SATURDAY: PLANNED PARENTHOOD TO JOIN NORTH CAROLINA’S MORAL MARCH

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, to lead demonstration for justice, bringing in more than 150 local, national coalition partners

Raleigh, NC -- On Saturday, February 14, thousands of people will gather in downtown Raleigh for a Moral March led by the North Carolina NAACP and Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, along with more than 150 local and national coalition partners -- including Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards. Following Rev. Barber’s creed, “This is a movement, not a moment,” the groups are coming together to protest the extreme efforts in not only North Carolina’s state legislature, but across the nation, to restrict fundamental human rights.

In 2013, the North Carolina legislature launched attacks on voting rights, women’s health care, labor rights, education reform, and racial justice issues. Advocates flooded the state capitol halls every Monday -- including former President and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina Janet Colm who was arrested during a protest for access to women’s health care -- and more than one hundred thousand joined the Moral March in February 2014. This year, the ninth annual mobilization will attract thousands of supporters from throughout the nation -- including hundreds of Planned Parenthood supporters and staff -- on Valentine’s Day to push forward the “Love and Justice Movement Agenda.”

“The movement the North Carolina NAACP and Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, have started is a testament to the fact that when we stand together, we are a force to be reckoned with,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “When the North Carolina legislature went out against everything we believe in: public education, voting rights, women’s rights, equal rights for the LGBT community – I have never been so proud as when the head of Planned Parenthood of Central North Carolina marched into the state capitol and was arrested as Reverend Barber chanted, ‘Forward Together – Not One Step Back!’ This work belongs to all of us, and the need for this movement to lead has never been greater and neither has the opportunity. That’s why Planned Parenthood is proud to join hands with thousands of others and march forward together on Saturday.”

In 2006, the Historic Thousands on Jones St. -- known as (HKonJ) -- People’s Assembly Coalition was formed by Rev. Barber and the North Carolina NAACP. It has grown to more than 150 coalitions, and Rev. Barber has received national recognition for his efforts to focus our nation on human rights. In 2014, he received the Care. No Matter What. Award from Planned Parenthood.

"Planned Parenthood is proud to stand with our friends and allies at the NAACP to protest the extreme and dangerous agenda being pushed by our state leaders," said Melissa Reed, Vice President of Public Policy for Planned Parenthood South Atlantic.  "In recent years we have seen unprecedented legislative restrictions on women's health, including access to safe and legal abortion and even birth control. We are marching to send a clear message that women are paying attention and will not stand for these politically-motivated attacks."  

Planned Parenthood supporters will gather with NAACP North Carolina near Shaw University at 9:00 a.m. ET for a pre-march rally. Immediately after, at 10:00 a.m. ET, marchers will head toward the North Carolina state capitol.