As many as 10,000 show up for a Mountain Moral Monday
Asheville Citizen-Times called Mountain Moral Monday "the largest local protest in recent memory" after initial police crowd estimates had to be revised up to as many as 10,000 people:
"There were people from counties all over the west," [Former NC Rep. Patsy Keever] said. "People are completely frustrated with the legislation that has come out of Raleigh. This rally gave them a chance to come together and feel the unity of knowing that something needs to be changed."
Crowd shot of Mountain Moral Monday, Aug 5, 2013.
Click here to see our photos of Mountain Moral Monday. Rev. William Barber, president of the North Carolina NAACP, said at a press conference about Moral Monday, "We're together now. There's no turning back.""This is no momentary hyperventilation. This is a movement." -- Rev. Barber, 8/5/2013
Mark Case speaking at Mtn Moral Monday
Speakers at the rally included Mark Case, president of the Western North Carolina Central Labor Council, who said unions will never stop fighting for working people:"In our state we are seeing legislation introduced and passed not brought forth by the people but a select few who want to shape North Carolina for their profit. "The unions - and all of us here today - fight for our children, and we fight for all generations of North Carolina working men and women." -- Mark Case, 8/5/2013A mother from Asheville, Bethany Dalton, said she is hurt but undeterred by a state legislature that has made getting ahead harder than ever:
"While I and many of us are trying to climb the mountain of success, our North Carolina politicians are shooting me in the foot. "But I am stronger than they know. We are more powerful than they are prepared for!Watch the recap of the August 5th rally in Asheville, A Mountain Moral Monday!