Students join Raleigh march for social justice

RALEIGH — The bus of UNC students hadn't even left Chapel Hill before occupants burst into song and cheers — warming up vocal cords to express their dissatisfaction with the N.C. Legislature.

About 75 UNC student activists joined 3"000 other N.C. residents to march from Martin Luther King Boulevard to the N.C. Legislature on Jones Street" and told the state government one thing: ""Don't budget on the backs of the poor.""

The third annual Historic Thousands on Jones march — or HK on J — rallies organizations statewide to demonstrate for a 14-point agenda advocating" among other things livable wages universal health care" affordable housing and collective bargaining rights for public employees.

""Our agenda is rooted in freedom" hope and what's right. It is comprehensive because many people's pain is comprehensive" said Rev. William Barber, president of the N.C. National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, at the rally.

The UNC chapter of the NAACP, the Black Student Movement and Students for a Democratic Society joined the march, as well as UNC student body president candidate Jasmin Jones.

Brian Allison, political action committee co-chairman of the UNC chapter of the NAACP, said working with Barber inspired him to get UNC students involved.

If it doesn't affect you directly" it affects you indirectly Allison said.

Students' enthusiasm became clear when the bus full of students en route to Raleigh broke into songs and cheers almost as soon as the driver revved the engine. Allison said he hopes that the numbers and enthusiasm keeps increasing yearly.

I don't think anything at UNC this big has ever happened — progressive whites and blacks from different organizations working together" he said.

Allison said students care about workers' rights, affordable housing and health care because they will soon deal with the same problems.

Many students also wore yellow gags around their mouths that had Repeal 95-98"" written on them to protest a statewide ban on collective bargaining.

The route led the activists through historic sites in downtown Raleigh" starting with Chavis Park which was the only park blacks were allowed to enter during segregation and went by Shaw University where the first student nonviolent committee met during the civil rights movement.

Woody Woodard president of the Statesville NAACP said the weather probably kept the march's numbers from reaching last year's high of 5000 people but said the youth turnout was higher than last year.

Senior Kennetra Irby a member of the UNC chapter of the NAACP" said the causes supported at the march were universal.

""These are points that resonate with everybody" she said. It's going to show the legislature that people in N.C. are really invested in the state" and we are going to push for what we want.""



Contact the State & National Editor at stntdesk@unc.edu.