Clarence Henderson knows a thing or two about fighting for what's right. In 1960, on the second day of the Greensboro sit-in, Joseph A. McNeil and Franklin E. McCain were joined by William Smith and Clarence Henderson at the Woolworth lunch counter in Greensboro. Clarence was on the forefront of the civil rights battle as he bravely stepped up to participate in the sit-in at the Woolworth’s diner. On that day, he was fighting to be let in, yet today thousands of families in our state are fighting to be let out of school not meeting their needs.
Watch as Clarence introduces you to the ongoing fight for civil rights through school choice.
As Clarence says in the video, he is 100% in support of school choice and North Carolina's Opportunity Scholarship Program, despite former Governor Roy Cooper calling the program "an expense we should stop in our state." This is not the only time Roy Cooper has spoken in opposition to this program, which today helps over 100,000 students have equal access to the school of their choice.
See more of Roy Cooper, in his own words, against school choice here.
August 6, 2025 - Governor Stein made the following statement on vetoing House Bill 87, the bill that would opt North Carolina into the national school choice program.:
“School choice is good for students and parents, and I have long supported magnet and accountable charter schools because public schools open doors of opportunity for kids in every county of the state. Congress and the Administration should strengthen our public schools, not hollow them out. Cutting public education funding by billions of dollars while providing billions in tax giveaways to wealthy parents already sending their kids to private schools is the wrong choice.
“However, I see opportunities for the federal scholarship donation tax credit program to benefit North Carolina’s public school kids. Once the federal government issues sound guidance, I intend to opt North Carolina in so we can invest in the public school students most in need of after school programs, tutoring, and other resources. Therefore, HB 87 is unnecessary, and I veto it."
How can you help in the fight for school choice? Make sure to sign up on this page, and join the movement to ensure ALL families in our state have equal access to the schools that best fit their child's needs.
Watch more of our videos about the fight for school choice: