Four weeks after the election, incumbent Pat McCrory finally conceded to the gubernatorial race. After the Board of Elections issued a partial recount of 94,000 votes in Durham County, results only widened Roy Cooper’s lead ahead of McCrory to 10,563 votes. With the new governor, Roy Cooper, taking over, citizens hope to see a peaceful transfer of power. However, it appeared that McCrory intended to get the last word.

The passing of House Bill Two was detrimental to McCrory’s career and was a contributing factor to his loss. If the hatred filled act of passing House Bill Two didn’t completely tarnish his legacy, his recent unjust act of limiting Roy Cooper’s power surely created a devastating blow to his legacy. Yet again, another house bill has caused controversy across the state and leaves us to question the actions of the people we put in charge. House Bill Seventeen, another inequitable bill signed by McCrory, prevents Cooper from appointing any members to the state Board of Education and the Board of Trustees for the University of North Carolina. It also cut the number of appointments from 1,500 to 300 and requires the consent of the state Senate. Senator Bill 4, also signed by McCrory, expands the State Election Boards to eight members, with an equal number of Democrats and Republicans. In the past, the governor had the power to appoint majority on the Board of Elections.

Protesters gathered around the State capitol on December 15 and December 16 as Republican legislators passed these bills. According to the News and Observer, about 20 people were arrested Thursday and 17 were arrested Friday. Governor Roy Cooper is now challenging these laws by suing the North Carolina Legislature. Cooper believes that the acts made by the legislature are unconstitutional because they give legislators too much power over the administration of election laws. Cooper was able to benefit from this action when a judge temporarily blocked the bills on December 30.

According to the Washington Post, critics are calling these unrighteous laws a “power grab.” Once again, we have come across a situation where the obsession of seeking personal gain and to be in control has overpowered the crucial need of working together. Our country is divided more than ever due to an ignorant president and his hostile critics, cops who are quick to shoot than to reason, and one’s sexual orientation determines who they are. It is imperative that we refrain from going against one another. Limiting the power of a successor does nothing but delay the goal of becoming a unified country.

Nowadays, people tend to look at the differences they have with one another. It is easier to debate about differences because looking at the similarities requires in-depth communication that is often brushed aside. Ellen Degeneres once voiced a powerful statement that continues to play inside my head, she said, “If we take away the labels, you realize we’re far more alike than we are different.” When race, gender, sexual preference, or financial status is put under the rug, we’re all equal and put on this earth to make a change for everyone, not just those who share the same political views.

Not only do the laws shine a negative light on North Carolina and knock the state two steps back, but it also defies the meaning of a democracy. The true meaning of a democracy is to consider the needs of the people and to let their voice be heard, and the people of North Carolina have spoken. North Carolina has chosen Roy Cooper as governor and the choice must be respected. These bills are a deliberate attempt to silence the voice of the people and to conserve the Republicans’ power. According to CNN, North Carolina NAACP president William Barber said, “This whole shenanigan is unconstitutional and out of order…It is a violation of our laws.” When Barber spoke these words, he was speaking the honest truth. We cannot be a country that stresses the importance of the people when the people are sometimes overlooked. The government of North Carolina must listen to their people.