What is HKonJ?
At a Congregational Meeting in 2012, CUCC voted to become a partner of HKonJ, which stands for Historic Thousands (K=thousand) on Jones Street (the address of the NC General Assembly). HKonJ is a coalition of groups devoted to a 14 Point Agenda for change in North Carolina. This year's theme is “Mobilizing for Economic Justice and an End to Poverty.” The coalition, under the coordination of Rev. Curtis Gatewood of the NAACP (who spoke to us on Sunday), works together to choose specific upcoming legislative issues for each year’s focus. The HKonJ march and rally is an opportunity for the members of that coalition to show up in support of those issues. HKonJ is unabashedly political, but not partisan.
What to expect? This is a family-friendly, positive event. The crowd (certainly more than 1000 people) begins to gather at Shaw University on South Street beginning at 9:30am. (This is the corner with the McDonalds diagonally across from Memorial Hall.) People mill around, generally being cold, and listen to speeches and music that float intermittently above the noisy crowd. Groups pass out flyers and have petitions to sign. The Economic Justice Task Force and Social Justice Ministry folks will have a white CUCC banner and our Open and Affirming Task Force will carry our rainbow CUCC banner; look for us if you’d like to walk with the CUCC group. Theoretically, the march gets started at 10:30. At a slow pace (suitable for strollers and short legs), we walk a mile to the General Assembly (opposite the science and history museums). Along the way, some groups sing and play drums, most people just chat and smile. Once there, the featured speakers begin. There is a PA system and big screen, so if you want you can hear some rousing and moving speeches. The press will be there filming for TV.
What is my commitment? Come for any or all of the morning. Walk part or all of the walk. Help carry the CUCC sign, or wear (easier than carrying) a sign of your own making. Sing along or be quiet. Talk to others in the crowd to learn why they came, or people watch. Hang out with the CUCC group, or go alone. If you walk with the CUCC group, we ask that you behave in love, being nonviolent toward and respectful of God’s presence in each person, especially those whose views are different than yours.
Logistics: HKonJ is Saturday morning, February 9. You may join the carpool which will leave from the Dixie Trail lot at 9:30am. If you prefer to drive, there is pay parking downtown. Where you park depends on how much of the event you choose to join; talk with Jane Smith for suggestions. Jane Smith and John Little will have their cell phones; contact either of them in advance to get their phone numbers to help you find the CUCC group. Dress for the weather; the wind whooshes down Raleigh’s canyon streets. Carry as little as possible; bring snacks. Some folks bring folding chairs so they can relax while listening to the final speeches. Make it fun – join another family for lunch afterward, or go to one of the museums to say “hi” to your favorite exhibit.
Questions? Ask an experienced HKonJ' er: Don or Shirley Birt, John or Adrienne Little, Jane Smith, Edith Sylla.
- posted for Social Justice Ministry in consultation with the Economic Justice Task Force and Open and Affirming Task Force
At a Congregational Meeting in 2012, CUCC voted to become a partner of HKonJ, which stands for Historic Thousands (K=thousand) on Jones Street (the address of the NC General Assembly). HKonJ is a coalition of groups devoted to a 14 Point Agenda for change in North Carolina. This year's theme is “Mobilizing for Economic Justice and an End to Poverty.” The coalition, under the coordination of Rev. Curtis Gatewood of the NAACP (who spoke to us on Sunday), works together to choose specific upcoming legislative issues for each year’s focus. The HKonJ march and rally is an opportunity for the members of that coalition to show up in support of those issues. HKonJ is unabashedly political, but not partisan.
What to expect? This is a family-friendly, positive event. The crowd (certainly more than 1000 people) begins to gather at Shaw University on South Street beginning at 9:30am. (This is the corner with the McDonalds diagonally across from Memorial Hall.) People mill around, generally being cold, and listen to speeches and music that float intermittently above the noisy crowd. Groups pass out flyers and have petitions to sign. The Economic Justice Task Force and Social Justice Ministry folks will have a white CUCC banner and our Open and Affirming Task Force will carry our rainbow CUCC banner; look for us if you’d like to walk with the CUCC group. Theoretically, the march gets started at 10:30. At a slow pace (suitable for strollers and short legs), we walk a mile to the General Assembly (opposite the science and history museums). Along the way, some groups sing and play drums, most people just chat and smile. Once there, the featured speakers begin. There is a PA system and big screen, so if you want you can hear some rousing and moving speeches. The press will be there filming for TV.
What is my commitment? Come for any or all of the morning. Walk part or all of the walk. Help carry the CUCC sign, or wear (easier than carrying) a sign of your own making. Sing along or be quiet. Talk to others in the crowd to learn why they came, or people watch. Hang out with the CUCC group, or go alone. If you walk with the CUCC group, we ask that you behave in love, being nonviolent toward and respectful of God’s presence in each person, especially those whose views are different than yours.
Logistics: HKonJ is Saturday morning, February 9. You may join the carpool which will leave from the Dixie Trail lot at 9:30am. If you prefer to drive, there is pay parking downtown. Where you park depends on how much of the event you choose to join; talk with Jane Smith for suggestions. Jane Smith and John Little will have their cell phones; contact either of them in advance to get their phone numbers to help you find the CUCC group. Dress for the weather; the wind whooshes down Raleigh’s canyon streets. Carry as little as possible; bring snacks. Some folks bring folding chairs so they can relax while listening to the final speeches. Make it fun – join another family for lunch afterward, or go to one of the museums to say “hi” to your favorite exhibit.
Questions? Ask an experienced HKonJ' er: Don or Shirley Birt, John or Adrienne Little, Jane Smith, Edith Sylla.
- posted for Social Justice Ministry in consultation with the Economic Justice Task Force and Open and Affirming Task Force