Rev. William Barber

Why HKONJ 2?

Statement to the media in Raleigh, Feb. 9, 2008:

The language of our state’s constitution adopted after the Civil War is lofty and grand in its tone. It begins “We, the people of the State of North Carolina, grateful to Almighty God, the Sovereign Ruler of Nations, for the preservation of the American Union and the existence of our civil, political, and religious liberties...”

Each state official has taken an oath to uphold the State Constitution. North Carolina’s founding principle was the people expressed in terms of “we.” Its moral framework was that the same God who calls us to do justice, love mercy, and care for the least of us was also the hand of
providence behind the formation of our state with the commitment to protect the civil, political, and religious rights of all our citizens.

HKonJ is once again calling upon us to remember and act upon these grand principles. While we have made progress, North Carolina is not yet fully upholding its founding principles.

Far too many of our children languish in poverty and are in schools that are underfunded and underperforming.

Many of our people are without health care or health insurance.

Many of our people are making minimum wage, not a living wage.

Large numbers of our people live in substandard, inhumane housing.

How Do We Spell Justice? Speech to Crowd of 7,000 at NC General Assembly for HKONJ 2, Feb. 9, 2008

We have gathered in front of the OUR State Legislature where on the very ground is etched the Great Seal of North Carolina. This Seal bears two images that serve to hold this state accountable for the decisions made within these four walls. These two images, the image of Liberty and the image of Plenty, juxtaposed in this seal remind us that every citizen of this state has the right to be free from forces that would perpetuate lack in the midst of abundance and perpetuate great poverty in the midst of great wealth.

We have gathered in front of OUR State Legislature, in which the Constitution of our State is to be upheld. The Constitution, written in 1868, three years after the Civil War, which begins:

A Movement of Hope: Rev. Barber's Address to the Masses at Chavis Park, Raleigh, February 9, 2008

In the last chapter, in the last line of the book of Ezekiel, when all of the people came together, the prophet declared the Lord is here.

The same is true today.  God has brought us together. HKonJ -- Historic Thousands on Jones Street in Raleigh -- is about us coming together for a movement and not a moment.  We are determined that N.C., it’s leadership will not ignore us, dismiss us, deter us, divide us.  We have legitimate discontent.

As long as