The North Carolina state legislature is considering further gerrymandering the state's voting district. If they thought that North Carolinians were not paying attention or were going to be apathetic to their scheme, they were sorely mistaken. People from all over the state and from all demographics - young or old, Black or white, man or woman - all came out in force to demand that the legislature stand up for democracy and reject gerrymandering.
One such person was Eric Willoughby, of Huntersville, who drove two and a half hours just to have his say and, oh boy, he said it all right!
My name is Eric Willoughby, a senior in high school and I come to you today from North Mecklenburg County, Huntersville to be specific, and I'm here today to convey a very, very simple message.
I'm 17.. I should be spending my Wednesday afternoons with friends or family, but instead I'm here with y'all. I'm here because every single day I have to worry about which liberties Republican legislators are going to choose to gut next. They started by refusing to take action against gun violence and destroyed your right to peace of mind about something as simple as sending your child to school. Then they came for your right to make the most basic reproductive Health Care decisions that were right for you and your family. This time they're coming for every North Carolinian's right to fair representation.
This legislature is made up of the same people who have drawn maps that intentionally disenfranchise and limit the power of historically marginalized and minority voters. These are the same people who have proven to us time and time again through their voting record that they don't care. If these people cannot be trusted to protect our most basic rights how can we trust them to draw fair and impartial maps that will promote a healthy and vibrant democracy. They can't. We can't trust them. The Republicans in this committee and the others in the House and Senate don't care about democracy. They don't care about fair maps. All they care about are three simple things - reelection, power and dollar signs.
This redistricting stunt is a clear power grab by Republicans in the general assembly. So I urge you now watch your step be very careful in what you choose to do because young people like me are watching and young people like me are fed up.
Dayum! It's people like young Eric that make me think that these kids - and democracy - just might be OK after all.
You can catch four of the other speakers at NC Newsline.
