Protesters stand in the North Carolina Legislative Building ahead of a vote to override a veto on Senate Bill 382, which makes major changes to executive power in state government. (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline)
Around 100 demonstrators packed the North Carolina House of Representatives gallery Wednesday, calling on lawmakers to reject the veto override for Senate Bill 382, a controversial measure marrying Helene relief to seismic power shifts away from elected Democrats.
As representatives entered the floor and later took their votes, the protesters hummed “This Little Light of Mine” and held up signs and flashlights in an effort to appeal to legislators’ morality and move them to their side. Demonstrators packed into the gallery as well.
“We the people, we’re gonna let it shine,” the crowd sang as legislators filed into the chamber for the override vote in a twist on the classic gospel tune.
But the people didn’t get what they wanted.
Lawmakers in the House voted 72-46 to override Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of the bill, allowing it to become law. The Senate overrode the bill last week.
The 131-page bill will transfer $252 million to the state’s Hurricane Helene relief fund while enacting major changes to the state government — most notably, placing the State Board of Elections under the control of the state’s new Republican State Auditor Dave Boliek and curtailing powers of the Attorney General’s office.
Their cheer turned to rancor as the results of the votes came in, with protesters drowning out the legislature with chants of “shame!” Police demanded they leave the gallery, and most complied.
One woman, though, continued to shout about injustice. Three officers surrounded her, using physical force to remove and arrest her — at one point, pulling her by the arm out the gallery door.
“While the person was being arrested and detained in the chambers, they were being thrown around,” said Samuel Scarborough, a UNC student organizer. “It’s completely unnecessary, it’s completely immoral.”
He added that he was set to speak with a lawmaker after the vote, but that General Assembly police denied him access to do so as they demanded demonstrators clear the building or be arrested.
The General Assembly Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The remaining protesters were escorted out of the building. “This is the People’s House, not their f–ing house!” one woman shouted as she descended the main staircase.
Serena Sebring yelled at the lawmakers from the gallery before exiting.
“I was saying shame, shame on them for betraying us,” Sebring said. “Shame on them for trying to hide under the guise of disaster relief this blatant power grab.”
The protests followed a “Moral Monday” demonstration led by Bishop William Barber II earlier this week that saw hundreds gather at the State Capitol and march down Bicentennial Plaza to the legislative building to deliver a letter demanding lawmakers cease passage of the bill.
Groups represented at the protest Wednesday included Barber’s Poor People’s Campaign, Indivisible NC, the ACLU of North Carolina, and Democracy Out Loud among others.
Reverend Rob Stephens, an organizer with Repairers of the Breach who often works alongside Barber, thanked attendees for making their voices heard.
“This is going to have an impact for generations. But it’s also very important that they don’t do this without a witness,” Stephens said. “We’re going to make sure that the state of North Carolina and the whole country knows what they’re doing.”