. We drew attention to the radical actions of our lawmakers by descending on the seat of government and demanding fairness, transparency and accountability.
I was actually on vacation, at a North Carolina beach with friends on Monday, June 3rd, 2013 when I decided that it was time for me to attend Moral Monday. I told me friends, "we need to go in a few hours so I can be home in time to participate. This matters a lot to me." Despite the relaxing combination of cocktails, sunbathing and people watching, we hopped in the car and hustled back to Raleigh. At 6 PM I gathered with thousands of people on the lawn near Jones Street. Hundreds of us decided to go in to the building to make the lawmakers face us and hear us.
By this point hundreds of people had been arrested since April. My goal was not to get arrested by to participate in free speech. I couldn't believe people were getting arrested for simply petitioning their government, but it indeed was happening. Within an hour of stepping inside Capitol Police began filming us as they began arresting us. The Chief approached me and asked me if I would disperse. I declined. So I was arrested. As were over 200 others.
The next six hours were uncomfortable, but it was a small price to pay for raising awareness about the incalculable discomfort being caused to North Carolina families. Uncomfortable was the least I could do. I was charged with three misdemeanors, even though I believe I broke no laws. By July, nearly 1000 people had been arrested. Hundreds of arrestees have taken a plea bargain, but the rest of us are fighting the charges. As of this printing, I am awaiting trial. My legal representation has been provided for free by the NAACP.
Public opinion had dramatically shifted against our new Governor and another rare thing happened; there is more public support for protesters than there is for the legislature. To be clear, I take no credit for Moral Monday's movement. It was hatched by others and I was mostly on the margins, I feel invested in telling the story of those of us who were arrested.
Activists across the country are now trying export the Moral Monday model. We can recreate this in Michigan and Mississippi and Montana if need be. For those in Michigan tired of looking inward, and focusing on your own well-being, I urge you to face outward…engage civically. It matters.
