You felt it last week, didn’t you? That whirlwind in Raleigh wasn’t just spring pollen—it was a coordinated legislative storm, and if you listened closely, you could hear the rumble of democracy under siege.
In what some predicted would be a quiet crossover week, lawmakers instead dropped a blitz of bills attacking the very foundations of public life in North Carolina: free speech, public education, workers’ rights—and yes, your right to vote.
Let’s get one thing straight: Anti-democracy legislation, like House Bill 127, gets a special hall pass around the usual crossover deadline. That means it can still pop back up in a bigger bill, get buried in the budget, or be fast-tracked when no one’s watching. So while HB 127 didn’t technically “survive” crossover, don’t get too comfortable—it’s lurking.
Here’s what did make the cut and how you can fight back right now:
House Bill 171: The DEI Purge
This bill is a chilling echo of national efforts to silence conversations about race, equity, and justice. If passed, it would ban Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs in state agencies, schools, and local governments—pulling funding if they don’t comply. It’s censorship, plain and simple.
Take action
Senate Bill 484: Protesters Beware
This wolf in sheep’s clothing pretends to protect workplaces from violence—but the real target? Peaceful protest. By redefining “workplace violence” to include picketing and peaceful demonstration, it criminalizes organizing and threatens constitutional rights.
Take action
Senate Bill 636: Book Bans for All
If this bill becomes law, any resident—parent or not—can demand a book be pulled from public school libraries for being “unwholesome.” And if schools push back? They can be sued. This is a fast-track to sanitized education and whitewashed history.
Take action
Senate Bill 58: Silencing the State’s Top Lawyer
This one aims to muzzle the NC Attorney General, barring them from challenging presidential executive orders—even ones that harm North Carolinians. It’s a clear attack on the checks and balances that keep our democracy functional.
Take action
House Bill 127: Criminalizing Voter Registration
This dangerous bill targets the very people helping others get registered to vote—volunteers, organizers, and neighbors like you. It didn’t cross over (yet), but it could reappear in another form. Keep your eye on it and your voice loud.
Sign and share the petition
This is not politics as usual.
It’s a targeted, strategic effort to roll back civil liberties and democracy under the guise of “order” and “protection.” The common thread? Control—over speech, education, organizing, and yes, your vote. We must call this what it is: a hostile takeover, cloaked in legislative language.
But here’s the good news: It’s not over. There’s still time to stop these bills in their tracks. Raise your voice. Contact your lawmakers. Show up. Speak out. Because if we don’t fight for democracy now, we’ll be too late when they come for what’s left of it.
Keep watching. Keep fighting.
Visit demnc.co/takeaction for the latest ways to stay involved.
Photo by Duncan Shaffer on Unsplash
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