The NAACP planned a peaceful march to protest voter ID laws on Saturday at the “Moral March on Raleigh.” Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP, stated, “We return to Raleigh with a renewed strength and a renewed sense of urgency. This Moral March inaugurates a fresh year of grassroots empowerment, voter education, litigation and nonviolent direct action.”
In a flyer sent out entitled “Important Do’s and Don’ts for Marchers,” some very responsible marching elements were listed for people’s safety and a dose of irony for those paying attention.
The most ironic recommendation on the list comes half way down, where march coordinators tell recipients:
“DO bring photo identification (driver’s license, passport or other valid photo ID) with you and keep it on your persons at all times.”
So, bring a photo ID to an anti-photo ID protest. Perfect. The Associated Press, naturally, buried this revelation late in its story:
Rep. David Lewis, R-Harnett, said Saturday the NAACP was being hypocritical for directing marchers on a document to bring photo identification when it opposes a photo ID requirement for voting. Lewis helped shepherd a voter ID law through the legislature.