NCAE Calls for Boycott of Art Pope Businesses!

Since the beginning of the current session of the North Carolina General Assembly, educators around the state have been actively speaking out for education in the face of threats of cutting the state's education budget by as much as 15 percent. The Wear Red campaign has helped the movement gain visibility, and the North Carolina Association of Educators have vowed to continue the campaign until education funds are protected. The banner above, made by the local NCAE chapter has been circulating the district for weekly photo ops. On Feb. 14, teachers and staff at East Franklin showed their colors.

From the Macon County News:

The largest association of educators in the state is calling for a boycott of all businesses owned by Art Pope, a North Carolina business man and political insider who has contributed millions of dollars to conservative groups pressing for the elimination of caps on charter school funding. The decision to call for the boycott was made last week at the annual convention of the North Carolina Association of Educators.

Art Pope is the president of Variety Wholesalers, Inc., and a director of the conservative political advocacy group, Americans for Prosperity. Pope is also a major supporter of the Civitas Institute, and he holds a seat on the boards of directors for the John Locke Foundation, the Atlas Economic Research Foundation and the North Carolina Retail Merchants Association. Variety Wholesalers is the parent group to a number of popular stores in the state such as Roses, Maxway, Value Mart, Super 10 and Super Dollar (though not Dollar General), among others owned by Variety Wholesalers Inc.

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