Information submitted by Bill McNeil:
News from Friends Committee on North Carolina Legislation* continues to grow in strength and numbers as we work to promote state legislation and practices that are consistent with Quaker values and testimonies. With racial, social, and economic inequities intensified by COVID-19 and disturbing incidences of police violence and racism, there has never been a more compelling time to take action in NC!
Friends Committee on North Carolina Legislation has issued a minute on anti-racism** and has discerned criminal justice reform, electoral reform, environmental stewardship, and quality healthcare to be priority topics for legislative advocacy for this year. With the legislature convening this spring, we have issued three ACTION ALERTS urging friends to speak out on Medicaid Expansion and Improving Mail in Ballot Procedures. If you’re not receiving our alerts, please join us by going to FCNCL.org and clicking on the SIGN UP link. You will find the alerts posted there along with lots of other information. Please LIKE us on Facebook and follow us to see alerts and other pertinent resources.
We welcome your feedback, so please let us know what you think!
*If you’re just learning about Friends Committee on North Carolina Legislation, it was founded in Spring 2019 and advocates for policies that support people of all cultural, religious and racial backgrounds; marriage and gender equality; violence prevention; civil and voting rights for all citizens; access to quality education opportunities; quality healthcare for all; an equitable and humane criminal justice system; environmental stewardship; and opposition to all forms of torture and extreme rendition.
**Because Friends Committee on North Carolina Legislation recognizes that systemic racism is a long standing and continuing problem, it has committed to continually work towards becoming an anti-racist faith organization. The FCNCL Minute on Anti-Racism includes the following statement: “We recognize that as individuals and Quakers we have too often been blind to our own failings and to the part we play in perpetuating structural and institutional racism. In committing to the work of becoming anti-racist, we know that
confronting our failures will be difficult and painful. Guided by faith and grace, we are willing to accept this challenge and to do
the necessary work. We see this work as essential if we are truly to live our Quaker testimonies and recognize that of God in
everyone.”
– Information submitted by Dot Mason
Friends Committee on North Carolina Legislation has issued another Action Alert. It asks Friends and friends of Friends
to contact their state senators urging them to strengthen HB 1169 to facilitate Mail-In Ballots to make it easier for all citizens
to vote in the November election. This Action Alert as well as the Action Alert re HB 1040, which would expand Medicaid in
North Carolina, are now on the organization website, www.fcncl.org under the Advocacy and Action tab. They are also on the
FCNCL Facebook page.
Note that on HB 1040, the Medicaid Expansion bill, Guilford County Reps. Clemmons, Quick, Brockman, and Harrison are cosponsors. hey deserve a thank you for this.
For more information, contact Dorothy Mason at: ([email protected]).