'Moral Monday' movement celebrates fifth anniversary

An effort by North Carolina civil rights groups and citizens opposing Republican policies at the North Carolina General Assembly returned Monday to where it began five years ago.

Organizers of the "Moral Monday" movement held a get-out-the-vote rally on state government's Halifax Mall in Raleigh.

The mall has been a frequent meeting point for the demonstrators before entering the Legislative Building to perform civil disobedience. The first 17 arrests came on April 29, 2013.

The weekly Moral Monday events took off in size and scope, ultimately leading to more than 1,000 arrests.

Rev. William Barber led the movement as state NAACP president. Current president, Rev. T. Anthony Spearman, said Monday's event – a week before the primary – is focused on issues like immigration, voting rights and environmental justice.

"We are going to keep on coming back because we know we can see some evidence of the good work that we are doing. So, we will continue to resist as much as we can," Spearman said.