RALEIGH — Civil rights and left-leaning groups have a sense of urgency as they hold their annual march in downtown Raleigh and rally because they're worried what the N.C. General Assembly might do.

The annual "Historic Thousands on Jones Street" event was set to begin Saturday morning at Shaw University. Jones Street is where the Legislative Building is located and is the march's end point.

The event is spearheaded by the state chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and includes more than 140 coalition groups.

Poverty, education and voting rights are among the issues being emphasized Saturday.

Coalition members are concerned about attempts by the Republican legislature to pass a voter identification bill. A measure that cuts jobless benefits could reach Gov. Pat McCrory's desk next week.