WS Chronicle

In photo above: On Tuesday, June 23, the Winston-Salem Branch of the NAACP held its first official meeting under the new leadership. During the meeting at the Enrichment Center, members discussed their plans for Moral Monday in Winston-Salem. (Photo by Tevin Stinson)

Branch looks to educate community on historic federal voting rights trial

By Tevin Stinson
The Chronicle

On Tuesday, June 23, the Winston-Salem Branch of the NAACP held its first official meeting under newly elected officials and executive board members.

The meeting was held at the NAACP Enrichment Center, 4130 Oak Ridge Road. Elected members of the executive board met at 6 p.m., followed by a separate meeting for general members at 7 p.m.

During the general members meeting, Moral Monday was the topic of discussion.

On July 13, the historic lawsuit N.C. NAACP v. McCrory will be heard in federal court. It challenges North Carolina’s 2013 voter law. The Rev. Dr. William Barber, N.C. NAACP president, believes the law represents the extremist agenda of Gov. Pat McCrory and will affect minority voters throughout the South and eventually the nation.

Isaac “Ike” Howard, who was elected president of the Winston-Salem Branch last month, said it was important that the members of the local chapter are instrumental in educating the community on the trial and what it all means.

“This is about more than voter rights, this is about us trying to better the way of life in this community and in this state,” Howard said. “This is just a moment in the movement, it’s just a small part of what we have to do to make life better for the people of this community.”

The weeks leading up to the trial, each ward in the city will hold a teach-in session to educate the public on the trial and the lawsuit.

Laurel Ashton, N.C. NAACP field secretary, attended the meeting and said the organization of the teach-in sessions was all done by city officials and the local branch of the NAACP.

“I have to say the Winston-Salem chapter has already done a amazing job,” Ashton said. “Although this is the first official meeting for the chapter the members have been very instrumental in making sure the public is aware of what is going on.”
During the sessions, members of the NAACP and officials from other states will talk about their struggles with similar laws and how it will affect this city and state.

“This is the first voting rights case since Shelby v. Holder,” Ashton said. “This is a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, and we must make a impact now because it will affect the entire nation.”

Forsyth County Commissioner Walter Marshall said, “More important than the march, we must make sure that the people stay involved and educated.”

“Everything depends on getting people involved,” Marshall said. “Education and economics are our salvation. We can’t march, then forget about the cause. We must educate the public and make sure they continue to fight for what’s right.”

Marshall, a member of the local chapter since 1969, also said that it is important that the younger generation get involved with the NAACP to carry on the tradition.

“Young people have to realize that he NAACP is more important now than ever. The youth of this community have to educate themselves on what happened in the past to prepare for the future.”

On the first day of the trial, there will be a teach-in session from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Goler Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, 630 N. Patterson Ave., followed by a march and rally at the Corpening Plaza, 231 W. 1st St.

For more information on the trial or on the Moral Monday March. visit www.naacpnc.org.