by Marcus Bass, North Carolina Black Alliance, January 10, 2019.

Concerned voters joining NC NAACP, other groups for march and rally starting at NC Board of Elections and ending at U.S. Attorney’s office

The NC State Board of Elections was scheduled to have a public hearing regarding vote theft in the 9th Congressional District on January 11. But thanks to stonewalling politicians, the hearing isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

The people of North Carolina and especially those in NC09 deserve to know the truth about what happened with absentee ballots.

Join us at the State Board of Elections to make sure this day doesn't pass without a clear outcry for justice.

WHAT: Rally and march to demand justice for voters

WHEN: Friday January 11, 2018 - 11am

WHERE: North Carolina State Board of Elections, Halifax Mall, Raleigh

WHO: North Carolina Black Alliance, Progress North Carolina, Democracy NC, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, North Carolina NAACP

“Two months and four days after the mid-term election thousands of votes are unaccounted for and democracy is compromised,” said Marcus Bass, Executive Director of the North Carolina Black Alliance. “While the perpetrators still attempt to force the hand of the state to certify the election results, community leaders in Bladen County will travel to Raleigh on a day that was intended to provide justice. We will remind those in power that the voters have not forgotten about their stolen ballots and we demand a thorough investigation and repercussions for those involved in the theft of representation.”

After a press conference at 11:10am, the group will march to the office of the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina to demand a meeting with Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Robert Higdon. Despite complaints as far back as 2016, it is not clear what if anything Higdon’s office has done to investigate the widespread vote theft in Bladen County.

“Bladen County residents need assurances that their votes count and assurances that the U.S. Department of Justice believes it is important to protect democracy in our country against all conspiracies to defraud voters - whatever their political affiliation, economic status, or color of their skin,” said Reverend Gregory Taylor, of Bladenboro’s First Baptist Church.

More than 2,000 North Carolinians have signed a petition calling for investigation into these practices. The time is now to move and end the obstruction of justice.