New Hanover County Democrats respond to Goolsby editorial

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (NEWS RELEASE) — Senator Thom Goolsby showed his true colors last week when commenting on the Moral Monday protests in Raleigh against cuts to education, healthcare, early voting, and unemployment compensation.

Goolsby has been calling them Moron Mondays. He wrote “The circus came to the State Capital on Monday, complete with clowns, a carnival barker, and a sideshow.” Senator Goolsby’s remarks were a slap at all of the protestors, including a number of his own constituents from New Hanover County.

According to Senator Goolsby, Reverend Barber, a leader of Moral Mondays “was decked out like a prelate of the Church of Rome, no insult to Catholics, complete with stole and cassock.” Senator Goolsby’s remarks insulted Reverend Barber, insulted every one of the protestors including Catholics, and insulted Reverend Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh, who has signed a statement in support of the Moral Monday protests.

Representative Susi Hamilton condemned the remarks today, saying “Senator Goolsby’s tone and statements were demeaning to his constituents, and quite beneath the office he holds.”

The Moral Monday protestors assembled peacefully to seek redress of their grievances against the policies being pursued by the legislature in Raleigh. New Hanover County Democratic Party Chair Richard Poole said: “Senator Goolsby’s comments made it clear that he has no interest in hearing the protestors’ views. The fact that he rejects the views of his own constituents, using insulting language, demonstrates why Moral Monday protestors feel that civil disobedience is necessary to make their voices heard.”

The New Hanover County Democratic Party is focused on economic policies that will create jobs and build the economy, including education and universities that are the bedrock of North Carolina’s middle class. The majority legislators in Raleigh appear to have a single-minded focus on dragging us backward. County Democrats urge New Hanover’s voters to contact their legislators to tell them about their concerns about the attacks on middle class and working families.