THE LONG MARCH FOR UNITY & JUSTICE

Photo by Tomeka Sinclair | The Laurinburg Exchange

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make THE LONG MARCH FOR UNITY & JUSTICE a success. Your dedication, voice, and participation have made a real impact. Together, we’ve taken important steps toward unity and positive change, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Let’s continue to build on this momentum and keep walking forward together.

Share your LONG MARCH Experience

We want to hear about your experience and thoughts. You can also upload media, including photos or videos, that highlight your story. Let your voice be heard and inspire others with your unique perspective!

Storytelling Submissions & Survey: https://forms.gle/uDqe2s9U1ZBFQYNv7

The Long March Media Coverage

North Carolinians unite for statewide ‘Long March for Unity and Justice’ series-https://wlos.com/news/local/north-carolinians-unite-statewide-long-march-for-unity-and-justice-series-organizers-boone-arthur-edington-education-and-career-center-brigette-rasberry
Statewide unity and justice march makes a stop in Greenville – https://www.witn.com/2024/09/26/statewide-unity-justice-march-makes-stop-greenville/
Community marches for unity, justice-https://www.laurinburgexchange.com/news/284365/community-marches-for-unity-justice
North Carolinians unite for statewide ‘Long March for Unity and Justice’ series – https://wpde.com/news/local/north-carolinians-unite-statewide-long-march-for-unity-and-justice-series-organizers-boone-arthur-edington-education-and-career-center-brigette-rasberry
The Long March for Unity and Justice movement comes to Wilmington- https://www.wect.com/2024/09/30/long-march-unity-justice-movement-finishes-wilmington/
North Carolinians unite for statewide ‘Long March for Unity and Justice’ series – https://ktvz.com/cnn-regional/2024/09/21/north-carolinians-unite-for-statewide-long-march-for-unity-and-justice-series/
From mountains to coast: A march for unity in North Carolina – https://www.wwaytv3.com/from-mountains-to-coast-a-march-for-unity-in-north-carolina/

From The Long March to the Polls, then the Summit
Is your voting Plan finalized? North Carolina allows any voter to request a ballot by mail. Don’t forget you can register in person during early voting: Oct 17 – Nov 2. You can also vote in person in North Carolina during early voting and Election Day.

Your right to vote is protected, if you experience voter intimidation at the polls, call the NC Election hotline: 888-OUR-VOTE
NC State Board of Elections| 2024 Voter Guide

NC-TJRC Summit ’24 | Nov 17-19, 2024
The NCTJRC Summit returns for its third year, we will spend time summarizing our accomplishments and challenges of 2024 and mapping out our collective way forward for 2025. A key feature of our work will be strengthening a culture of unity, mutually supportive work, and accountability among ourselves, even as we build up people’s accountability structures to hold our elected officials accountable to all the people, not just a few.

Community Table | Every Wednesday at 12PM
Join BCC’s Community Table for our virtual weekly roundtable discussion! This is an inclusive, nonpartisan, diverse space where we respect the opinions of others, regardless of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or disability.

Weekly Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/s/82469033836?pwd=U3lYc0llbU5FNmlRUXZpam5nTVpIdz09#success

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About

Join Beloved Community Center (BCC) on THE LONG MARCH FOR UNITY & JUSTICE, a statewide movement powered by WE THE PEOPLE. From September 20-29, we will traverse North Carolina, from Cullowhee to Wilmington, aiming to amplify the voices of all North Carolinians through community organizing, voting initiatives, grassroots education, and art. Co-Executive Directors Joyce Hobson Johnson and Rev. Nelson Johnson emphasize our nation’s crossroads: continue toward authoritarianism or expand democracy with greater freedom and wealth distribution.

This initiative is supported by a coalition of dedicated organizing partners, including the NC Black Alliance, NC Council of Churches, Black Workers for Justice, Blueprint NC, Forward Justice, Down Home NC, Freedom Center, Red, Wine & Blue, Poor People’s Campaign, Repairers of the Breach, Second Chance Alliance, Union of Southern Service Workers, People’s Power Coalition, Justice Served NC, Southern Vision Alliance, and NC BLOC. —this movement fosters unity and collaboration through the We The People Unity Covenant. Our collective effort seeks to address dysfunctional systems, inspire electoral engagement, and empower communities.

BCC previously led the nation’s first Truth and Reconciliation Process to disclose the truth related to the November 3, 1979, Greensboro Massacre. The Truth Commission concluded that police absence was a major factor in the tragedy, leading to an apology from the Greensboro City Council in 2020. THE LONG MARCH FOR UNITY & JUSTICE continues this reconciliation process, on a state level aiming to affirm truth, heal divisions, address community issues, build grassroots leadership, and transform oppressive policies and systems.

Our mission spans environmental justice, women’s rights, reproductive justice, youth and students’ rights, racial and social justice, faith and religious inclusivity, gender and LGBTQ equality, worker and labor rights, immigrant justice, and disability justice. Join us as we strive for a future where unity and justice are tangible realities for all, creating lasting change for North Carolina and beyond.

Objectives

GROW and MAKE VISIBLE the urgent need to join with others to build a powerful statewide transformative movement for truth, justice, healing, and reconciliation; a movement that impacts not only NC but also the nation.
HEAL deep divisions & and growing wounds from our past.
UPLIFT issues connected to communities
MOBILIZE communities to promote voter education and actively increase civic engagement.
FORGE people’s power and TRANSFORM oppressive systems and structures

Mission

Create a compassionate and more just NC that responds to the needs of:

Environmental Justice
Women’s Rights
Reproductive Justice
Youth & Students
Racial & Social Justice
Faith & Religious Inclusivity
Gender/LGBTQ Equality
Worker & Labor Rights
Immigrant Justice
Disability Justice

Schedule

DAY ONE – Friday, September 20th (2 Rallies)

Cullowhee, NC | Facebook Group | Downloadable Poster

Kick-Off & Community Luncheon
- 11:30AM, Cullowhee Baptist Church, 148 Central Drive, Cullowhee, NC 28723

Asheville, NC | Facebook Group | Downloadable Poster

March Start: 4:30PM, Arthur R. Edington Education & Career Center, 133 Livingston St, Asheville, NC 28801
Rally Site: 5:30PM, YMI Cultural Center, 39 S Market St, Asheville, NC 28801

DAY TWO – Saturday, September 21st

Boone, NC: Cancelled

Blue Ridge Pride Parade & Festival Arrival at Processional Staging Area @ 9:30AM, 16 S. French Broad Ave.
Line up @ 10 AM
Step off @ 10:30 AM

DAY THREE – Sunday, September 22nd

Charlotte, NC | Facebook Group | Downloadable Poster

Featuring Bishop Tonyia Rawls, Cameron Pruette, Jermaine Nakia Lee, Gracelyn Avion, Nichel Dunlap-Thompson, Rhythm of Psalm Drumline
March Start: 4PM, 1600 West Trade St, Charlotte, NC 28216
Rally Site: 6PM, 1729 Griers Grove Rd, Charlotte, NC 28216
Shuttles & Parking On-Site

DAY FOUR – Monday, September 23rd

Greensboro, NC | Facebook Group | Downloadable Poster

March Start: 3PM, St Stephen United Church of Christ, 1000 Gorrell St, Greensboro, NC 27406
Rally START: 5:30PM, St Stephen United Church of Christ

DAY FIVE – Tuesday, September 24th (2 Rallies)

Durham, NC | Facebook Group | Downloadable Poster

Park & Ride: 10am, Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St, Durham, NC 27701
March Start: 11AM, 2500 Block of Fayetteville St, Durham NC
Rally Start: 12PM, Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville St, Durham, NC 27701
Lunch will be served.

Raleigh, NC | Facebook Group | Downloadable Poster

March Start: 5PM, Saint Augustine’s Chapel, 1411 Oakwood Ave Raleigh, NC 27610
Rally Site: 6PM, MLK Gardens, 1215 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Raleigh, NC 27610

DAY SIX – Wednesday, September 25th

Halifax & Northampton Counties| Facebook Group | Downloadable Poster

March Start: 4PM, Kirkwood Adams Community Center, 1100 Hamilton St, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870
Rally Site: 7PM, Gaston Town Hall, 223 Craige St, Gaston, NC 27832

DAY SEVEN – Thursday, September 26th

Greenville, NC | Facebook Group | Downloadable Poster

March Start: 4PM, Town Common, 105 E 1st St, Greenville, NC 27858
Rally Site: 5:30PM, South Greenville Rec Center, 851 Howell St, Greenville, NC 27834

DAY EIGHT – Friday, September 27th, NEW INFO!

Fayetteville, NC | Facebook Group | Downloadable Poster

March Start: 3:30PM
City Hall, 433 Hay St, Fayetteville, NC
Rally Site: 5PM, Heal the Land Outreach Ministries
414 Hall St, Fayetteville, NC 28301

DAY NINE – Saturday, September 28th

Laurinburg, NC | Facebook Group

March Start: 9:30AM, Top of Main Street
Rally START: 12:30PM, I. Ellis Johnson Community Center, 815 McGirts Bridge Road, Laurinburg, NC

Day TEN – Sunday, September 29th

Wilmington, NC| Facebook Group | Downloadable Poster

March Start: 10:30AM, Portia Hines Park, 400 N. 10th St, Wilmington, NC 28401
Community Empowerment Day: 12P-4PM, Community Boys & Girls Club of Wilmington, 901 Nixon St, Wilmington, NC 28401