Moral Monday Takes Over Capitol Steps
Activists took to the steps of the capitol Monday, pushing for conservative lawmakers and the governor to rethink their policies.
The group is part of the Moral Monday movement which is spreading across the country.
It’s a movement rooted in the South.
The Moral Monday protest started in North Carolina last year and quickly gained traction in several states.
Hundreds of people usually show up for the protests led by NAACP President Reverend William Barbour who is now leading the movement to Alabama.
“We’re in a crisis across the South that’s not about liberal versus conservative, republican versus democrat, this is about morals. It’s beneath our moral values in our constitution to establish justice and it’s beneath the moral cry of every religious tradition,” said Barber.
Speakers rose one by one to talk about issues they want to change.
It wasn’t just medicaid expansion.
They also addressed voting rights, veterans rights, and fair housing.
The group has a list of 10 things they would like the legislature to discuss.
The President of the Alabama NAACP says this isn’t the first event for the state’s moral monday movement.
“We’re not starting here really, but we’re just continuing. We’ll continue to build until we’re like the state of North Carolina. We’re facing some of the same issues as North Carolina but we still have different issues here in Alabama,” said Benard Simelton.
State senator Quinton Ross was at the rally as well.
He says when lawmakers return, they’ll be ready and open to the issues raised by protesters today.
“I think that the climate is ripe for it. I think that individuals regardless of party affiliation, they want the best for the state of Alabama. And I think that the way to do that is to sit down and talk civilly about how you attack the problems,” said Ross.
