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NAACP to host community meeting
0812NAACPMeeting

The Liberty County Branch of the NAACP will host a community mass meeting beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday.

The meeting will be held at the Liberty County Performing Arts Center, 2140 E. Oglethorpe Highway.

Branch NAACP President Graylan Quarterman said the meeting will deal with religion, race and politics.

The NAACP’s Religious Affairs Committee has organized a panel featuring the Rev. Franklin Lee, Bishop Kevin Betton, Pastor Israel Cowart, Liberty County Commissioners Chairman Donald Lovette and Clay Sikes.

Each representative will facilitate a dialogue regarding the tough topics, followed by an open question-and-answer session.

Quarterman first hinted at the meeting immediately following the racially motivated mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June.

 

Dylann Storm Roof, 21, the alleged lone gunman, reportedly attended a prayer meeting  at the church for nearly an hour. Then, according to media reports, he said, “You rape all our women, and you’re taking over the country, and you have to go,” and opened fire, killing nine people.

Reports indicate that six women and three men — including the church pastor, state Sen. Clementa C. Pinckney, D-Ridgeland, whose district includes Jasper County, which borders southeast Georgia — were killed.

Immediately following the shooting, Quarterman said the incident was an indicator that society is screaming for inclusion, not exclusion.

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