December/January Updates

We'd like to apologize for the belated nature of this month's newsletter, it happened last month as well, and well - this is the nature of one person handling much of these things. I assure you I've given myself a good talking-to about it. To keep things sensible, we're combining December with January, so we can have a good start on the new year.

A Look Back at December

• On December 6th, what was intended to be a small visibility demonstration became a direct confrontation over First Amendment rights in Rutherford County. In the face of an attempted suppression of free speech, we made the deliberate choice to engage in peaceful civil disobedience—asserting rights that should never have been in question. We're proud of being able to center accountability, transparency, and the protection of fundamental rights, doing so in a way that was disciplined, lawful, and unmistakably public. This peaceful visibility action showed that we are not about chaos, but clarity, and we stood together as a community asserting its right to exist in the public square. As a result of this action we were able to draw attention to serious flaws in the town’s municipal code, prompting outside scrutiny and the involvement of the ACLU. This was not symbolic resistance—it produced tangible outcomes and shifted the terrain on which future civic engagement will occur in Rutherford County. And, perhaps most importantly, December 6th demonstrated our collective capacity to organize under pressure, respond strategically, and hold the line when it matters. This was not a one-off protest. It was a proof of concept for sustained, effective action—and a clear signal that attempts to sideline or silence this community will be met with resolve, visibility, and follow-through.

• Our December 6th action also received national news coverage, appearing in The Wild Hunt news as a first hand lead up and follow up accounts written by Mortellus. Article A, Article B.

• Book club on the 7th as well as our meeting on December 11th wound up being canceled for a variety of reasons, not the least of which was impact from our December 6th protest, and the holiday, we look forward to seeing you all at the January meeting.

• Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy never fails to excite and amuse, and this month was no different. On December 20th—and, we suppose, without the 48 hours’ notice required by Article 33 C—a meeting for December 19th from 3:00–4:00 p.m. appeared on the school’s public-facing calendar titled simply "Quiche." Yes. Quiche. Like the breakfast item. Nothing clarified what Quiche meant in a governance context, and whether this was a placeholder, a typo, or a genuine attempt at culinary administration was left entirely to the imagination. And while what the Quiche meeting entry represented may never be known, it does offer a near-perfect illustration of how an institution entrusted with public funds—including federal education dollars—can appear to operate without clear documentation, coherent process, or even a shared understanding of what business is being conducted at any given moment. Seeking even a shred of clarity, we submitted a public records request on December 22nd asking what Quiche referred to, what business was conducted, and what records existed to explain the meeting. No response was provided. However, shortly after sending our request the meeting itself quietly disappeared from the calendar with no explanation, no correction, and no acknowledgment that questions had even been asked. This is where the humor thins out, because it isn’t about a funny word on a calendar. When public institutions handling federal education funds respond to lawful records requests not with information, but with silent revision of the public record, that’s not harmless disorganization—it’s a failure of transparency carried out with the confidence of someone who doesn't expect the record to be examined closely. So while it may have been amusing for a moment, what this reveals is something far more serious: a governance culture where documentation is optional, accountability is reactive, and public scrutiny is treated as an inconvenience rather than a responsibility.

• Elf Service, Successfully Rendered? On December 20th, Mortellus donned their finest elf attire and volunteered to face paint at the MLK New Hope Committee’s annual Santa Breakfast, held at the Woodrow Jones Building. The event was packed, joyful, and exactly the kind of community gathering that reminds us why showing up matters. Kids and adults alike left with painted smiling faces after a morning full of laughter and more than a little holiday magic. By all accounts, it was a resounding success—and an excellent reminder that civic life isn’t only built in meetings and protests, but in moments of shared joy, too. A thank you to council-woman Doris Crute, and to Bobby Miller, for allowing us to join in on the fun!

  
  

Hometown Highlights

• Would you like to be a part of our Interfaith Caucus planning? We're meeting on January 9th with a special guest, Caucus President, Reverend Paul McAllister! Remember, caucus meetings are members only, so if you'd like to participate in that portion of the meeting, be sure to sign up!

• We're still making progress on our local NC LGBT Dems Caucus chapter as well, and will be chatting on January 9th about forward progress on RuCo Pride 2026, which is tentatively set for June 13th, 2026.

Community Connections

1. Books and Better Futures

   1. January 4, 2026 | 10:00AM | County Building – 145 College Avenue, Suite B, Rutherfordton

   2. We'll be chatting about Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Click here for meeting information.

2. MLK New Hope Committee Meeting

   1. January 6, 2026 | 5:30PM | County Building – 145 College Avenue, Suite B, Rutherfordton

   2. This is a great time to meet some great folks, learn about upcoming events, and get involved in community.

3. Rutherford County Board of Elections Meeting

   1. January 6, 2026 | 10:00AM | County Building – 145 College Avenue, Suite C, Rutherfordton

4. Ruff'ton Roots Community Garden Meeting

   1. January 6, 2026  | 5:30PM | 128 Hospital Drive, Rutherfordton

5. Rutherfordton Town Hall Meeting

   1. January 7th, 2026 | 6:00PM | Commission Chambers, 289 N. Main Street, Rutherfordton

   2. Mortellus will be speaking at this meeting on municipal code issues, and we're asking that anyone who is able attend this meeting as a form of peaceful protest.

6. Rutherford County Democratic Party Meeting

   1. January 8th, 2026 | 6:30PM | JD Cooley Democratic HQ – 142 West Main Street, Forest City

   2. Mortellus always does meeting watch at the Democratic Party HQ.

   3. Just as an FYI, this months meeting features a candidate for office: Brent Caldwell of Charlotte, who is running for NC House District 114. Now, y’all know Indivisible RuCo keeps it non-partisan (as is required by Indivisible)—we don’t endorse candidates, we just ask them questions the public deserves answers to so we have arranged to sit down with Mr. Caldwell and chat with him about some issues that are important to all of us. As soon as we get to have a chat, we'll publish an update.

7. Indivisible RuCo Planning Meeting

   1. January 9th, 2026 | 6:00PM | County Building – 145 College Avenue, Suite B, Rutherfordton

   2. Sign up at Mobilize

   3. What's On The Agenda?

      1. Planning out January/February actions

         1. MLK Prayer Breakfast, Community Service, and Walk, January

         2. Democracy Check-In Vigil, January

         3. Love Your Neighbor, Defend Their Rights, February

      2. Caucus Work

         1. Interfaith Caucus Chat

         2. LGBTQ Dems NC Caucus Chat

      3. Continuing the Pride 2026 planning discussion

      4. Continuing the Municipal Code oversight discussion

      5. Continuing the Public Records oversight discussion

8. MLK Prayer Breakfast

   1. January 17th, 2026 | 8:00AM to 12:00PM | New Bethel AME Zion – 263 Forest St, Forest City

   2. Tickets to the breakfast are $20 and fund MLK New Hope Committee projects. If you'd like to grab a ticket? Drop us a message and we'll get one to you!

9. Annual MLK Community Service

   1. January 18th, 2026 | 3:00PM to 4:00PM | St. John AME Zion – 109 N Ridgecrest St, Forest City

10. Annual MLK Walk, Followed by a Community Program

    1. January 19th, 2026 | 9:45PM to 10:00AM | Courthouse – 229 North Main Street, Rutherfordton

11. Democracy Check-In Vigil

    1. January 2oth, 2026 | 6:00PM to 7:00PM | Courthouse – 229 North Main Street, Rutherfordton

    2. We plan to show up to reflect on our democracy one year after the inauguration. Community members can share their thoughts, experiences, and hopes for the coming year. Keep a close eye for updates on this one: if the weather is dangerously cold we might meet up in a nearby indoor spot like Small Town Roasters.

    3. Sign up at Mobilize

    4. Or just send us a message on Signal to get in on the conversation!

As of post TJCA, the Rutherford County GOP, and the Rutherford County Board of Education did not have any event dates/times listed for January. Should that change, we'll get that information added.

---

Did we miss something, get something wrong, or did you want your events added to our calendar? Reach out! As always, we're here to build community, fight for justice, and if not encourage Rutherford County leadership to put the people of this county first, at least make 'em feel bad about it. As always, if there's anything going on that you'd like to be a part of? Please reach out and let us know!