Congressman Dan Bishop to Attend Reopen NC Protest

RALEIGH – The first Reopen NC protest may have only numbered in the dozens, but those that took a stand, and the oppressive actions of the police on ‘governor’s orders,’ certainly made a splash. The second protest, planned for Tuesday April 21 outside of the gates of the governor’s mansion in Raleigh will very likely have a larger turnout, and Congressman Dan Bishop (R-9th) will be among them.

Last week’s protest ended with the police dispersing the crowd and arresting one because ‘protests are non-essential activity.’ That just didn’t sit right with Bishop, according to his announcement.

“Last Tuesday, over 100 North Carolinians from across our state gathered in Raleigh to protest overreaching shutdown orders that limit our freedom.  The protestors peaceably assembled and petitioned to reopen North Carolina and let our state and our lives start getting back to normal.

The Police Department responded by arresting one of the protesters and then sent this outrageous tweet, [saying ‘Protesting is a non-essential activity.’]

The First Amendment of our Constitution’s Bill of Rights clearly states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free  exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

Bishop stated in the release that he firmly believes whether you support or oppose these shutdown orders, denying protestors the right to assemble and petition their government is an egregious, intolerable violation of Constitutional Rights. He’ll join the protest next Tuesday at 11am in downtown Raleigh in support of constitutional rights and encourages others to join him – while practicing safe social distancing.

After the protest the conservative congressman will deliver copies of the United States Constitution to Raleigh City government office for the Police Chief, Mayor and City Council. Meanwhile, attorneys for Reopen NC have asked the Cooper administration for written clarification that the executive orders do not criminalize protesting, asking for assurances that citizens will not be arrested for ‘non-essential activity.’

County and town level grassroots have been sprouting in support of the statewide effort, with groups from the mountains to the coast planning to join the chorus Tuesday calling for Cooper to lift the destructive and infringing orders.

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