Faith Leaders Embark on 50-Mile March for Voting Rights and Social Justice in North Carolina
Knightdale, North Carolina – Bishop William Barber II and a coalition of faith leaders have launched a four-day, 50-mile march from Wilson to Raleigh, North Carolina, to protest voting restrictions and advocate for a broader agenda of social justice. The march, dubbed “Love Forward Together,” began on Wednesday, February 11th, and is scheduled to conclude with a rally at the state capitol on Saturday, February 14th.
The demonstration is a direct response to recent redistricting decisions by the North Carolina General Assembly, which organizers say are designed to suppress voting rights. Reverend Della Owens-Barber, pastor of Saint James Church in Wilson, where the march began, framed the action as a necessary response to what she called a “midcycle racist redistricting” effort.
“My brothers and sisters, we are here today when the North Carolina General Assembly received an order to engage in midcycle racist redistricting in an effort to abridge voting rights,” Reverend Owens-Barber said. “But, oh no, oh no, we are going to march. And we decided we’re going to march, we’re going to walk, we’re going to drive, we’re going to caravan for three days to love forward together and to mobilize voters to the poll, going from county to county, precinct to precinct. We will march until the walls of ICE raids come down. We will march until the walls of poverty fall down. We will march until the walls of religious nationalism fall down. We will march until the walls of environmental degradation fall down.”
Bishop Barber echoed this sentiment, calling for a renewed commitment to truth, education, and healthcare. He also highlighted concerns about police violence and systemic injustice. “It’s time for those who love truth telling to turn it up and turn it on,” Bishop Barber stated during a rally in Wilson. “It’s time for those who love education and healthcare, who love a society where you don’t have to be worried about people in our name claiming to be officers of the law shooting our people down in the street. It’s time for love to turn it up and to turn it on.”
Reverend Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove of Repairers of the Breach, participating in the march from Knightdale, explained that the demonstration aims to defy attempts to undermine the democratic process. He described the marchers as a diverse group united by a shared commitment to love and justice. “We’ve got ministers of various denominations here, our brother Buddhist monk here with us, many people of many faiths and of no particular faith but who know that love is the power that can overcome fear in this moment,” Wilson-Hartgrove said.
The marchers are specifically protesting a recent attempt by state legislators to create an additional House seat by redrawing district lines. According to Wilson-Hartgrove, the move was prompted by a request from former President Donald Trump. “Donald Trump called the North Carolina Legislature and said, ‘Find me an extra House seat.’ And the folks in charge of the Legislature here said they would be glad to do that, and so they drew a gerrymander that took the places that we’ve been walking through for the last few days out of District 1 and put them in District 3, because they think, based on their calculations, that they can do that and steal District 1 from the people who elected their representative there.”
Wilson-Hartgrove emphasized the importance of voter turnout as a means of countering the alleged gerrymandering. He also connected the issue of voting rights to broader concerns about immigration and economic justice, criticizing policies that he said empower ICE while cutting funding for essential social programs. “The abuse of power that begins with voter suppression and election subversion then gets used to support policies that bring violence to our communities,” he stated. “That’s what is at stake in the midterm elections.”
As the march approaches Raleigh, organizers are planning a large rally at the Old Capitol on Saturday, February 14th. The event will feature music, speakers, and a celebration of the “Love Forward” agenda. Wilson-Hartgrove announced that the rally will include a song from Willie Nelson and other special guests. The goal, he said, is to launch a sustained effort to maximize voter participation in North Carolina and to advocate for policies that promote love and justice for all.
“We’re going to fill it up with people who want to love forward together,” Wilson-Hartgrove said, “and we’ll have a rally there. We’re going to have lots of people sharing about why they’ve made the walk, about why we’re committed to reach out to low-income and infrequent voters in North Carolina.”
