Options for action the week of August 4

Again and again, people are pushing back against authoritarianism, cruelty, and incompetence, including last week’s protest near Representative Virginia Foxx’s office. It is nonetheless enraging how those in the majority ignore their constituents (and the Constitution, logic, and basic humanity), such as State Senator Hise’s willingness to ignore our calls completely. Last week, Hise voted to override the Governor’s vetoes–some of these overrides will make energy costs higher for North Carolinians, shrug off efforts to reduce emissions (choosing instead to doom us to endless hurricanes and wildfires), and make it almost impossible to pass rules that would protect our drinking water from PFAS and similar chemicals. One wonders who State Sen. Hise is working for? It isn’t us.

But the good news this week is that polls and increasing numbers of protests reveal that he and the right-wing networks supporting him are visibly out of step with the majority in our state and country. Someday, we will have elected representatives who care about the people who live here. Until then, we will persist.

A few options for this week

1. Build new ways to connect with friends/allies and build networks other than social media.

One reason we started sending out our weekly emails (and if you aren’t signed up, just email us at blowingrockpersisters@gmail.com and let us know you’d like to be added to our email list) was because it was clear that social media sources, especially Facebook, were unreliable spaces to share timely and accurate calls to action. Some of you have signed up for events hosted by the two distinct Indivisible groups in our area, Indivisible High Country and Indivisible BNC (Boone, NC), so you may be receiving emails directly from them. So that’s a starting place.

The No Kings One Million Rising zoom series teaches that we need to build capacity, starting with small group connections building to regional alliances until we get closer to the point where we could hold something akin to a nationwide strike. While some of us are certainly ready for such a strike, the capacity isn’t there yet, and it needs to start with each of us finding new ways to connect to one another, including building your own email lists, group texts, and/or joining in-person local groups (civic, volunteer, religious, etc.) where you can share information-based calls to action or identify new ways to engage in noncooperation.

Further, one reading of Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams reveals that social media in general (and Facebook/Instagram specifically) has fueled the spread of authoritarianism globally. While we need to stay connected to friends and allies, it would be wise to limit engagement on those sites because every click aids reckless authoritarian-friendly corporations in making more money and gaining more power.

2. Contact State Representative Ray Pickett to support the Governor’s veto of anti-immigrant SB 153

Possible script: I strongly oppose SB 153, which would force our busy state law enforcement officers to act as federal immigration agents, who so far have been violating the Constitution and undermining community trust, a situation that makes us all less safe. Please vote AGAINST any override of the Governor’s veto of SB 153.

*In addition, you could tell Pickett to support the veto of SB 50, which would allow concealed carry of firearms without a permit for anyone age 18 or older. You can learn more about which vetoed bills may still be subject to a vote by the NC House in this NC Newsline article. You can research the texts of bills at ncleg.gov.

Contact: NC Representative Ray Pickett 919-733-7727 email ray.pickett@ncleg.gov

*For some: NC Representative Destin Hall 919-733-3451 or destin.hall@ncleg.gov(you can find your state reps at this link: https://www.ncleg.gov/FindYourLegislators)

Calendar/Opportunities to Monitor Local Political Boards

The Watauga Board of Elections will meet at 5 pm on Tuesday, August 5 to determine early voting sites for this fall’s municipal elections. This meeting will be held in courtroom 3 (on the right on the main floor as you enter the main entrance to the courthouse). Their ongoing meeting dates will be the second Tuesdays of the month at 5 pm in the Administration Building.

The Watauga County Board of County Commissioners will meet at 5:30 pm on Tuesday, August 5 in the commissioners’ board room in the Administration Building. We recently posted observations from the most recent meetings on our website.

The Watauga Board of Education holds its regular monthly meetings on the second Monday of each month at 6 pm, so the next likely meeting will be Monday, August 11, 2025 (the timing of our emails makes it hard to give notice in a timely way). You can see agendas and minutes of previous meetings at https://www.wataugaschools.org/about-us/board-of-education/board-of-education-meetings

Note: We will not be sending out options for action next week, but will send out a short survey.