Thousands Rally for Marriage

Special Report - March 4, 2009
Over 3,000 North Carolinians braved the freezing temperatures and melting snow and ice on March 3 to express to the members of the General Assembly their desire to vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment this November. Citizens from schools, churches and communities across the state came by busloads to the Marriage, which was held at Halifax Mall behind the Legislative Building in Raleigh.

Attendees heard rousing speeches from attorney David Gibbs, III of the Christian Law Association, and historian and author David Barton of Wallbuilders. Both speakers talked about the importance of preserving the institution of marriage and the benefits that healthy marriages bring to society. Other speakers included event organizer Dr. Ron Baity, pastor of Berean Baptist Church and president of Return America, Tami Fitzgerald, Executive Director of NC4Marriage, Mark Creech of the Christian Action League, and several legislators. All of the speakers emphasized that North Carolina is a prime target for same-sex “marriage” because it is the only state in the Southeast U.S. does not have a constitutional amendment defining marriage as only the union of a man and a woman. They urged the crowd to meet with their legislators after the event to encourage them to support the “Defense of Marriage Act” legislation that was introduced in the State Senate last week as SB 272, and in the State House on Tuesday as HB 361. The Senate bill has 24 cosponsors and the House bill has 66 cosponsors. The legislation would give the people of North Carolina the opportunity to vote in November 2009 on an amendment to the state constitution that states: “Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this State.”

The Marriage Rally ended with the crowd shouting in unison, “Let us vote! Let us vote!” After the rally, many attendees headed to the General Assembly to meet with their legislators.

“Today, thousands of men, women and children from a variety of religious and racial backgrounds sent a powerful message to our legislative leaders and other members of the General Assembly that North Carolinians want and deserve the chance to vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment this November,” said Tami Fitzgerald, Executive Director of NC4Marriage. “The threat to marriage continues to mount nationwide, and North Carolina is only one bad court decision away from having its strong marriage laws overturned and same-sex ‘marriage’ legalized here. Our legislative leaders must act now to pass this legislation and give voters in the Tar Heel state the opportunity to protect marriage through a constitutional amendment.”

Bill Brooks, president of the North Carolina Family Policy Council, added, “The battle for the Marriage Protection Amendment does not end with today’s rally. This is only the beginning. Citizens must continue to call, email and meet with their legislators over the next several weeks to put pressure on them to support and pass the ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ bills this session.”

For more information, please visit NC4Marriage.org.

Copyright © 2009. North Carolina Family Policy Council. All rights reserved.