For Immediate Release

Nate Fischer | Equality NC | nate@equalitync.org

SOUTHERN PINES – This past Saturday evening, an unknown individual or individuals attacked the power grid in Moore County, causing a massive outage that left around 45,000 people without electricity in winter temperatures. Our thoughts are with the people of Moore County, who have been harmed by this act of terror.

While we don't know the precise motivation behind this attack, extremists in Moore County had been protesting a drag event to be held in the community at the exact time that power stations were damaged by gunfire. Libs of TikTok had posted about the event, calling for people to protest. After the attack, Emily Grace Rainey, a local far-right activist, posted "The power is out in Moore County and I know why."

Regardless of the motivation for the assault, what's clear is that our state and nation have a problem with domestic terrorism. The protests at the drag by Proud Boys highlight the broader context of anti-LGBTQ+ hate which has been witnessed beyond Moore County. North Carolina tied Texas with the most threats to LGBTQ+ community events this year, with at least 10 documented attacks or protests, and more than 124 nationwide, according to a recent report from GLAAD.

The stories are numerous: in Oklahoma, a donut shop, which had hosted a drag event, was firebombed. In Idaho, 31 members of the white supremacist Patriot Front hid in a U-Haul, with an intent to attack Coeur D'Alene Pride. And last month's tragic shooting in Colorado Springs is a part of this pattern too.

Naomi Dix, drag performer and headliner of the drag event in Moore County, said:

Though we are unsure of what connection this terrorist attack had to the Drag event in Southern Pines, what we do know is that Queer people and Drag Artists in general are being targeted in hopes to instill fear in a marginalized community in order to silence us and our existence. This is a time for us as a community to be unified in our efforts to gain power within this continuous fight and to stick out and stand up for our safety and the safety of the entertainers who are leaders and the foundation of safe space and representation for the Queer community and its allies.

Regardless of the specifics of this case, the facts are clear: far right extremists are targeting our communities. We must sound the alarm to keep LGBTQ+ people – and everyone – safe from terror.

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Equality North Carolina builds LGBTQ+ power through advocacy, education, and uplifting the stories of queer and trans North Carolinians in pursuit of racial and social justice. www.equalitync.org