Press Release: July 3rd Demonstration in Charlotte for SNAP & Medicaid

Over 50 people gathered on Freedom Drive near DSS to protest delays and cuts to SNAP and Medicaid

CHARLOTTE – On Thursday, July 3, impacted North Carolinians joined an action sponsored by the NC Poor People’s Campaign, along with other groups including Repairers of the Breach, Democracy NC, SEAC Village, NC Second Chance Alliance, Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice, 32BJ Charlotte Airport Workers, and Charlotte Indivisible, near the Department of Social Services on Freedom Drive to raise awareness that qualified recipients are experiencing delays and losing access to SNAP and Medicaid benefits.

The group gathered around a casket which recently traveled to the US capitol in Washington, DC, for a similar demonstration symbolizing what happens when people lose access to life-saving programs that put food in children’s mouths and help sick people get their medicine.

Rev. Laura Elliott of the NC Poor People’s Campaign opened the main program for the event, followed by Sangria Noble, a Statewide Organizer with Repairers of the Breach, who has herself been impacted by delays with SNAP.

Sangria Noble from Repairers of the Breach

An impacted resident named Sun with SEIAC Village spoke about the impacts on immigrants and refugees, her family and her fellow students who are at risk of deportation. She was followed by Kellie Williams, Western Piedmont Regional Organizer with Democracy NC, who also sang a verse of “We Shall Overcome,” and Rev. Glencie Rhedrick of Charlotte Clergy Coalition for Justice.

There were several calls to action. NC Poor People’s Campaign asked attendees to participate in their Congressional Budget Call-In Campaign. Democracy NC reminded everyone to be prepared to vote in November. Charlotte Indivisible announced their action July 17.

Today’s demonstration was NOT protesting the DSS office workers in Charlotte, but instead focused on the real-time results of cutting funds and slashing government programs for the poor. It followed first-hand reports from local residents that SNAP and Medicaid benefits are being withheld by DSS due to understaffing and chaos created by DOGE cuts in the federal government. These delays and losses are a forewarning of what will happen now that the US Congress has moved forward with drastic cuts to social services in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires and massive increase in spending for ICE.

Here is a link to a Google Drive folder with photos and video from today’s demonstration.

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