Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
By David LaMotte, posted May 24 at nccouncilofchurches.org. LaMotte is well-known in Western North Carolina for his long career as a singer/songwriter. The past few years, he’s been following his calling as a peace activist:
As I write this note, it is 12:30PM and I’m sitting comfortably in my office at the NC Council of Churches. At 3PM, though, I will be in the gallery at the NC Legislature, and by late this afternoon I may find myself in jail.
[Editor’s note: David was arrested on Tuesday around 4pm.]
The current legislature is making a host of decisions which are contrary to the teachings of Christianity, and I feel called to resist those actions with my very body.
Some may say that the actions of the legislature are legal and mandated by the people, and it is therefore suspect to oppose them. I contest that some of the actions are legal (sound public education is guaranteed by the North Carolina Constitution, for example, but is being systematically gutted by the current legislature), but it’s not the legal argument I will be making tonight. I will leave that to the lawyers.
Rather, I would argue that what is right and what is legal sometimes come into conflict, and when they do, our allegiance to God’s teaching should be stronger than our allegiance to the state. To repeal the Racial Justice Act, to gut public education funding in favor of vouchers for private schools, to prevent federal unemployment money from reaching needy state recipients (when this has no impact on the state budget), to restrict access to the polls by requiring photo IDs, to stop a whole host of services to the poor, from disability funding to health programs to legal representation, stopping same-day registration, stopping Sunday voting, etc. — these things are unconscionable.
The handing out of vouchers for an education in a private school is just to ensure that the rich, tax evading deadbeat conservatives' kids make in line first. Public educaton is being sacked so the rich can line their pockets even further. How did I find a solution to this problem? I quit voting for ANY candidate, rom the local level all the way to national elections. Tha's how.
I don't like churches but I support this action. It is the true meaning of oneness. Go David!
I've always been proud to know David and appreciate his commitment to social justice.