Because This Is America!

Weekly News, Updates, and Events

We As Democrats Believe:

"I am desperate for change - now - not in 8 years or 12 years, but right now."

-- Michelle Obama

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NEWS









Trump Rally: MAGA Less Mega Thanks To TikTok Teens?




 

(From the Washington Post)  After claims by the Trump campaign that a million supporters had signed up to attend his rally in Wichita, the campaign failed to fill the 19,000 seat BOK arena, causing conservative political commentator Matt Drudge to headline his Drudge Report with the title MAGA Less Mega?  The Tulsa Fire Marshal estimated the crowd at 6,200.  According to the New York Times, teenage TikTok and Kpop fans claimed credit for inflating the registration numbers by running an online campaign encouraging pranksters to sign up for the rally. One TikTok teen exulted "Best Senior prank ever!" The TikTok teens and Kpop fans were later congratulated by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Trump campaign denied that their efforts reduced participation in the rally, instead blaming Black Lives Matter protestors outside the rally.

 



Protesters and Law Enforcement Clash During Tuesday Demonstrations in Wilmington


 


(From Port City Daily After three weeks of daily peaceful demonstrations, protesters and law enforcement clashed late Tuesday evening for the first time since May 31. Law enforcement agencies have stood by their use of pepper spray and the arrests they made, but protesters dispute parts of the official account. Following a tense City Council meeting, five people were arrested outside of Wilmington City Hall after protesters took their demonstration to the middle of Third Street.

 

At least two protesters were pepper-sprayed by one New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office deputy, including well-known peace activist Denny Best. The incident was captured on video live-streamed by Evan Pye. A 22-year-old female protester was also allegedly hospitalized after a Wilmington Police Department (WPD) officer pulled on her arm, apparently dislocating her shoulder, according to protest organizers. A Wilmington Police Department spokesperson could not confirm whether this incident occurred.

 

During the meeting, the council did not implement any of the group’s seven demands for reform in adopting its fiscal year 2020-2021 budget, which did not include any notable police-related funding changes. Click here for more details.

 





25-year-old Leandro Case Leads to Call for Increased School Spending

 




The North Carolina Supreme Court has twice ruled that the state has failed to fund all its schools equitably, and last week a proposal was unveiled to increase school funding dramatically to help deal with the issue. The landmark Leandro case, which was filed in 1994, argued that North Carolina was not living up to its constitutional obligation to provide a "sound basic education." It was based on farsighted provisions in the North Carolina Constitution that hold:






The people have a right to the privilege of education, and it is the duty of the state to guard and maintain that right.



The General Assembly shall provide by taxation and otherwise for a general and uniform system of free public schools ... wherein equal opportunities shall be provided for all students.







Parties to the case on June 15 released an action plan detailing the first steps in complying with Leandro, which includes a $427-million price tag, according to Carolina Coast Online. A handful of Democratic representatives introduced two bills to spend a combined $141 million more on public education as a first step toward complying with the Leandro standards. House Bill 1129 and House Bill 1130 would allocate money to expand a variety of education programs and job positions. The presiding judge in the case, David Lee, is expected to soon disclose his order outlining the state’s obligations, Coastal Carolina Online said. These recent development raise hopes that the promise of the North Carolina Constitution may finally be fulfilled.

 

For more detail on last week's court action, click here. For the history of the Leandro case, click here.


 

Tillis Claims He 'Saved' Medicaid by Rejecting Billions of Dollars of New Federal Funds

 

(From NCDP) Senator Thom Tillis reached a new, desperate low last week when, responding to a new ad about his comments last year bragging about blocking Medicaid expansion as Speaker of the NC House, his campaign argued that he “saved Medicaid” by not expanding it.

 

Wait, what?

 

Senator Tillis has tied himself into knots trying to hide that he caved to his corporate backers and blocked Medicaid expansion. In fact, his opposition has cost the state billions of dollars of new federal funds.

 

“Seven years since he blocked expanding health care access for the most vulnerable among us, Senator Tillis is still fumbling with a way to explain it to North Carolina voters,” NCDP spokesperson Robert Howard said. “Senator Tillis is grasping at straws because he can’t explain this away, and North Carolina voters will hold him accountable for blocking Medicaid expansion this fall.”

 

Volunteers Sought for Ongoing COVID-19 Virtual Phone Bank 





Are you worried about the consequences of 4 more years of awful leadership in our highest elected office? One of our most urgent priorities now is to ensure that Democratic voters are able to vote safely in November. 

We may not be able to knock doors, but we can do it virtually! We want to reach out to our fellow Democrats by phone to check-in and ask how they are doing and to help them apply early for an absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 election.  We want every possible vote to be counted, and to make that happen we need to start NOW!

We Need:


Phone knockers to call people. All you need is a computer or tablet and a phone in the safety of your own home and on your own schedule!  

Data captains to pull lists of those who need help getting their absentee ballot request form.  

Fullfilment volunteers to mail or drop request forms at voters’ doors.


 Email Susanne Werner, [email protected], or Joanne Durham, [email protected] to get connected to this critical effort.





 

EVENTS






 



NHCDP Town Hall With Josh Stein and Yvonne Holley -- June 22



 

When: Monday June 22, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Zoom


 

Virtual Town Hall For Attorney General Josh Stein and Lieutenant Governor candidate Yvonne Holley.

 

Please click here to register in advance for this meeting.

 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. 

 




 

 

Cal Cunningham Murphy to Manteo Tour -- June 23, 24, 25 

 

When: June 23, 24 and 25 various times

Where: Zoom


The Cal Cunningham campaign is currently planning a state-wide, Murphy-to-Manteo fund-raising tour of North Carolina, and they want all the counties in Central North Carolina to be a part of it.  Cunningham's race for Senate has gathered tremendous momentum over the last couple of months thanks to our supporters across North Carolina. Media outlets and election analysts from across the country are calling this race the "hinge state" -- Democrats' best chance for re-taking the U.S. Senate in 2020. The campaign asks that Eastern NC residents join them Thursday, June 25 at 5:00 p.m. for this virtual fundraiser. 

To RSVP to the event, use the link here.

The tour will be held over the course of three virtual events the evenings of June 23, 24, and 25. The details for each of the events are listed below and linked to their RSVP page.



Western NC: Tuesday, June 23 at 6:30 PM EST



Piedmont: Wednesday, June 24 at 6:00 PM EST



Eastern NC: Thursday, June 25 at 5:00 PM EST




 

Dialing for Democrats from a Distance -- Wednesdays through July 1

 

When: Wednesdays, 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

Where: Call from your home

 

NCDEMS invite you to drop in to a Zoom phonebank party at your convenience between 5 and 8 on Wednesdays to call voters in the 7th Congressional District from the comfort and safety of your home. To participate, click here.

 

 

Trivia Night with Team Marcia -- June 25

 

When: Thursday, June 25, 6:00 p.m.

Where: Zoom virtual event

 

The campaign to elect Marcia Morgan to the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners invites the public to join and friends as we put our wits to the test. Host and Master of Ceremonies Dutch from Port City Trivia will ask the questions and the campaign will provide prizes for the smartest cookies--all you need to do is bring your favorite beverage, your friends, your family and your thinking cap! Click here to purchase your $5 ticket or to become a sponsor.

 

 

Virtual Town Hall With Judge Chris Brook -- June 28 

 

When: Sunday, June 28, 3:00 p.m.

Where: Zoom

 

In less than 5 months, a fair and independent judiciary will be on the ballot. Please join Judge Chris Brook for a virtual town hall to learn more about the important work of the Court of Appeals and why we need fair, impartial, and respectful judges in North Carolina. Contributions are welcome, but not required. RSVP here.

 

 

 

NHCDP Virtual Happy Hour With Board of Elections Chair Tom Pollard -- June 29



 

When: Monday June 29, 7:00 p.m.

Where: Zoom

 


Join us for a discussion with New Hanover County Board of Elections Chair Tom Pollard about the Board of Elections' plans for a very challenging election this Fall. Tom plans to come prepared to discuss the fine points of making sure your vote by mail ballot counts. This should be helpful to all of us as we help 40,000 + voters navigating the vote by mail process for the first time.



 

 

 


Red Cross Blood Drive -- July 7



When: Tuesday July 7, Noon - 6:00 p.m.

Where: Andre Mallette Training Room, Government Center, 230 Government Center Drive, Wilmington 28403

 


Blood collection by the Red Cross has been hampered by the coronavirus, but life saving donations are still needed. NHCDP and the New Hanover County Republican Party are inviting New Hanover voters to a blood drive event at Government Center on July 7th. Appointments are available from noon until 6 p.m and the event will be in the large training room inside the Government Center. If you are in a high vulnerability group, this event may not be appropriate for you. However we inquired, and the Red Cross organizers will set up the event to ensure appropriate distancing and masks will be provided and required of all staff, volunteers and donors. Donors who don't want to wear a mask will be turned away. Temperatures will be taken, gloves will be worn, surfaces will be disinfected and sanitizer will be readily available. To sign up for an appointment, click here: [link removed] and use search code New Hanover County.



 

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.


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| Paid for by the New Hanover County Democratic Party |
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Mailing Address: 

NHCDP

PO Box 3036

Wilmington, NC 28406 

 

Office Address:

5041 New Centre Drive

Wilmington, NC 28403

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