Anyone who lives in Central North Carolina has heard of Reverend Barber's antics over quite a few years now. Most recently, we have his "Moral Mondays", which he uses as an excuse to disrupt state government at huge costs to taxpayers. I kept hearing about this every week, and it seemed like I remember him being arrested at least a couple of times for similar things over the past few years, so I checked my facts. Here's what I could find on short notice online:
March 2, 2012
Wake schools protesters plead guilty; pledge continued fight
Twenty-one people who were arrested at four Wake County school board meetings two years ago – including state NAACP President Rev. William Barber – pleaded guilty Friday to second-degree trespassing charges stemming from protests of the district's new student assignment policy. All 21 pleaded guilty under a first-offender program requiring 40 hours of community service in exchange for having their record expunged, Assistant District Attorney Steven Saad said. They have until Sept. 5 to complete the service and pay $430 in court costs and other fees. Nine others charged in the protests have a court date for March 16.
May 7, 2012
State NAACP president pleads guilty to disrupting Legislature
The president of the North Carolina chapter of the NAACP pleaded guilty Monday to a disorderly conduct charge, stemming from a protest last year at the General Assembly. Rev. William Barber and six others were arrested May 24 during a protest that was part of a rally against Republican lawmakers' state budget plan, which the group complained did not adequately address the needs of children, low-income people and other vulnerable groups. He will not face any jail time, probation or court costs, however, he will have the misdemeanor on his record. Rev. Curtis Gatewood, also with the group, also pleaded guilty Monday to a disorderly conduct charge. As part of a plea deals, Wake County prosecutors dropped trespassing charges against the five other protesters.
This is where Moral Mondays start. Barber has already been arrested twice for what he is doing. He got his first charge dismissed, as most first offenders do... but he plead guilty (and led a rally outside afterward) the second time. That means that if Mr. Barber were to continue to break this same law, he would be a repeat offender with no regard for the law.
He certainly wouldn't do that, right? After all, he is a COMMUNITY LEADER. a REVEREND, and holds a DIVINITY DOCTORATE from Duke University. Any man with this much character would certainly have learned his lesson and thanked the state for the second chance.
Okay, I could be wrong! There could be more, I'm not sure, but in my research today I have found at least TWO MORE times when he has been arrested for the same thing in the PAST MONTH.
April 29, 2013
Barber, 16 others released following arrests at General Assembly
May 6, 2013
NAACP protest at legislature nets 30 arrests; rally planned
May 13, 2013
49 arrested at NC General Assembly 'Moral Monday' protest
May 20, 2013
Fourth week of NC NAACP legislative protests yields 57 arrests
June 3, 2013
More than 150 arrested at 'Mega Moral Monday' protest
And finally, for now...
'Moral Monday' protests have unintended impact
After the first four weeks of protests, General Assembly Police had spent an additional $11,000 in personnel costs, and the Raleigh Police Department, which has been involved in the arrests and transportation of protesters, had spent an extra $16,000 on staff. The City-County Bureau of Identification, Wake County Detention Center and Wake County Magistrate's Office have also had to bring in additional staff to book protesters. The cases then end up in Wake County courtrooms, where, Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby says the prosecutorial staff and judges have to look at each case individually and see it through the court system.
These people think it's so CUTE to go get arrested, like Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton and his posse. Most of us avoid being arrested at all costs, because, you know, that can destroy your life and opportunities at being successful.
I guess that's not something you have to worry about when your job is threatening and obstructing those who don't agree with you, and when your financial backers pay you either way. I just feel bad for all the poor african-americans who have donated to this man because of his promises to help the community, only to watch him squander it away on bail and attorneys.
Those of us who have morals EVERY DAY need to stand up against this man and write to the appropriate people and see to it that he is held accountable for his actions. I suggest elected representatives, the assistant DAs and judges who let him off with restrictions last time, newspapers, local TV, etc. I am totally open to ideas, and would really appreciate them. This is something I am very passionate about, but it is very hard to take on as just one guy.
Please, feel free to comment here, or email me at superjackleg@gmail.com - I am not in Raleigh, so I don't have access to the courthouse to get the names of all arrested, and so far I can't find a journalist who has that list available. If we don't do something to stop this man, this will never end.
Thank you for your time.
