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Updates as of October 6

Updated: Oct 8

Engaging with the news lately has felt like entering a construction zone without a hardhat. Do all you can to protect your heart and your head, taking breaks as needed, and then, you guessed it, persist in finding one or two ways to take action. This is a long haul, and we are here for it because the idea of doing nothing is worse than knowing it will take a long time to climb out of this mess.


Still, if you know us, you know we're furious at State Sen. Ralph Hise for deciding he knew better than the majority of Watauga County voters when he gerrymandered our county so that people like him could select who represents us, instead of the voters, including blocking everyone in Boone from voting at all last time. This gerrymandering action isn't supported by our constitution, especially after voters overwhelming voted for a more fair plan, but apparently NC Republicans believe that if you get away with it, then it's fine (what a damaging lesson to teach their children). So, drumroll, a little good news plus multiple options for action all in one:


1. Watauga voters and Common Cause NC are suing to stop the gerrymandering of our commission and school board. 

You can read more about it on Common Cause's website. And you can make a tax-deductible donation to help with the costs at Common Cause .

Indivisible High Country is launching a series of actions to support the nonpartisan fight to protect our voting rights, including the following, all of which we persisters wholeheartedly support and recommend:

  • Mon, Oct 6th at 6:00 pm on Zoom Indivisible High Country will facilitate a discussion of the basics of the lawsuit and the Watauga Fair Elections with Fair Maps Community Engagement Plan. This will include plans for Tuesday's Commissioner Meeting.

  • Tues, Oct 7th at 5:30 pm We need as many people as possible to show up for the County Commissioners meeting at the County Administration Building in the Commissioner's Board Room located at 814 W. King Street, Boone (carrying signs and making public comment condemning gerrymandering are encouraged)

  • Wed, Oct 8th from 5:30-7:00 pm on Zoom and in person at the Watauga County Public Library community meeting room Watauga County elections expert Stella Anderson will join our One Million Rising meeting to discuss gerrymandering and the lawsuit

  • Tues, Oct 14th at 5 pm at the Watauga County Board of Elections meeting at the County Administration Building located at 814 W. King Street, Boone (carrying signs and making public comment are encouraged) **Update: For the month of October, there will be short meetings by the board of elections every Tuesday, but location, we think, is in the Courthouse (first courtroom to the right of the main entrance). Activists attended on Oct 8th, but you can still attend this meeting if you choose.


2. No Kings Rally on Saturday, October 18

The next major national protest will be on Saturday, October 18. Indivisible High Country is organizing a Honk and Wave rally in Lenoir, North Carolina. Sign up on mobilize to get the full details.


A housekeeping note: We are shifting from weekly emails to twice a month, typically before a county commission meeting because, as mentioned, we're still mad at them. In between emails, you can check out our website and our bluesky account for options for action. We also recommend 5calls.org when you're in the mood to make calls! Please note that we post meeting dates and actions on our calendar on blowingrockpersisters.com, and we encourage you to send us events or actions to add. 


Worth reading


Foscoe Home Team provides support for families struggling from the impact of Helene. Recently, they put out a call for help for the 76 households that still have no running water. Find out more at https://www.foscoehometeam.org/




 
 
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