Rally Unites South-easterners Around Democracy, Justice, and Resistance

Lynn Shoemaker, founder of Women Organizing for Wilmington and President of the Southeastern North Carolina Central Labor Council, delivered a fiery opening speech on the steps of Thalian Hall.

This weekend in Wilmington, North Carolina, hundreds gathered in front of a historic theater—not for a show, but for a rally that united labor unions, community organizers, and concerned citizens around the pressing issues of democracy, equality, and the future of the South. The event took place amid rising tensions over education policy, LGBTQ+ rights, and the NC Supreme Court election integrity.

While visiting family, KMUD’s Lauren Schmitt was on the ground to hear directly from those most affected by the shifting political climate.