In early May, North Carolina passed Amendment One.
Two Sunday's ago, a pastor in a nearby Baptist pulpit made remarks that shocked and sickened many of us here and around the country.
This past week, CNN's Anderson Cooper interviewed a parishioner from that same church who further spread the hate and ignorance that seems to be so widespread these days.
Yesterday for about two hours, I stood with over 1,000 people at our Justice Center here in Newton, in a peaceful protest. The diversity of the crowd was heartwarming and affirming. We stood in unison with a singular message...STOP THE HATE!