Raleigh, N.C. — A caravan of educators, parents and cafeteria workers protested in front of a Republican United States senator's office on Saturday afternoon.
The group was calling on Senator Thom Tillis to support the HEROES Act, a $3 trillion stimulus package that would give relief to those struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. The House passed the act in May, and Senate Republican leadership has not voted on the package.
$58 billion of the HEROES Act is expected to go to reopening schools for grades K-12. The North Carolina Association of Educators, who organized the protest, urged Tillis to consider this when opposing the bill.
"We are dismayed and upset that another week has ended without meaningful progress toward legislation, despite the urgency that should be apparent to everyone," said Tamika Walker Kelly, co-chair of the NCAE Organize 2020 Caucus and candidate for NCAE president.
On Thursday, White House officials and Democratic leaders, like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, negotiated for three hours. At the end of negotiations, lawmakers still disagreed on critical issues. "We're still a considerable amount apart," said Mark Meadows, White House chief of staff, after the meeting.
The NCAE addressed partisanship in Saturday's protest.
"Senator Tillis, today I ask you not to represent a party. Today I ask you to represent the people of North Carolina. I ask you to take care of our communities, families and public schools. I ask you to uphold the duties of your office," April Lee, Johnston County NCAE president and math teacher said.
Mattie Hayworth, a nurse, also spoke at the event with NCAE.
"As a nurse, I can't sit back and watch as teacher and staff are asked to come back to schools without the resources to protect themselves," she said.
Also addressed in the HEROES Act is protections against evictions, paycheck protections, stimulus payments and unemployment benefits.
Senator Tillis has not commented on Saturday's protests. But in an interview with WRAL on July 28, Tillis said that he was "fighting for" additional resources for schools, public universities and rapid testing in schools.
He said those resources will be included in a second relief Act.
Tillis said that the federal government and local governments can't work alone.
"You've just got to work on all fronts," Tillis said. "There's no one level of government that can solve this problem. We have to work together."
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August 09, 2020 at 06:03AM
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Caravan of educators, parents, cafeteria workers protest in front of Republican US senator's office - WRAL.com
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