Black Lives Matter in Black Mountain NC

Anyone who has seen the news, looked at FaceBook, or has a news feed, knows in the last month, just about every community has held some gathering to remind everyone that Black Lives Matter. Not more than ever, but more noticeably because of recent horrible events by white policemen killing black people.

A few weeks ago Asheville NC had some rallies including some terrorists who looted and burned after the curfew was in effect. The curfew has been lifted.

Last Friday the people in Black Mountain NC (where I live) held a rally to show support and care towards the movement to end racism and police violence against blacks, and to honor the loss of so many black lives.

 Shirlee Lytle

"Monroe Gilmour opened by leading chants of "Black Lives Matter,” a refrain that has become popular once again in the weeks since the death of Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis police officers who were terminated (from their jobs) after the incident.

“Why, on the 155th Juneteenth holiday, are we having to say it again?” he asked.

Racism is not exclusive to the big city, Gilmour cautioned, “it’s right here in our mountains.”

He encouraged people in the region and across the country to speak up for equality." The Valley Echo

 Black Mountain Police Chief Shawn Freeman.

“Let me first say that me and my officers have seen the (Floyd) video,” he said. “We’ve never been more appalled, disgusted or enraged than by the actions of those ex-police officers in Minneapolis. Their actions contradict everything that we stood up for in our oaths of office for our position, and our code of ethics as law enforcement officers in this state.”

He derided the act captured by the video as having “dismantled years of progress in building relationships within our community.”

Freeman assured the crowd that the Black Mountain Police Department is working to prevent biased policing practices.

“My heart is touched by the number of people who showed up to this event,” he said. “We are united for change and fairness for everyone, regardless of age, race or ethnicity.” The Valley Echo

"Rev. Herbert Grant, pastor of Hopkins Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church and graduate of Owen High School...delivered a powerful message about human nature and the need to find common ground.

“The most important basis for successful living is the art of knowing how to get along with people, and how to adjust ourselves, day-to-day, to the different temperaments we experience with our relatives and friends,” he said. “How to see the good in them and in their actions, and how to ignore the evil they sometimes do to us.”The Valley Echo

Small groups of people carried their signs down to the business area on State Street following the rally.

My friend Anna (on far left) with the green sign, and her husband Rhea with Black Lives Matter sign. (Sorry, I don't know the others.)

My friend Sarah Vekasi was there! There was a moment of silence 8 minutes and 46 seconds to remember George Floyd's horrific death.

 My friend Kathy Phillips (with Black Lives Matter sign on black board) and her husband Kenny (or far right.)

 My friends Molly and Russ Keeney were there! Many people faced State Street so traffic could see their signs. No disruption of traffic occurred.

Each balloon has the name of a deceassed black person on it.

 A friend who was there said the crowd was about 100 strong. If you live here, I hope you saw some of your friends!

Shirlee Lytle, one of the organizers.

Photos above are from Sarah Vekasi, Molly Keeney and quotes are used with permission from: The Valley Echo, "The Swannanoa Valley Shows up to Say that Black Lives Matter, Vigil held in Black Mountain Town Square," by Fred McCormick. Thank you so much for posting your article and the photos.

In Raleigh NC on Juneteenth (June 19, 2020) a crowd pulled down 2 Confederate statues and one was hung from a post. Photo by Travis Long, Raleigh News Observer.

The South continues to deal with the many Confederate statues, and how they represent slavery which began all this racism.

Today's final quote:

Melody Gardner (at Black Lives Matter in Black Mountain NC) recognized Juneteenth as a “special day in American history,” before recounting the struggles for freedom and equality that Black people have experienced in the country. She detailed a timeline that began with slavery, included oppressive Jim Crow laws, redlining that enabled segregation in communities and a judicial system that issued harsher sentences to Black offenders than those enforced on their white counterparts.

“Have we come a long way since June 19, 1865, when all slaves in the South learned they were free? Yes, we have. African Americans can vote, own land, own homes in neighborhoods where the property values steadily grow over the years, own a business, go to college, work in leadership roles, serve in government, marry interracially, etcetera,” she said. “We’ve come a long way for sure. However, with the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Ahmaud Arbery and the encounter in the park between a Black man and white woman in the park (he told her to put her dog on its leash, she reported him as harassing her to the police) in New York City, we all know there is something wrong systemically.” The Valley Echo