Moral Monday protesters cited for trespassing at State Capitol sit-in
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- Moral Monday protesters once again refused to back down Monday evening.
Eleven protesters were camped out at the governor's office less than a week after pulling a similar move at the office of State House Speaker Thom Tillis. They refused to leave the State Capitol Building when it closed at 5 p.m. even after repeated warnings from Capitol Police.
Just after 6:45 p.m., protesters were seen being taken out in handcuffs. However, the protesters taken out were not arrested, but were handed citations for second-degree trespassing.
The protesters first gathered in the rotunda. They were holding signs and pledging to stay until they can hand the governor a letter asking him, among many things, to stop cuts to Medicare, roll back on legislation for fracking permits, and to put tough policies in place when it comes to coal ash.
After that, some protesters left, but others vowed to stay to plead their case.
"They went in to deliver a letter, a call to the governor to sit down and meet with us, meet with them about creating a strategy to repeal these laws," said N.C. NAACP President Rev. William Barber. "If they could do that, we could stop the protests."
Another group of protesters also tried delivering similar letters to members of the General Assembly, but the building closed before they could get inside.
Also in the mix of protesters on Halifax Mall near the Legislative Building, Carolina Rising mascot Sonny along with the group's president, Dallas Woodhouse.
"Despite the lowering unemployment rate, lots of new jobs being created because of good policies the protesters seem to be so gloomy and depressed, we thought we'd bring them a little sunshine today," said Woodhouse.
This second Moral Monday sit-in comes as the legislature last week gave final approval to a bill paving the way for the first fracking permits to be issued as soon as next spring. The bill is now at McCrory's desk. He's a strong energy exploration supporter.
Fourteen demonstrators were arrested last week.
More people gathered behind the Legislative Building a few blocks away to rally in opposition to fracking as well as in support of Medicaid expansion.
