M.A.R.C.H Newsletter: November 2025
This e-newsletter shares what the MLK Association and its Community Outreach Providing Empowerment (COPE) Program is doing and offers other news, events, and stories that align with its efforts. Below are some items that are noteworthy.
As always, feel free to share any or all of these items or the entire e-newsletter.
Friends,
As we adjust to the change in time, seasons, and weather, there is one thing that never changes; we need to be positive active participants in our communities. We must continue to use our right to vote as the means of holding our elected officials accountable while pushing them to defend democracy and justice. In his 1957 speech “Give Us the Ballot” Dr. King noted:
“In the midst of the tragic breakdown of law and order, the executive branch of the government is all too silent and apathetic. In the midst of the desperate need for civil rights legislation, the legislative branch of the government is all too stagnant and hypocritical.”
We know that we are living in chaotic times where there has been an embracement violence which has led to a growing indifference to the pain people are experiencing as they lose their jobs, and social benefits. Causing us to feel like we are living under dark clouds of despair and hopelessness.
But this was also the kind of world Dr. King lived in, and it is why he pointed out in his sermon “Shattered Dreams,” that “one of the most agonizing problems of human experience. Very few, if any, of us are able to see all of our hopes fulfilled. So many of the hopes and promises of our mortal days are unrealized.”
Dr. King went on to talk about how we can move forward in such a world. “On the one hand we must accept the finite disappointment, but in spite of this we must maintain the infinite hope. This is the only way that we will be able to live without the fatigue of bitterness and the drain of resentment.”
We need to realize to make it through the day our will and actions need to be built upon the hope, love, joy, and peace of the approaching holiday season. Our hope must be built on faith. A faith in love. A faith in justice. A faith that we can make a difference even as so many tells us we can’t.
Which brings us back to “Give Us the Ballot” and Dr. King’s call for “each of us must keep faith in the future. Let us not despair.” Make the time and effort to go to the polls and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 4th! Seek out positive things, no matter how small, to celebrate. It may feel like it won’t make a difference, but it will because the alternative is to do nothing which only ensures that injustice and despair will win.
Jonathan McCoy
VP of the MLK Association
Editor of the M.A.R.C.H newsletter
Observances This Month
Tues. Nov. 11th
The 1st African American woman to become a principal dancer
at the American Ballet Theater is retiring.
National News
- The US Supreme Court is looking to end a key part of the Voting Rights Act. article
- President Trump says Chicago could become a military training ground. article While US Border Patrol and ICE agents’ efforts intensify. article Yet, some new ICE recruits have shown up for training without being fully vetted. article
- Erez Reuveni, a DOJ whistleblower says he has witnessed DOJ officials ignore due process and the rule of law. article
- Pope Leo has told US bishops to address Trump’s immigration crackdown. article
- Trump allies were frustrated that he has highlighted the fact that the government shutdown is part of Project 2025’s agenda. article
- In a violation of the Hatch Act, the Trump administration is using taxpayer dollars to blame the Democrats for the shutdown. article
- Behind closed doors, Trump jokes that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is his puppet. article
- An FBI agent was relieved of duty for refusing to “perp walk” former FBI director James Comey, into the FBI’s DC field office. article
- Because he was a loyal support, Trump has commuted the seven-year sentence of George Santos, the former NY congressman who pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and identity theft. article
- Hundreds of unvaccinated students across the country are being quarantined as measles continues to spread. article
Local News
- The Asheville Watchdog is taking a in-depth look at the shrinking Black population of Asheville in a series of four articles entitled “Losing our soul”. Here are the first two: article 1 article 2
- The Trump appointed Hurricane Helene recovery czar Michael Whatley is facing a growing cry from WNC residents to resign. article
- The state has announced a $25 million grant program to help WNC communities impacted by Helene to rebuild and strengthen their waste and recycling systems. article
- In Florida, Madison Cawthron has little GOP support in his bid to return to Congress. article
State News
- Answering Trump’s call, the GOP controlled NC General Assembly has gerrymandered the state’s congressional map giving the party an 11-3 advantage. article Voters are challenging the new map for targeting Black districts. article
- The General Assembly has ended Legal Aid of North Carolina access to funding. Thousands of low-income North Carolinians will lose legal aid as the organization begins to close their 12 rural offices. article
- In 2027, Medicaid cuts in Trump’s and the GOP’s “One Big Bill” will go in effect. 660,000 North Carolinians will lose healthcare coverage. Here is an interactive map to see the impact county by county.
- Governor Stein and fellow NC Democrats have called for State Rep. Cecil Brockman (D-Guilford) who is facing four sex crime charges involving a minor to resign. article On Friday, Oct. 24th, the NC House began the process. article
- NC State University filed a lawsuit against chemical manufacturing company Monsanto, alleging the company had failed to warn the university of the dangers of PCB in Poe Hall. article
- The population of the Triangle and across the state is rapidly growing. article
- NC drivers without a REAL ID can renew their driver’s license online. article
- The NC House is looking at privatizing NC liquor sales. article
Issues in Education
- In another action against DEI, the Black Student Movement Upendo Lounge at UNC-Chapel Hill has been closed. article
- The Education Department has used the shutdown to fire nearly all the workers in its special education office. article
- An AI gun detection system at a Baltimore school mistook a student’s bag of chips for a gun. article
- These are the top 10 most banned books of 2024. article
Race
- During a recent meeting with US troops in South Korea, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth barred those with shaving waivers from attending. Most service members with shaving waivers are Black. article
- Paul Ingrassia, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel, texted a group of fellow Republicans that the Dr. King holiday belongs in “hell” and that he has a “Nazi streak.” article Bipartisan backlash pushed him t withdraw his nomination. article
- Leaders of Young Republican groups across the country were active participants in racists Telegram chat conversations. article Public outcry has caused some to resign from their jobs. article
- ProPublica reporting shows that the principal author of Project 2025, Peter Vought, is driving the racist and authoritative policies of the Trump administration. article
- Christian nationalist commentator Joshua Haymes, a friend of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s pastor, contends the slavery is not “inherently evil.” article
- The US Capitol Police are investigating a swastika in the office of Rep. Dave Taylor (R-Ohio). article
- White extremism is thriving in America. article
The Wilma Dykeman Legacy invites you to a special program entitled “Facing Our History” on Thursday, Nov. 6th from 7-8:30pm at the Weaverville Community Center.
This program focuses on the 1927 lynching of Broadus Miller near Marion, North Carolina, and the local 1897 lynching of Bob Brackett along Reems Creek in the Weaverville area.
Kevin Young, the author of The Violent World of Broadus Miller, will put the lynching of Broadus Miller in historical context. Forrest Weaver will present background about the Weaverville Black community, Jonathan McCoy will describe the Equal Justice Initiative, Meta Commerse will sing and read a poem, and Jim Stokely will tell the story of the Bob Brackett lynching.
***Reparations***
- The Wilma Dykeman Legacy invites you to a special program entitled “Facing Our History” on Thursday, Nov. 6th from 7-8:30pm at the Weaverville Community Center.
- This program focuses on the 1927 lynching of Broadus Miller near Marion, North Carolina, and the local 1897 lynching of Bob Brackett along Reems Creek in the Weaverville area.
- Kevin Young, the author of The Violent World of Broadus Miller, will put the lynching of Broadus Miller in historical context. Forrest Weaver will present background about the Weaverville Black community, Jonathan McCoy will describe the Equal Justice Initiative, Meta Commerse will sing and read a poem, and Jim Stokely will tell the story of the Bob Brackett lynching.
Monthly Community Events
The Racial Justice Coalition of Asheville, Inc., has dissolved and donated its assets to the Reparations Stakeholder Authority of Asheville (R.S.A.A.) Press Release
Hood Huggers offers a fun way to learn about the history of Black Asheville. They work on 17 different community projects as well as organizing volunteer opportunities at the Peace Garden 47 Bryant St. Assheville, NC 28806. There are regular Community volunteer days. The Farm stand is open on Fridays from 3pm-7pm every week. Get details about how to book a tour, volunteering or taking part in their other community actions here.
East End/Valley Street Neighborhood Association
Dia de los Muertos – Teen Movie Night! Saturday Nov. 1st from 6-8:30pm at Stephens-Lee (30 George Washington Carver Ave.) Crafts, snacks and a showing of Disney’s Coco!
Bring blankets to sit on and enjoy a cozy outdoor movie night in the front parking lot. Celebrate community, culture, and creativity!
East End/Valley Street Neighborhood Association Meeting:
Thursday, November 13th at 6 pm at Stephens-Lee (30 George Washington Carver Ave.) Food will be provided! Please come and support your community!!
Your safety is important to us. While masks are optional, you’re welcome to wear one if it makes you more comfortable. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at EastEndValleyStreet@gmail.com .
FALL INTO MOTION: WORTHAM CENTER ANNOUNCES FALL 2025 DANCE & MOVEMENT CLASSES
Registration Now Open for All Levels and Ages ASHEVILLE, NC — This fall, the Wortham Center for the Performing Arts invites adult community members of every age and experience level to step onto the dance floor. From Broadway flair to ballroom rhythms, gentle yoga to contemporary technique, Wortham’s fall class series offers a wide variety of opportunities to stretch, move, and be inspired. Classes begin in early September and are held in the Henry LaBrun Studio at the Wortham Center in downtown Asheville.
What: Fall 2025 Dance & Movement Classes at Wortham
Who: Broadway, Ballet, Tap, Ballroom, Yoga, Contemporary, and Lifelong Dance (55+) including classes taught by members of Wortham’s resident dance company, Stewart/Owen Dance
When: September – December 2025 Where: Henry LaBrun Studio, Wortham Center for the Performing Arts
Cost: $18 per class unless otherwise noted • Ballroom: $128 per couple, per monthly session
Info: Box Office 828-257-4530 • worthamarts.org • boxoffice@worthamarts.org
Resources of Interest
Ways To Learn & Take Action
The Listing of Ways to Take Action and Be Informed was created to help proplr looking for ways to resist and oppose the efforts of those who are working to reverse the progress that has been made in the US over the years.
This saved document can then be viewed independently of these periodic e-newsletters. Since the listing is a google doc, changes will be updated as new actions and opportunities become available.
The Color of Asheville’s Black-Owned Businesses and Community Directory
- The NC African American Heritage Commission (AAHC) created in 2008, the commission works across the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources to achieve the mission of preserving, protecting, and promoting North Carolina’s African American history, art, and culture, for all people. website Subscribe to their monthly newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/dncr/ncaahc-newsletter
- The Freedom to Learn Network is a coalition of leading civil rights and social justice organizations; national teachers unions; education advocates; parents; students; and other interested parties across the nation and world focused on fighting against attempts to limit antiracist education in US schools. website
- The North Carolina State Capitol Historic Site has begun a “From Naming to Knowing” project. The goal of this project is to name and, as much as possible, share the stories of the enslaved men who built and maintained the State Capitol between 1833 and 1865. https://namingtoknowing.org/
- The National Museum of African American History & Culture has 500,000 pages of Freedman’s Bureau records available online. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/freedmens-bureau
- The Official mapping Police Violence database – https://mappingpoliceviolence.us/
Remembrance Projects Nationally & Locally
The Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) has been the important partner not only to Buncombe County but to all communities willing and working to address their history of racial injustice. As in each edition of this e-newsletter, we will continue to highlight several items from the EJI.
- EJI is currently working with nearly 100 communities to advance Community Remembrance Projects. More than half have erected historical markers. You can find out more about the communities that have erected EJI sponsored Community Remembrance Project markers here.
- You can view what is on each of the markers for Buncombe County, front and back, here as compiled by the Equal Justice Initiative. To see the markers, go to the following sites: for Mr. John Humphries – College & Spruce Streets; for Mr. Bob Brackett – Triangle Park; and for Mr. Hezekiah Rankin – Craven Street & Emma Road.
- The full stories about each of the three men who were lynched are captured in this document.
- The Equal Justice Initiative shared this webpage of the Historical Markers Installation Ceremony In Asheville on October 30th of 2021.
Please remember:
- Do you want to stay connected to the work of the Equal Justice Initiative? Sign up for updates about their work here.
- Every day of the year offers important racial justice history. If you want to get a daily reminder of that history, the Equal Justice Initiative offers this sign-up. Go here to get today’s reminder.
The NC Black Alliance offers this webpage with a page entitled – “Access to Healthcare: What You Need to Know” along with other pages that have articles and information concerning the Black community.