Press release from Repairers of the Breach:
North Carolina faith leaders and allies will hold rallies across the state today (Tuesday) to demand truth, transparency and accountability in the investigation of the killing of Andrew Brown Jr. by sheriff’s deputies.
Repairers of the Breach, the North Carolina Council of Churches and B.R.I.D.G.E. will lead the rallies to stand with Elizabeth City, where Brown was shot and killed on April 21 by Pasquotank County deputies. The rallies will begin at 5 p.m., the same time as nonviolent protests have been held for over 40 nights since the killing of Mr. Brown.
The rallies will be held in Elizabeth City and six other cities: Asheville, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Raleigh and Winston-Salem.
Rev. Dr. Jennifer Copeland, executive director of the N.C. Council of Churches, will attend the rally in Raleigh. Rev. Dr. T. Anthony Spearman, past president of the N.C. Council of Churches and executive director of B.R.I.D.G.E., will attend the Greensboro rally.
Bishop William J. Barber II, president and senior lecturer of the Repairers of the Breach, will be in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for events surrounding the 100th anniversary of the race massacre that killed hundreds of Black people. Stephen Roach Knight, internal affairs manager for Repairers of the Breach, will speak at the Asheville rally.
The 42-year-old Brown, the father of seven, was shot in the back of the head by deputies who wore tactical gear to serve search and arrest warrants for nonviolent drug offenses.
Our demands in this killing include patterns-or-practices investigations by the U.S. Justice Department into the Pasquotank County Sheriff’s Office and the office of District Attorney Andrew Womble. DA Womble has said the shooting was justified and that he will not pursue charges.
The same groups will release details later for a mass march to be held June 12 in Elizabeth City.
Rally locations and contacts:
(check here for updates)
Asheville
Location: Reuter Terrace (across from Asheville Police Department), S. Market St.
Contacts: Rev. Tami Forte Logan, 828-577-0403; Steve Roach Knight, 704-689-2489Charlotte
Location: Government Center, 600 E. 4th St.
Contact: Rev. Glencie Rhedrick, 980-202-9866Elizabeth City
Location: 200 E.Colonial Ave. (outside the Elizabeth City Emergency Management Center building)
Contact: Rev. Javan Leach, 252-340-4043Fayetteville
Location: Cross Creek Linear Park, Green Street
Contact: Rev. Hanna Broome, 864-525-4679Greensboro
Location: Governmental Plaza, 110 S. Greene St.
Contacts: Nelson and Joyce Johnson, 336-230-0001Raleigh
Location: General Assembly, 16 W. Jones St.
Contacts: Rev. Dr. Arlee Griffin, 919-909-9935; Rev. Dr. Gregory Moss, 704-726-8883Winston-Salem
Location: First Baptist Church, 700 N. Highland Ave.
Contact: Rev. Lia Scholl, 336-414-3640
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