Democracy Spring March & Rally in Raleigh and other events

Democracy Spring March & Rally

This is part of the Democracy Spring movement that organized the march from the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia to the US Capitol, followed by 8 days of civil disobedience in April (see www.democracyspring.org ).  There will be a march and rally at the NC Capitol (1 East Edenton Street, Raleigh) starting at noon, Saturday, May 14th.  [This is an unpermitted march, but the organizers say people on sidewalks should be fine, and they will document interactions with police and have created a fund to help anyone who is arrested.]  From the Facebook event ( www.facebook.com/events/1014192068662706/ ): 

"This is a POLITICAL REVOLUTION! WE ARE THE PEOPLE OF THIS REVOLUTION! Rise up! Get loud! Push back! Start demanding the WHOLE LOAF instead of just CRUMBS! MAY 14th…. Beginning at NOON at the State Capital in Raleigh, NC. We MARCH! I want to see you all there! I want you to wake others who have been asleep too long! Please share this with EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE!! #democracyspring #democracyspringnc #democracyawakening #riseup
In solidarity with #nuitdebout "

[9th Annual Pollinator Day in Pittsboro

This celebration of honey bees and other vital pollinators will be May 14th, 9am-1pm at Chatham Mills (480 Hillsboro Street, Pittsboro), whether it rains or not.  This is organized by the Chatham County Center of the NC Cooperative Extension Service, Chatham County Bee Keepers' Association, and sponsors, and there will be beekeeping, mead making, and cooking demonstrations; beeswax candle making; a tour of Chatham Mill's pollinator garden featuring more than 180, mostly native perennials; plant giveaways; and other events.  For the schedule, see  growingsmallfarms.ces.ncsu.edu/2016/04/9th-annual-pollinator-day-celebration-may-14-in-pittsboro/ .]

[Nakba Day

May 15th marks the past and continuing mistreatment and dispossession of Palestinians by Israel.  For more information see: 

endtheoccupation.org/section.php?id=224
electronicintifada.net/content/resisting-nakba/7518  ]

Repeal HB2 Moral Monday

Monday, March 16th at the Legislative Building (16 West Jones Street, Raleigh) at 4pm.  There will be a non-violent civil disobedience training session at 3pm, location TBA.  The Facebook announcement is at:  www.facebook.com/events/470197463175635/ .

A Day for Democracy!

In honor of the fight against the state government's voter suppression efforts, Ben & Jerry's is launching a new ice cream flavor Tuesday, May 17th at NCCU in Durham (exact location TBA) at 11am.  The plaintiffs in NC NAACP v McCrory, Rev. Barber, and Ben & Jerry will speak and there will be free ice cream.  The Facebook event is at: https://www.facebook.com/events/472662102929745/ .

[NCBG Endangered Species Day 5/20 and Festival 5/21

There will be a presentation at the NC Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill on the 408 plant species (10% of the State's floral biodiversity) that are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern, and an additional 286 that are significantly rare.  It will be Thursday, May 20th 12-1pm; registration is required but it might be a free event (see their online calendar). 

They are holding a native plant sale and festival Saturday, May 21st 4-8pm.  Admission is free and both the Botanical Garden and several nurseries will be selling plants, along with a book sale, raffle, tree climbing with Piedmont Tree Climbing (this seems to require buying a ticket), live music, and food trucks.  Check out the NC Native Plant Society and other groups may be tabling.  For details see:  ncbg.unc.edu/native-plant-sale/ .] 

Peace and Justice Vigils

The area peace vigils continue, but the one every Friday at the corner of East Franklin and Elliot in Chapel Hill (Village Plaza) is on its summer schedule, from 5-6pm. 

Elections

North Carolina's congressional primary is June 7th, and I think that is also the end of the presidential primaries.  [Actually, the last Democratic contest must be Washington, DC on June 14th.]  The composition of the Congress is important, even more so if you don't like the person occupying the White House, and need a counterbalancing force.   

[Pollinator Week in RTP

There is supposed to be a pollinator festival or something like that in RTP June 22nd 2-4pm, but I don't have details about the location yet.] 

[Seed Library

The Durham County Library's free seed exchange program continues this year; details at www.durhamcountylibrary.org.  I think they also have a tool library now, but their website seems to be down at the moment, so I cannot check.]