From the New York Times:
A conservative shift by North Carolina's first Republican-led government in more than a century is drawing weekly protests to the state capital of Raleigh, but some lawmakers are defiantly standing their ground…. Protesters argue Republican lawmakers are pushing measures that benefit the rich and hurt the vulnerable. Republicans took control of both legislative chambers in North Carolina in 2010 and were buoyed by the election last fall of the state's first Republican governor, Pat McCrory, in 20 years…. The protests could have a lasting impact, even if they do not sway lawmakers during the waning days of this year's legislative session, said David Meyer, a political science researcher who studies social movements. "If they inspire other people to join in and do a range of other things, these kinds of protests can make a huge difference," said Meyer, a professor at the University of California, Irvine. "But if it's just occasional street theater, even if it's regularly performed, that's not going to do that."

For the full story, please visit http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/06/18/us/politics/18reuters-usa-nort....