DURHAM, N.C. (Dec. 10, 2024) – Charges were dismissed Tuesday against eight concerned faith leaders, childcare advocates, and clergy members who were arrested at the North Carolina legislature while demanding more funding for childcare.
“We welcome this dismissal of our charges, but the real criminal is the leadership of the North Carolina General Assembly who has continued to refuse to fund child care in our state,” said Rev. Dr. Rodney Sadler, tri-chair of the NC Poor People’s Campaign and one of the advocates whose charges were dropped. “We stood up for the vulnerable and against the powerful, and today, justice prevailed. But our work is far from over. We remain steadfast in our commitment to fight for the funding and resources our children need. Together, we will continue to raise our voices until every family has access to the quality child care they deserve.”
The eight people involved were arrested on June 26, 2024 during a protest organized by the North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign and Repairers of the Breach, after police received a noise complaint because they were chanting and singing loudly asking lawmakers to allocate $300 million of funding to childcare. Southern Coalition for Social Justice (SCSJ), who represented all of those arrested, secured the dismissals Dec. 10 in Wake County for Emma Biggs, Franklin Golden, Ellen Canavan, Karen Ziegler, Lucy Rodriguez, Rob Stephens, Rodney Sadler and Wayne Wilhelm.
“It is a shame that it took us getting arrested to get the attention of the General Assembly! I have no regrets on getting arrested,” said Emma Biggs, Pathway Preschool Director and one of the arrested advocates. “It’s the least I can do to stand for injustice and fight for the rights of our childcare industry in North Carolina. It is past time to do what’s right for our families and educators! Families can’t afford to pay more, and educators can’t afford to make less! The General Assembly may have the money, but we hold the power and we will not be silenced anymore.”
“SCSJ is proud to stand with these righteous individuals who sought to hold our General Assembly accountable,” said Janki Kaneria, Counsel for Justice System Reform at SCSJ. “Childcare institutions in our state remain dangerously underfunded and we will continue to support the tireless work of advocates like our clients in making out state better for every child and every family.”
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Southern Coalition for Social Justice, founded in 2007, partners with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the South to defend and advance their political, social, and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing, and communications. Learn more at southerncoalition.org and follow our work on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.