Thread by @bribrough

I'm heading to the Forsyth County hearing now. Will be live-tweeting, so follow along!

https://twitter.com/allontheline_nc/status/1437770726178762759

First update: the location info is incorrect. It's in the Dewitt Rhoades Conference Center, not the Strickland Auditorium. Same building, different floor🙄

Here's the building. If you go in the front entrance and take a right, the hearing is right there in the conference center.

About 5 minutes to hearing and I count about 75 folks in the room. Glad everyone is masked!

Here we go! Sen. Joyce Krawiec, Rep. Ashton Clemmons, Rep. Evelyn Terry, Rep. Sarah Stevens, Sen. Gladys Robinson, Rep. Harry Warren, Sen Natasha Marcus, Sen. Michael Garrett, Rep. Pricey Harrison are present.

First up, Martha Shafer from Guiford County. Asks to keep High Point whole in any new maps, paying special attention to not packing Black voters.

Ann Morris from Greensboro says she volunteers with refugees, it was confusing for them when greensboro was represented by two congressional reps. Asks committee to keep Greensboro and Guilford County whole.

Rev. Willard Bass from Winston-Salem, Asks for transparent and fair process. We should have the opportunity to put people in office who will work for us.

Tara Blomquist from high Point, Because HP voters grouped with Randolph Co., our voices are diluted. Concerned about wages. Asked to keep HP whole in a senate district.

A gentleman whose name I did not catch said that Hunger, law enforcement, crime, are all issues we all face in the Triad. Things are better when urban areas can be kept together. Supports a non-partisan commission.

Judy Durr of Davie County: don’t split communities, cities or smaller counties. People that have chosen to live together should be able to vote together. I want to see proportional representation. Please consider need for meetings throughout the state after draft maps.

Sandra Robinson of King, NC Gerrymandering is disenfranchising. Wants fairness. We’re a purple state.

Stephen Boyd, Forsyth, Works with a religious community in Forsyth that is currently divided between congressional districts. Feels that incumbent addresses should not be considered, wants to comment on draft maps, language options and virtual participation options.

Gentleman from Iredell County: focus on communities of interests, prioritize the issues of their communities. Leave partisanship out, keep counties, cities, regions, communities together.

Kathy Kirkpatrick, Guilford: Wants a hearing in Guilford, a second round of hearings with one in Guilford after we see draft maps. Do not pack or stack black and brown voters. VRA. You know where Black and Brown voters live. If you want lawsuits to stop, draw fair districts.

Rhonda Mays, Reps should represent the people. We need to look at the resources in various districts. Don’t put all the resources in particular districts. We need equality.

Chelsea Griffith, Concerned about reliability of census data wrt elderly people. Concerned that you will not be packing communities of color. We are not a monolith. We are informed voters.

Constance Caldwell, Teacher, concerned about how schools will be impacted.

Rev. Anthony Spearman, NAACP. 22 Republicans and 13 Democrats on the committees - the gerrymandering has already begun. Unconstitutional to pack Black voters into a smaller number of districts. How will the committee ensure compliance with the VRA if they don’t look at race?

A Dr. Gardner, from Greensboro, on behalf of her nonprofit that works with college students: Consider all colleges and universities in this state as communities of interest.

James Douglas, from Yadkin Co., You’re here to represent the people of this state. Focus on the diverse group of people who live, work and vote in a compact area, not partisanship.

Don (didn't catch his last name), Politicians picking voters is not Democracy. NCGA has proven it’s incapable of redistricting fairly.

Kevin Farmer, Forsyth: This hearing and this committee is a farce. We’re organizing, we’re gaining in areas that have been safe for Republicans. See you in 2022.

Tilwana Will from Forsyth asks for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Daryl Kicker, Greensboro, there is no accountability when districts are gerrymandered. Asks for proportional representation.

Ms. Tamila Covington of Winston-Salem, Deeply concerned of all issues our communities face. Demands full transparency, fairness, public input. Addiotnal rounds of public hearings throughout state after maps are drafted. Don’t split precincts. Do not pack Black voters.

A woman from Winston-Salem (couldn't hear her name): "He who controls the conversation and the language controls the community". Allow all the voices to be heard. Increase number of meetings.

Maya McCoy from Winston-Salem: Inequities are exacerbated when districts divide communities. Respect communities of interest, especially communities that are already marginalized.

Jake Elecote, Winston-Salem: Don’t split college campuses. References NC A&T. College campus is obviously a community. Make voting accessible for everyone.

Arlene Garrett (I think?) from W-S: Be fair, don’t gerrymander. Don’t try to suppress the vote. Pass Medicaid Expansion. More forums after draft maps. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Gentleman from Guilford: Forsyth should be its own entity, not included in a district with Guilford.

Karen Laraby, from Hocktown: As a taxpayer, if we wantto avoid litigation, let’s take the time to do the right thing. Work for the common good, not payback for perceived goods. Wants Transparency.

@threadreaderapp please unroll