NC Dems, civil rights leaders call for multiday march for ICE reform, passing of state budget

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina Democrats joined civil rights leaders asking people to join a multiday march against a variety of issues.

State Rep. Renée Price, State Rep. Marcia Morey, the Rev. William J. Barber, and more than a dozen others gathered for a news conference and prayer vigil in the legislature on Tuesday.

Barber announced a three-day march from Wilson to Raleigh from Feb. 11-13, followed by another day of protest on Feb. 14 starting at Shaw University.

"We're calling for a mass moral people's assembly and march and mobilization to launch a massive people mobilization county by county," he said. "We have to love forward together. You cannot meet hate with hate."

Those who gathered on Tuesday spoke out about a variety of issues, including what they say is a lack of accountability by ICE agents.

"I am utterly disgusted and horrified with the infiltration of Immigration, Customs and Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol agents into our communities and into our homes," said Rep. Price.

Emanuel Gomez-Gonzalez works with the immigrant rights group Siembra NC. He says ICE agents need to be held accountable for their actions in recent months.

"We should not allow for anyone to act as though those constitutional protections are not applicable to certain members of our communities," he said.

Matt Mercer is the communications director for the North Carolina GOP. He said the party believes the public should not intervene as agents work to arrest criminal offenders, actions he says North Carolinians voted for.

"What you want to see are the items President Trump campaigned on executed, and that includes removing people who should not be here from our country," he said.

Also discussed during the news conference was the state budget, more precisely, the lack of a passed budget.

"Inaction to do a budget (is) our one responsibility of the Constitution," said Rep. Morey. "Pass a budget, and because we don't pass a budget. People are suffering."

Republicans hold a majority in both chambers of the NC state legislature.

Members of the state GOP say that though the budget has been held up over a discussion of the future of tax cuts, a budget will be passed.

"They still have issues that House and Senate leadership are sorting out, but we do feel confident that something will get done," said Mercer. "I do believe you'll see a package passed this year."

Homeland Security Secretary Kristy Noem announced that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents would wear body cameras after massive left-wing protests in Minnesota following the death of protester Alex Pretti, who had multiple encounters with ICE agents.

Republicans in Washington, D.C., have signaled they will only support changes to DHS policy in exchange for ending sanctuary cities.