151 arrested in North Carolina protests



North Carolina authorities said they arrested 151 people who refused to leave the Legislative Building in a protest against Republicans' majority agenda.

The arrest is the largest since the North Carolina NAACP began organizing the weekly disobedience events in late April, the Raleigh News & Observer reported.

Authorities have arrested protesters at the four prior events, and Monday's arrest brings the total number of arrests to more than 300.

More than 1,000 people took part in Monday's protest, which included speeches about the Republicans' agenda, the News & Observer said.

"That's extreme," the Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP, said as he listed legislation Republicans have approved this year. "That's immoral, and we must stand up and wake up right here, right now."

The protesters are taking issue with education spending, voter identification, women's rights and private school vouchers, among other topics.

Republican lawmakers are downplaying the protests while Democratic representatives said the energy should be used to transform the legislative bodies in the 2014 election.

AT/ISH

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Hey Mad Cap...

did ya get arrested?