On Monday, LGBT activists visited the North Carolina state capitol to protest HB2, the anti-LGBT law that, among other things, bans transgender people from using the public restrooms of their choice.
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The arrests capped a day of dueling demonstrations that included a large protest in favor of the law.
“My fear is that they’ll do something that appears to be a very important step forward for teachers, and there will be a lot of us who want to do anything we can for teachers”, Meyer said.
Eighteen protesters were arrested on “building violations” charges and others were arrested and accused of staying in the building after it closed for the evening, according to Officer Scott Cameron of the General Assembly Police.
Republican leaders in the General Assembly have already said they won’t repeal the bill.
The Democrats offered the bill Monday, the first day of the legislature’s annual work session. As the short House meeting ended, demonstrators in the gallery yelled their displeasure.
Signed by North Carolina Gov.
Earlier in the day, supporters of House Bill 2 put on a similar show of force as the protesters, as more than 1,000 gathered on Halifax Mall north of the legislative complex to urge lawmakers to “stand strong” in the face of growing opposition to the measure. He said he was encouraged by the fact that dozens were willing to risk arrest. The law demands that people use toilets in public buildings and schools that match the sex on their birth certificate rather than their gender identity.
North Carolina lawmakers were greeted by thousands of North Carolinians on Monday as they returned to Raleigh for the start of their legislative session.
N.C. Sen. Michael Lee, R-New Hanover, and Rep. Chris Millis, R-Pender, each said they believe lawmakers will address the right to sue in state courts, which Lee said was not an intended outcome.
The Rev. Mark Creech of the Christian Action League of North Carolina praised lawmakers for passing the law last month even though he said they knew they would be attacked by left-leaning organizations and it could cost them politically.
Joaquin Carcano, a transgender man, filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the law. Proponents insist HB 2 is necessary to protect the privacy and safety of people (usually young girls) from potential predators in the bathroom. “Our right to feel safe and protected in this world does not infringe on anyone else’s right to the same”.
Democratic representative Grier Martin, a sponsor of the repeal bill, said the new law has tarnished North Carolina’s name and harmed its economy, referring to the fact that some companies have terminated their plans to expand into the state due to the law, while many other groups have cancelled their scheduled conventions. He says it affects the poor and minorities as well as the LGBT community.
“We make a mistake when we call it the ‘bathroom bill, ‘” he said.
Business leaders, entertainers and politicians including Obama and Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump have come out against the law.
News of the adverse economic implications of the law – which is quickly becoming a PR nightmare for state Republicans – has dominated coverage of the bill.
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About 200 people gathered Monday on the grounds of the old Capitol building to hear speakers denounce the law known as House Bill 2, or HB2.
