North Carolina NAACP annual training session opportunity to plan for year ahead
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A standing room only crowd of NAACP members and supporters filled the Abundant Life Christian Center in Raleigh Saturday. That's where hundreds of people of all ages and races heard the Rev. William Barber speak from the pulpit about the civil rights group's plans for 2015.
"We're going to work! Mobilizing, management, and membership," said Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP. "And we don't have time for foolishness!"
Barber is known for his leadership of demonstrations like the Moral Monday protests at the state legislature on Jones Street, which led to hundreds of arrests -- including his own -- on trespassing and other charges.
Responding to his critics who were not at the meeting, he told ABC11, " We are not fighting for just black people. We are fighting for the betterment of all North Carolinians, and we hope the governor, the legislature and others will join us in that."
He also told us the protests and acts of civil disobedience have influenced the people now in charge of state government.
"Interestingly, the governor and the legislators said they weren't going to accept Medicaid expansion," said Barber. "But now, after a year or two of us protesting, they're talking about it. They cut teacher pay. Now they're trying to figure out how to raise it."
Barber says if Republican lawmakers and the governor support issues advocated by the North Carolina NAACP, they'll get support from the civil rights group, even if the members disagree with GOP leaders and protest on other issues.
