Dear friends, family, and allies of the Rude Mechanical Orchestra:
The RMO is 10 years old! We can hardly believe it either, but when we think back on the hundreds of protests, marches, rallies, picket lines, flash mobs, fundraisers and celebrations we’ve participated in we are so inspired by all our allies in community, labor, anti-war, environmental justice, queer groups and many more.
Meanwhile, in Greensboro, North Carolina, political samba group Cakalak Thunder is also celebrating 10 years of fighting the good fight through music. We're greatly inspired by their commitment to social justice, especially in a state that is facing a serious power grab by the right wing.
We don’t know if you’ve followed the politics of North Carolina, but after the Koch Brothers and their allies spent millions installing a right-wing state legislature and governor, they immediately began dismantling the state’s already fragile safety net and public support for education, infrastructure, and environmental oversight. The new government has strong ties to the coal industry and we are already seeing the devastating results of this latest shameful power grab—the revelation that Duke Energy’s coal ash pits are leaking massive amounts of toxic waste into the Dan River.
In response, a small but hearty group of protestors, often joined by Cakalak Thunder, began to hold weekly protests and vigils in the state capital of Raleigh—a phenomenon that quickly garnered the name “Moral Mondays.” Inspired by the tenacity of these activists and outraged by the blatant government attacks on working people, the vigils grew to number in the thousands with an unprecedented 80,000 turning up to the largest Moral Mondays protest. The movement has spread to over 30 cities in North Carolina and over 1,000 people have been arrested for non-violent civil disobedience.
In commemoration of 10 years of joyous struggle, and in recognition of the fight yet to come, Cakalak Thunder has invited the Rude Mechanical Orchestra to Greensboro to participate in a full weekend of events with the organisers responsible for many of the state local movements. We are also planning to connect with local actions; send us your contacts!
To make this trip possible without relying too heavily on our allies in North Carolina, we need to raise a modest amount of funds to pay for our transportation costs. Please help us support this movement for social justice in North Carolina by following by clicking the button below to our donation page.
Thank you so much!
