Rev. Barber is once again allowed in North Carolina's legislative building after judge lifts ban

The Rev. William Barber II, banned from entering the State Legislative Building after being charged with causing a disruption during public protests there two years ago, can now go into the building like any other citizen, a judge ruled Monday.

Wake County Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway granted Barber’s request that the order banning him from the legislative building be lifted while the related trespassing case against him is pending.

“It’s more of a victory for the people than it is for me personally,” Barber said Tuesday by phone from New York. “That building belongs to the people. Our state constitution says we are encouraged and have the right to instruct our legislators. They cannot hide in a building.”

Raleigh attorney John McWilliam said that in arguing against allowing Barber back into the building, Nishma Patel, an assistant Wake County district attorney, asked that the ban at least be kept in place until after the teachers’ rally planned for Raleigh on May 1.

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