Civil rights leader Rev. Bishop William Barber announced plans on Tuesday for a march across North Carolina to push for voting rights, living wages, healthcare, and democracy.
Along with clergy, impacted families and community members, Barber held a vigil filled with prayers and songs at the North Carolina Legislative Building.
“We have to love forward together,” Barber said, referring to the title of the march.
North Carolina enters 2026 as the only state in the country without an enacted budget. Republican House and Senate leaders have been at an impasse since the summer of 2025, leaving town in October of last year without passing a new spending package. Key points of contention are how much to bump pay for state workers and teachers, whether to adjust the state’s planned income tax cuts and whether to fund a planned children’s hospital.
Legislators are coming back for an administrative session this month, but there’s still no sign of progress toward a deal. No votes are expected in the Senate until April, WUNC reported.
Faith leaders say this exposes “a deep moral failure” in governance.
Speaking to the audience, Barber said when legislators are sworn into office, they vow to uphold the U.S. Constitution and citizens’ fundamental rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
“There’s no way you can claim that you are working on that immediate vision when you won’t even pass a budget,” Barber said. “There’s no way you can claim that you love the Constitution and you love the rule of law [when] you are endorsing ICE agents being illegal and immoral and unconstitutional.”
Barber specifically named Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were shot by federal agents last month in Minneapolis.
Speakers urged lawmakers to reject what they call “hate budgets,” instead pushing for adoption of a “love budget” that would fully fund public schools and protect labor and voting rights.
Advocates held up messages supporting immigrant neighbors, as well as voting rights and healthcare for all. Others carried signs with the names — and sometimes photos — of people who had died in ICE custody.
Yara Allen, music director for the Repairers of the Breach, recited a quote from Martin Luther King Jr., saying “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
Allen said she was proud to join the advocates in fighting for democracy. “It means everything to me to be here,” she told NC Newsline.
The vigil served as a preview for the “Love Forward Together” March from Wilson to Raleigh, set for Feb. 11 through 13. During this event, community members will advocate for voting rights, healthcare and living wages, as well as protesting against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
A couple of local Democratic lawmakers also addressed the group. Rep. Phil Rubin, a Democrat representing northwest Raleigh, said he felt honored and humbled to stand with such passionate community members.
Looking at the crowd, he saw the signs with names of people whose constitutional rights had been violated. Among those were Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
“It makes me realize that the Constitution… is not enough,” Rubin said. “It will depend on us in this generation, or it’s just a piece of paper.”
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