6+ people arrested at NC State Capitol during protests for child care funding

RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) – Police arrested eight people at the state legislative building Wednesday who were there to call for more funding for child care.

General Assembly Police told the group they received a noise complaint about them. They were between the House and Senate chambers and at one point chanted, “Speaker Moore! Speaker Moore! What are you afraid of?”

After asking the group to lower their voices and then asking them to leave, police stepped in and began making arrests. Chief Martin Brock said they would face charges of second-degree trespassing and violating building rules.

The people arrested held a press conference earlier in the day regarding the upcoming “child care funding cliff” this weekend when federal funding from the pandemic runs out that has helped child care centers stay open.

Emma Biggs, who runs a child care center in Charlotte, said after months of demonstrations and making contacts with state lawmakers, they still felt unheard.

“We’ve had families and supporters across this state call and email for over a year. They’ve ignored us,” she said. “We are back and we will not be ignored.”

Republican leaders in the House and Senate are at an impasse in their talks about changes they want to make to the state budget. Both chambers have proposed additional funding for child care centers.

The House unveiled a proposal Wednesday to provide funding through the end of September, potentially giving the legislature more time to negotiate the budget.

“So, we’re looking at legislation to make sure that’s done. We want to make sure that those folks who need access to child care have it and is just consistent with what we’ve done in the budget,” said House Speaker Tim Moore (R-Cleveland). “There are discussions about coming back later on, either August, September, maybe even later than that. Who knows? But, to see about getting further work done. It looks like we’ve reached a point where I’m speaking to you right now where we’ve agreed upon the things that we’ve agreed upon.”

North Carolina Poor People’s Campaign, Forward Justice and Repairers of the Breach were involved in Wednesday’s press conference and demonstration.

A recent report found that about three out of ten child care centers in the state are at risk of closing when federal funding ends. Some could also significantly raise costs for families in order to stay open.

Republican legislative leaders have said they plan to leave Raleigh at the end of this week regardless of what progress they make on a variety of outstanding issues.

Senate leader Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) said discussions were still underway with the House about adjourning and whether to return later this year.

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