"There has never been a time when government has been more important in the lives of Americans."

Unemployment Hits Great Depression Levels. GOP Actions Make It Worse

A national jobs report released Friday said unemployment in the United States has skyrocketed to 14.7%, the worst spike in joblessness since the Great Depression in the 1930s. Suffering in North Carolina has been made worse because of Republicans who have traditionally placed the interests of the investor class and corporations ahead of the interests of working people. More than a million North Carolinians have filed for unemployment due to COVID-19.

North Carolinians out of work deserve better than bottom-of-the-barrel benefits and have Senator Thom Tillis and the General Assembly majority to thank for leaving people worse off. The legacy of starving the unemployment system has contributed to a situation where a half million people who attempted to file for unemployment in North Carolina were still waiting for help late last week, according to WTVD News. For the story of one man waiting in economic limbo, click here.

In April, the Carolina Journal said North Carolina was the worst state in the country for distributing timely unemployment benefits, despite Governor Roy Cooper's effort to improve the process. Click here for the story.

New Hanover Deputy Fired And Faces Charges in Pender County Vigilante Incident

(From Port City Daily) The District Attorney for the Fifth Judicial District, Ben David, has announced that a New Hanover deputy has been fired and faces criminal charges for his role in what has been described as an armed “vigilante group” that attempted to force its way into the home of a Laney High student, Dameon Shepard on May 3. The group came to his house looking for a Topsail High student who was linked to a 15-year-old girl, reported missing around the time of their arrival Sunday night. The group apparently chose the wrong house.

New Hanover County Sheriff's deputy J.T. Kita was off duty but armed and in uniform when he and two other men tried to force their way into Shepard's house in Burgaw, according to a Pender County Sheriff's press conference. Pender County deputies arrived a short time after the armed group and diffused the situation. For details of the incident, click here. For information on the the deputy's firing, click here or click the photo above.

Democratic District Convention This Saturday

The Seventh Congressional District Convention will be held this Saturday at 10 am. It will be held via a Zoom meeting similar to our County Convention. The District Convention will elect Presidential Electors and Delegates to the Democratic National Convention. To vote at the convention you must be a delegate and you must pre-register. At the convention, party members from across the 7th District will meet to continue the work of electing Democrats at all levels in North Carolina. To vote at the convention, you must be a delegate and you must pre-register. To pre-register for the District Convention, click here.

Remember To Apply For An Absentee By Mail Ballot

If you have not done so already, take the time right now to order your absentee ballot for the General Election. Due to the Coronavirus health emergency it may be dangerous to vote in person in November. If everyone waits until the last minute to request absentee ballots, the board of elections may become overwhelmed, increasing the likelihood of problems at in-person polling places. To request an absentee ballot click here.

EVENTS

Meet Interim Wilmington Police Chief Donny Williams

When: Monday May 11, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Zoom

Join New Hanover Democrats for their weekly Virtual Happy Hour. This week we will meet Wilmington's Interim Police Chief Donny Williams. Williams was appointed Interim Chief by the Wilmington City Council effective on February 1st. A 29 year veteran, Williams started in the department as a Summer Youth Intern and then Police Cadet. He was twice named Officer of the Year as he advanced through the ranks. He is proud to have played a part in the expansion of the Police Athletic League, and is committed to maintaining a positive relationship with the community. A lifelong Wilmington resident, Chief Williams was raised by his mother and grandmother in Creekwood. He will be introduced at the meeting by Wilmington City Councilman Kevin Spears.

He is pictured (right) in front of his childhood home in Creekwood.

If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, we recommend that you begin your efforts to sign in at 6:30. Use a laptop with a web cam or an iPad if you have one. If you need help, we have two volunteers who will help you get in: Jim Fleagle at (919) 426-3355 and Stephanie Fetzer at (704) 309-3918.

On a laptop or iPad, you can join by clicking this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88307610904?pwd=d1c3M01TVjFvOEZGUFpERHBkZnpudz09

One tap mobile

+16465588656,,88307610904#

Dial in

+1 646 558 8656

Meeting ID: 883 0761 0904

Password: 749048

Virtual Phone Bank Parties -- Wednesdays and Saturdays

When: Wednesdays, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m, and Saturdays 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Where: Your House

Democrats are invited to join community members in Wilmington for Virtual Phonebank Parties. You can make a difference in these uncertain times from the comfort and safety of your home. Please sign up here for whichever time fits your schedule better, Wednesday evening or Saturday afternoon. You don't have to stay the whole time; we'd love for you to drop by, say hello, and make a few calls in good (but safely distant) company.

7th Congressional District Convention -- May 16

When: Saturday, May 16, 10:00 a.m.

Where: Zoom

At the convention party members from across the 7th District will meet to continue the work of electing Democrats at all levels in North Carolina. To vote at the convention, you must be a delegate and you must pre-register. To pre-register for the Convention click here.

A Conversation with Justice Earls and Judge Brook -- May 17

When: Sunday, May 17th, 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Where: Zoom

Join Justice Anita Earls and Judge Chris Brook for a virtual event on May 17th. Judge Brook was appointed to the Court of Appeals by Governor Cooper in April of 2019 and is running for a full eight year term in November. A contribution is not required to join. To RSVP, please visit bit.ly/judgebrookmay17.

NHCDP Town Hall With Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and Auditor Beth Wood -- May 18

When: Monday May 18, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Zoom

Please register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtdOGpqTgpG9eTwxdpNOsUeoOMFgcRKmdZ

If you previously registered for this meeting, please do so again. Because of Zoom's changing security requirements, your registration before May 10th is now invalid.

State Convention -- June 6

When: Saturday June 6

Where: Zoom

We need to elect At-Large delegates to the Democratic National Convention at this meeting. For details about becoming a Delegate, click here. We will be in touch with details for the Convention.

Best,

Richard Poole, Chair

News Content by James Cummings

If you have any announcements, comments, questions or concerns regarding this email series, please contact the Editor here.

Paid for by the New Hanover County Democratic Party

Mailing Address:

NHCDP

PO Box 3036

Wilmington, NC 28406

Office Address:

5041 New Centre Drive

Wilmington, NC 28403

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