RALEIGH - The first Moral Monday protesters arrested at the North Carolina General Assembly are set to appear in a Wake County courtroom today and are expected to plead not guilty. More than 450 people have been arrested so far as part of what have become weekly Monday evening protests against the policies championed by Governor Pat McCrory and the Republican-controlled legislature.

Reverend Curtis Gatewood tells WTVD TV that one of the policies the NAACP opposes involves unemployment. “They are not only cutting the number of weeks benefits will be received but they are cutting the amounts that will be received.”

Among the 17 scheduled for a hearing today is North Carolina NAACP president William Barber, who was arrested April 29th on misdemeanor counts of 2nd degree trespassing, failure to disperse on command, and violating building rules.

[Source: WTVD]