NC Progressive Movement (HKONJ, NC Prosecutorial Misconduct)

Introducing HKActivists.com Social Network on Ning

2009-05-15T16:42:55-04:00

Hundreds of HKonJ activists have joined a new social network on NING, modeled after the Obama campaign site, to share news, information, photos, videos, to get to know each other and to join together on specific projects. Check it out at www.hkactivists.com.

NC Public Employees Need Collective Bargaining Rights

2009-04-04T17:55:00-04:00

NC NAACP Leader speaks in Support of Public Employee Collective Bargaining and against Jim Crow era statue-NC 95-98:

Watch this directly at Youtube.com.

Moncure Plywood Workers Win Concessions in Settlement After Nine-month Strike

2009-03-31T23:47:00-04:00

UPDATE: Back to Work At Moncure, March 30, 2009.

Video by Independent Voices

Strike Enters Ninth Month. A "Day of Solidarity" with striking workers was held on March 16 in Pittsboro. The Chatham County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution supporting the workers. See Sanford Herald story.

By Lori Hoyt

We continue our picket line support for the Moncure Plywood strikers, Local 369 of the International Union of Machinists. Members who organized the union over 35 years ago are engaging new owners whose plant managers are trying to divide a strong Black, Latino and White union, push a 60-hour mandatory work week, jack up premium costs for health care, end seniority and other rights the union has long negotiated with previous owners. The company has been fined for safety violations, is facing unfair labor charges for refusing to negotiate and hiring replacement workers. Most recently a noose was hung inside the plant property near the road and strike line. Together, we can help the workers win a just contract, secure union rights and benefits, and let the owners and managers know that the there is no place in our community for the abuses workers at Moncure Plywood are suffering.

See News and Observer article, Moncure Plywood, Strikers Stand Ground

Contribute to the strike fund. Send checks to IAM Local Lodge W369, P.O. Box 318, Moncure NC 27559. For more information, call L. 369 President Lewis Cameron at 919.770.5836 or VP Allan Moore 919.302.3354.

Call Atlas Holding’s CEO, Tim Fazio at 203.6229138. Atlas owns Moncure Plywood. Urge him to sit down with union leaders and negotiate a just contract.

Photos and Audio from People of Color Justice and Unity Legislative Day in Raleigh

2009-03-26T13:16:00-04:00

Some 300 activists attended People of Color Justice and Unity Legislative Day in Raleigh on March 25. They met with state legislators in support of various parts of the HKONJ agenda. Listen to an audio file of Rev. William Barber speaking. Download Poc

HKonJ 3 was a success because WE came together once again in support of the 14-point People’s Agenda. Now, as each of us move forward with our individual organization legislative agendas let us collectively stay focused on not balancing the budget on the backs of the poor! Let us also make sure our legislators know that we support the HKONJ agenda. Visit with your legislators about our collective agenda.

DON’T BUDGET ON THE BACKS OF THE POOR!

By uniting around a broad legislative agenda, our goal is to challenge NC’s legislators to close the gaps and protect our highest priorities: our families, our communities and our future. Real people, united, can make a difference.

HKONJ Poster Now Available

2009-02-20T14:13:52-05:00

This print, 24' X 36', a collage from the 2008 march, suitable for framing, is available for pick-up for $10.00 (but not available for mailing), from the NC Justice Center or the NC NAACP. To order, email debra at ncjustice dot org.

Video Highlights Capture Spirit of HKONJ 3

2009-02-20T13:39:18-05:00

Watch this video on Youtube.com.

Cash Michaels has produced a powerful highlight video of the third annual "Historic Thousands on Jones Street" (HKONJ 3) in Raleigh.

James Johnson's Mistake Was Not Immediately Hiring A Lawyer, and Exhibiting Too Much Trust in the Justice System, NC NAACP Says

2009-02-18T13:33:58-05:00

Media Coverage: "Johnson Gets PJC for Acts After Teen's Death," News and Observer.

At the Feb. 18 press conference, Irving Joyner, attorney for James Johnson, explains the unusual "Alford plea" in which Johnson did not admit guilt but simply acknowledged that the court might have enough evidence to convict him of being an accessory after the fact in the murder of Britney Willis of Wilson. It is not a conviction. Rev. Barber adds that the only mistake that Johnson made was that he did not take a lawyer with him when he went to authorities to reveal that Kenneth Meeks had murdered Britney Willis. He was too trusting that the system would not place him in legal jeopardy, though he broke the "no snitch" rule of the street. This clip is about one and a half minutes in length.

Watch this clip on USTREAM.COM.

Amina Turner, executive director of the NC NAACP, explains how the James Johnson case undermines respect for the law, and sends a lesson, particularly to racial minorities, that the justice system cannot be trusted. She calls for stricter vigilance and greater accountability of prosecutors. This clip is about two minutes in length.

To watch this clip on USTREAM.TV, click.

The text of Amina Turner's statement follows:

Mr. and Mrs. Johnson:

I am glad that things are as well as they are for you, your son James and your entire family. The traumatic experience that you have suffered over these four to five years can never be erased from time, nor regained by time; however, it is now time for a new beginning. The loss endured has made you stronger as a family, and we rejoice with you that James is out, but we are saddened by what your son’s case has exposed, and that is the continued dysfunction in our judicial system.

North Carolinians want to believe strongly that a crime that you report does not make you the sacrificial lamb. For most of us grew up hearing that honesty is the best policy. But the James Johnson case makes us question that old adage and makes us not want to get involved for fear that the system will turn against us, and not protect us, maintain our integrity or at least thank us for coming forth with the truth. God only knows the number of James or Jane Johnsons incarcerated in NC jails today. I would like to think that this case was an anathema, an aberration, a mistake that got undetected and fell between the cracks. However, the events associated with this case reveal yet another tragedy: that when mistakes are made by the system, human collateral is the result, e.g., James Johnson, not justice.

W E B DuBois, one of the founders of the NAACP 100 years ago once said,” The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line.” The viciousness of a judicial system whose modus operandi is used to sacrificing a black man---any black man will do---creates a void in race relations, in human relations and it costs in lives and works against building community. It breeds prejudice, discrimination and hate. This case enforces the belief for communities of color that law enforcement can not be trusted, and we can not afford to continue to go down this road---lacking trust and confidence in the judicial system--- in the New Millennium (when unemployment is rising, foreclosures are imminent, budget shortfalls exist in city and state governments across the country) and when we have just witnessed the first African-American ever elected as president of the United States.

This case illustrates that our state and nation warrant an aggressive oversight throughout all levels of law enforcement to assure an end to racial profiling, that demands an end to discriminatory practices in the prosecution and defense of all who enter the judicial system, and that provides adequate and regular review of cases to protect our citizens, our civil rights and our civil liberties at all costs. Criminals should be locked up for crimes they commit. But the innocent should be protected not only from perpetrators of crime, but also from an imperfect system that promises and assures due process and justice for all under the law.

Rev. Barber: James Johnson Case Is An Enduring Example of Prosecutorial Misconduct

2009-02-18T12:53:54-05:00

James Johnson should have never been charged with murder or accessory after the fact of murder, Rev. William J. Barber, president of the NC NAACP, stated in a press conference on Feb. 18:

The first clip is about three minutes in length:

Johnson was pressured numerous times to accept plea bargain after plea bargain that would have left him languishing in jail for years, Rev. Barber said. This section is about eight minutes in length:

To watch this clip directly on USTREAM.TV, Click.

Rev. Barber pointed out that many whites as well as blacks saw the injustice in the case, and any racial divisions in the Wilson community were caused by the prejudicial presumptions of the prosecutorial system. This clip is about 53 seconds in length.

To watch this clip directly on USTREAM.TV, Click.

The text of Rev. Barber's statement follows:

One hundred years ago, the NAACP started with blacks and whites forming an organization. In addition, one part of its major mission was to stop the lynching of black men and to challenge a system that often overcharged, over-prosecuted and over-incarcerated black men. One hundred years later, we are still fighting these battles. The final rendering of the court’s in the James Johnson case on Monday is a tragic triumph, a bitter-sweet portion of victory on behalf of a young man that should have never been made to endure over five years of mistreatment by the judicial system all because of what we still believe was prosecutorial misconduct.

The Johnson case was never about the Willises versus the Johnsons. This family, James himself, and all of their supporters including the NAACP have always prayed for the loss of life of Brittany Willis. Many of us have children. Many of us have known loss. Neither this family nor not one of the supporters has said one bitter thing towards the Willis Family. The James Johnson case is about James versus an arrogant system of injustice that was bent on blaming a young man for a death he had nothing to do with and prosecuting him for the same. District attorneys and investigators are supposed to be ministers of justice who like the rest of us assume innocence until proven guilty. In this case, they became ministers of injustice and assumed guilt before innocence. Even the court said on Monday, this young man was overcharged from the beginning and when the system knew it, it refused to correct itself and in addition, I would add fell further into the chasm of injustice.

Let us look at the issues for a minute:

* If James and his father had not gone to the authorities, and told what they knew, the crime itself may not have ever been solved.

* If the legal system had protected James’ identity, then the culprit may have never lied on James.

* If the system had looked at the evidence, which in no way linked James to the murder, he would have not been incarcerated.

* If James had not had the strength of character, the strength of family and the strength of faith to maintain his innocence, the system would have beat them him into submission. Remember the system charged him with Capitol Murder without bail but then reduced it to Life with a Million Dollar bond and tried to get him to plead guilty. Even after the system knew they had no case, Johnson was offered plea deals after pleas deals, trying to get him to plead and cover up the system’s mistakes. He was offered a plea to serve a lesser amount of years. He was offered to plead guilty to a Boxcar Felony of Accessory after the fact. He was offered a plea for Accessory. The weekend before the special prosecutor was to take over; he was offered a plea that would have left him in jail for years. Even on the morning when the special prosecutor took over the case, he was offered pleas that included jail time for a something that he did not do. During the month that the special prosecutor was investigating the case, he was offered pleas. One of them being he would serve as many 18 years. Even the original accessory charge was offered as a plea, which could have possibly carried additional jail time over what he had already wrongfully served.

* So if James had not had the strength to maintain his innocence, if white and black lawyers had not come to his aid to help create a justice team because he did not have a million dollars for a dream team, if the NAACP along with thousands of out partners had not used our collective strength and if everyday people willing to give a dollar here or five dollars there for the accumulative for a very modest defense fund, then we very well could have been looking at a young man going to prison for the rest of his natural life or worse gotten the death penalty for something he did not do.

The court was right on Monday to describe this finality as a “scarlet letter.” Remember in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, the letter is more of an indictment on a system of injustice than it is on the person who wears it. When we see James Johnson, we see a broken system that will take 1/5 of a young boy’s life away from him that will break the upward trajectory of a life that will wrongly incarcerate and prosecute when it is bent on proving the system is right rather than confessing the system is wrong and has failed. We must stop this in North Carolina. Have you noticed that even now, in all of the cases that we know about recently, only the court in Wilson offered an apology? From the Governor to the AG all the way down, no one has said we are sorry on behalf of the state. We must change this course.

This year the Legislature will consider the Racial Justice Act, which passed the House in 2007. It would allow a defendant to raise the issue of race discrimination in the criminal justice procedure to a special reviewing commission. This issue is one many defense lawyers, prosecutors, and judges never mention on the record.

Within the next month, NAACP leaders are taking a delegation to Washington to meet with the new Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department and the FBI, to discuss a number of things including federal intervention.

We are sending a letter to Gov. Perdue, Atty. General Cooper, and leaders of the legislature asking for them to convene a Joint Commission to examine why it always seems that when prosecutorial mistakes are made, Black people and other people of color are usually the victims of these mistakes? Are we just unlucky? I don’t think so.

Al McSurely, chair of the NC NAACP's Legal Redress Committee, offered a litany of similar cases of prosecutorial misconduct that prove the Johnson case is part of a destructive pattern. The text of his statement follows

Just look at what we have seen in a few cases in North Carolina in just a few years.

On Monday, February 16th, 2009, by the grace of God, by the hard work of his lawyers, by the strength of his family, and by the NC NAACP shining the bright light of truth on the gross mistakes in the back rooms of the Wilson County Courthouse, another Black man was set free after a four and a half year nightmare. That makes at least eight North Carolina Black men in the past three years, who we know about, who were victims of prosecutorial misconduct, most of whom could have been wrongly executed in our name.

How long will we let these injustices, done in the name of The People of North Carolina, continue? When will we say Enough? Are the few investigative journalists we have left, the few lawyers willing to challenge their peers, the small non-profit legal firms who carry the banner of justice for those on death row, and our overworked volunteers in the NAACP---must we carry the burden of exposing prosecutorial misconduct in the 100 courthouses in our big state? When will our government, the people we elect and pay our tax money to, when will they get together and say: Enough? Let us review seven cases of prosecutorial misconduct we have looked at recently:

1. Darryl Hunt: There was much anger on the part of some powerful white people because a young white female was sexually assaulted and killed by a black man in Winston-Salem. Vengeance was in their hearts. Darryl Hunt was not an early suspect. He became a suspect by chance. The police ignored clear evidence of Hunt’s innocence. Once they focused on Hunt, they sought to build their case, not investigate for the truth. The police relied on testimony from eyewitnesses who came forward only after Hunt’s name and picture were splashed all over the media. There was not a shred of physical evidence tying the Darryl to the murder. The appellate system failed. Newspaper reporters did their own investigations, and, after 20 years of a nightmare, the “System” found Darryl Hunt innocent. But we did not fix the system.

2. Terrence Garner: The real culprit told the police Terrence was not involved. The police and prosecutor were not interested. The culprit’s lawyer confirmed his client admitted he was lying in the initial accusation. The appellate system failed. Only an investigation by a television reporter aroused enough national pressure to free this young Black man. But we did not fix the system.

3. Floyd Lee Brown: Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson granted a Writ of Habeas Corpus in October 2007, after Mr. Brown’s attorney and our Anson County Branch brought to the Court’s attention that Mr. Brown had been held in the Dix Hospital for 14 years (costing the state over $2.3 million) because of the prosecutor’s negligence.

4. Guy Le Grande: This mentally ill Black man wore a superman suit when he represented himself at his death penalty trial. The all-white jury took less than an hour to sentence him to death in Stanly County in 1996. The Judge, the D. A., the D.A’s assistants, and almost all of the spectators were white. The victim of the murder, and her husband, who had planned the murder and who admitted he had paid Mr. Le Grande to murder his wife, were all white. On appeal, Mr. Le Grande was not permitted to raise the fact that the D.A. in that case had a record of removing qualified Black people from the juries in his capital cases. . In 2007, with the NAACP’s help, Le Grande’s court appointed lawyers were able to persuade the Stanley Superior Court that their had been a miscarriage of justice in that case, but the underlying racism and prosecutorial misconduct has yet to be addressed.

Since the 1976 reinstatement of the death penalty nationally, there have been 130 human beings found to be not guilty on the eves of their executions in their respective States. In the past 16 months, #126, #128, and #129 on the Death Penalty Information Center’s List of 130 innocent people who spent more than a decade on death row before being set free, were all Black Men from North Carolina.

5. (#126 on the List) Jonathon Hoffman: The State of North Carolina, acting in our name, convicted Mr. Hoffman in 1995. After 12 years on death row, the State dismissed all charges against Mr. Hoffman on Dec. 11, 2007.

6. ( #128) Glen Edward Chapman: The State of North Carolina, acting in our name, convicted Mr. Chapman in 1994. After 14 years on death row, the State dismissed all charges against Mr.Chapman on April 2, 2008.

7. (#129) Levon "Bo" Jones: The State of North Carolina, acting in our name, convicted Mr. Jones in 1993. After 15 years on death row, the State dismissed all charges against Mr. Jones on May 2, 2008.

There are two criminal justice systems in the United States. One for the rich. One for the poor. The one for the poor has a sub-system, particularly in the South, for the Black man because many voters, who elect District Attorneys and sit on juries, still believe Black lives are not worth as much as white lives. If a Black man is accused of killing a White person, the prosecutor uses the death penalty and the prospect of white people drawn from the voting lists, as bargaining chips. The Black defendant and his lawyers know his chances are slimmer before such a jury, with several of its members taught since childhood to be afraid of him.

For 100 years the NAACP has exposed the stark racism in many prosecutions and sentencing of Black men. For three years, our NC NAACP, in concert with 90 progressive partners cross the state, representing over a million voters, have asked the Legislature on Jones Street, some hard questions about racism in the Criminal Justice System:

1.Why does North Carolina, at the beginning of 2008, have 173 people on death row, and 105 were people of color—over 61%?

2. Did you know that Race is a matter of life and death in the criminal justice system?

3. Did you know a defendant's odds of receiving a death sentence are 4.4 times higher if the victim is white than if the victim is African-American?

4. Did you know that 37 people on NC’s death row were represented at trial by lawyers who would not meet today’s minimum standards of qualification?

5. Did you know only one of the State’s 39 D.A.’s are Black?

6. Did you know that by the time Black men reach the age of 35, about 6 out of 10 of those who had not graduated from high school had spent time in prison?

7. Did you know Judges are now forced to give fixed prison terms to “habitual” offenders and that 74% of those convicted as habitual felons are African-American?

8. Did you know in the past 15 years the state’s prison population has grown from about 21,000 to about 34,000, a 62% increase compared to a 21% increase in N.C.’s total population growth?

9.Did you know about half of the prison inmates are non-violent criminals?

10.Did you know that the rates of drug-use among blacks and whites are similar, but almost 70% of N.C.’s drug-crime prisoners last year were Black, compared to the 18% who were white?

11. Did you know that 70% of inmates entering N.C. prisons did not graduate from high school and 40% are functionally illiterate?

12. Did you know that for some young people, the prison system represents the State’s second chance to meet its constitutional duty to provide adequate and effective education for all its citizens?

For three years our HK on J Coalition has made six demands to start fixing the system, including:

Abolish the death penalty.

Abolish the disproportionate mandatory sentencing of minorities and open up our judicial system to scrutiny and overhaul which will protect the rights of all.

Fund Alternative Sentencing programs, drug courts, mental health courts, drug rehabilitation programs and other alternatives to incarceration.

Place a moratorium on prison construction and instead fully fund public education, alternative sentencing programs, and literacy programs that will decrease recidivism.

Require the Department of Corrections work with the Department of Public Instruction to insure that all able inmates learn to read and write on computers while in prison within two years.

Require all non-violent and able inmates be immediately placed in full-time education/job training programs.

Your Photos, Videos, Impressions of HKONJ 3

2009-02-15T13:53:34-05:00

Were you among the "Historic Thousands on Jones Street" in Raleigh on Feb. 14? What did you think? What did you learn? Post your thoughts in the comments section below or in our Facebook group. Post your photos to Flickr.com, your videos to Youtube.com and provide links in the comments section.

Did you blog about HKONJ? Post a link to your blog in the comments section below.

Photos Posted to the Kodak Picture Network by Curmulus Dancy

Photos Below Posted to FLICKR By Jim Buie, taken with a Blackberry Storm:

AFLCIO-NC, representing North Carolina's Union Movement, has posted a number of interesting pictures from HKONJ on FLICKR.com.

"Mary" on FLICKR.com, aka Mar is sea Y, has posted dozens of HKONJ 3 photos, as well as HKONJ photos from previous years.

News Coverage of HKONJ 3

2009-02-14T23:39:34-05:00

News Coverage: The News and Observer published a photo essay on the march, and a story, "Marchers CAll for Budget Justice Historic Thousands event seeks protection for the poor as lawmakers prepare to cut state spending." WTVD (Channel 11) broadcast a story, "Marchers Want Change in NC." WRAL (Channel 5) led its newscast and website with "NAACP Spearheads March to State Legislative Building"
Channel 14 broadcast "March Brings Thousands to Jones Street in Raleigh"

Blog Coverage: Somner Brokaw interviewed a number of participants in the march for The Triangle Tribune.

Attention: Webmasters for HKONJ Partners. Please Promote HKONJ on Your Website and Email Lists

2009-01-27T15:05:38-05:00

Webmasters for all HKONJ partner organizations are encouraged to put the HKONJ logo and syndication feeds on your websites, and spread news of the event through your email networks. For instructions tailored to your specific web site, email jimbuie2 at gmail.com.

Spanish Version of HKONJ 3 Flyer

2009-01-14T11:48:00-05:00

Download, print out and distribute.

Download Hkonj flyer-Spanish

King Day Resources to Promote HKONJ 3

2009-01-09T09:50:15-05:00

By Bob Hall, Democracy NC

As a resource for King Day celebrations and other events, Democracy North Carolina has prepared a new version of a pocket-size brochure that includes quotes and photographs of Dr. King, plus information about North Carolina’s record voter turnout in 2008, the up-coming H K on J assembly, and Dr. King’s challenge for us to keep working for positive change.

We are making the brochures available free to groups across the state, in conjunction with the NC NAACP and NC Fair Share.

Here is a link so you can see the brochure (it folds in half, so part that you view is upside down):

http://www.democracy-nc.org/improving/mlk2009.pdf

We would be happy to send you brochures, to arrive by January 14 or 15. We printed 100,000 - so feel free to ask for as many as you can realistically use.

Please let me know the street address for delivery and what quantity you would like. Please also send a phone number, in case there is a problem with delivery. (We will use UPS for quantities over 200 so be sure to give a street address for larger orders.)

I look forward to hearing from you; and best wishes for an inspirational and educational King Day, Inauguration, Black History Month, and more!

Bob Hall

Democracy North Carolina
Telephone 919-489-1931
Email: sprc at mindspring.com

Feb. 14, 2009, Historic Thousands on Jones Street in Raleigh (HKONJ)

2009-01-07T15:57:38-05:00

Watch this video on Youtube.com

An exciting political alliance is emerging in North Carolina. It has already achieved important victories and can win more – if you get involved.

The next HKONJ -- Historic Thousands on Jones Street in Raleigh -- is set for Saturday, February 14, 2009.

The H K on J coalition is united in support of a 14-point People’s Agenda for better schools and health care, equal justice, affordable housing, worker fairness, voting rights, environmental justice, and more.

The 2008 election revealed the power of unified, progressive action in NC. Let’s push forward for real change! H K on J begins with a rally and continues all year. Come to the H K on J 3 rally on February 14 at Chavis Park, 505 MLK Jr. Blvd at 9:30 am and march to the General Assembly building on Jones Street at 10:30 am. Be a part of this vital new movement for change.

Download, forward by email, print out, photocopy and widely distribute this flyer, inviting friends, colleagues, members of your congregation and civic associations to this event.

Download 2009 HKonJ flyer version 3

INTRODUCE YOURSELF on this site. Network with other NC progressives in our Facebook group. Make new friends and reconnect with old friends -- 516 people have already joined. With this new medium, we can build a powerful and permanent progressive movement in North Carolina. Update: Facebook users can now RSVP to HKONJ3 here.

Please let us know of other events of interest to progressives in NC. Email announcements of your event to hkonjpartnerevents@googlegroups.com. To subscribe to individual event announcements, send email to hkonjpartnerevents-subscribe@googlegroups.com.

The Art of Political Alliance, Then and Now

2009-01-07T15:43:27-05:00

“We shall have to master the art of political alliance. . . . The future of the deep structural changes we seek [is] in new alliances of Negroes, Puerto Ricans [Latinos], labor, liberals, certain church and middle class elements. . . . Necessity will draw us toward the power inherent in the creative use of politics.” - Martin Luther King, Jr., 1967

“In 2007, the North Carolina NAACP and dozens of groups launched a mighty coalition with the Historic Thousands on Jones Street (H K on J) march and rally. We vowed to work together to promote a 14-point People’s Agenda that would address the deep structural changes we urgently need.

“In 2008, we came back with a report card that graded what the General Assembly did, and didn’t do, on our Agenda. We also launched a massive ‘get out the vote’ effort using one of the victories of our movement – same-day registration. By Election Day, millions of voters of all races turned out and altered the political landscape. Now, let us gather on Feb. 14 at H K on J 3 and declare that the changes our progressive alliance seeks must come not only in Washington, but also in Raleigh and all across North Carolina.” - William J. Barber II

Achievements and Challenges

2009-01-07T15:22:52-05:00

Prepared By HKONJ Partner Democracy North Carolina.

North Carolinians voted in record numbers in 2008 and showed how the ballot can help change our state and the U.S. “By the power of the vote,” said Dr. King, “we will transform” society." Remember these facts:

More than 1 million African Americans voted in 2008 in N.C. and that made a big difference in who won.

A higher percent of Blacks voted than Whites – a first in 110 years, since the Jim Crow-era of violence and disenfranchisement began. N.C.’s new law allowing Same-Day Registration at Early Voting sites helped 188,000 vote who might be excluded – most were youth or people of color.

Even with the big turnout in 2008, almost 1 out of 3 adult citizens in N.C. (of all races) did not vote.

Every vote matters. For example, if just 5 voters for Barack Obama in each precinct had not voted, he would have lost in N.C.

Many towns have elections in 2009 for local officials – are you ready to make a difference in who wins?

“In the future, we must become intensive political activists.” -- Martin Luther King Jr.