Teacher protest planned in downtown Raleigh Friday. Will streets be closed?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Thousands of teachers and supporters will rally in downtown Raleigh on May 1.
- Organizers will gather at Halifax Mall at 10 a.m., with speakers scheduled at 11 a.m.
- NCAE called for teachers to call out, prompting some school systems to close.
Thousands of teachers and their supporters are expected to descend on downtown Raleigh this Friday, May 1, to rally and protest for more school funding.
The North Carolina Association of Educators called on teachers to call out of work for the protest, prompting some school systems to close. A report out this week shows North Carolina ranks 46th in teacher pay.
Streets closed for Raleigh protest
Streets may be more congested in parts of downtown, especially near the North Carolina State Capitol and legislative buildings on the northern side of downtown.
There are no road closures associated with the rally as of Tuesday, April 28, according to Julia Milstead, Raleigh’s public information officer.
Teacher protest route
Supporters will gather at the Halifax Mall (300 N. Salisbury St.) at 10 a.m. with speakers starting at 11 a.m. At noon, the group will march from Halifax Mall on North Wilmington Street to East Morgan Street then back toward Halifax Mall using North Salisbury Street.
They’ll stop at six landmarks — Freedom Park, the State Capitol Building, the North Carolina Supreme Court, the former site of the Confederate monument on the State Capitol grounds, the North Carolina Department of Labor building and State Legislative Building — to turn the route into a “living classroom” with history lessons and art installations, NCAE says.
“As is always the case, spectators and participants at the city of Raleigh’s upcoming events are asked to notify any of our uniformed officers stationed at any activity or those positioned along and near a route if they see anyone or anything that appears suspicious,” according to the Raleigh Police Department.
Raleigh protest parking, shuttles
There are several parking lots and garages in downtown Raleigh, and NCAE is operating a shuttle from The Cardinal Lot (5766 Chapel Hill Road) near the State Fairgrounds. The shuttles will run from 8 a.m. to noon and 1:30 - 5:30 p.m. from the park and ride to the Halifax Mall.
Details about restrooms, accessibility and what to bring can be found online at kidsovercorporations.org/may-1-guide.html.
