For the third consecutive year, marchers, including Durham Pastor Rachel Green, center, wound through Raleigh and gathered in front of the legislative building to present a 14-point agenda to lawmakers. Known as the Historic Thousands on Jones Street (HKonJ), the event was held Feb. 14 and drew attention to issues including immigration rights, sex education and repealing the ban on collective bargaining for public employees. N.C. NAACP President the Rev. William Barber urged lawmakers to avoid budgeting “on the backs of the poor” when considering how they will overcome next year’s budget deficit, which is expected to be at least $2 billion.
