News and Observer "Under the Dome" blog

Action NC, a liberal advocacy group, is organizing a rally on the front lawn of the legislative building to greet lawmakers when they return Thursday.

The rally is timed for the first day lawmakers return after Republicans held a midnight special session in January to override Gov. Bev Perdue's veto of a teacher dues bill.

"Under the cover of darkness in the early morning hours of January 5th, the N.C. General Assembly engaged in an unannounced, unconstitutional and unethical legislative session to punish the voice of North Carolina’s teachers," writes Kevin Rogers, the group's campaign director. The rally starts at 11 a.m., an hour before lawmakers convene.

The group's email includes a picture of a speeding train juxtaposed with smaller darkened photos of Republican leaders Paul "Skip" Stam, Thom Tillis, Ruth Samuelson, Phil Berger, Art Pope, Nelson Dollar, Justin Burr, Pat McElraft and Mike Hager. "Stop out-of-control rightwing extremist lawmakers from running North Carolina before it's too late," the tagline reads.

http://projects.newsobserver.com/under_the_dome/liberal_group_organizes_rally_against_gop_legislature