MEDIA ADVISORY
Immediate Release
May 7, 2015
Contact: Rev. Andre’ D. Knight, President, (252) 544-2949
Rocky Mount NAACP Hosts Town Hall Meeting about County Line Merger
Rocky Mount, NC – The Rocky Mount Branch of the NAACP announced today that it will hold a special meeting to discuss the request of the Nash County Commissioners to dismantle the current Nash/Rocky Mount School System and split Rocky Mount students along county lines on Thursday, May 14, 2015 6:00 PM at the OIC Auditorium. “It is incredible that a majority of the Nash County Commission would propose an action that would set back the hands time further than any single act that we have seen in our region since Reconstruction,” Branch President Andre’ Knight asserted.
“Four members of the Nash County Commissioners have requested representatives of the Nash County legislative delegation to propose a bill in this session of the NC General Assembly to split Rocky Mount into two school districts along county lines. This action deepens the divide between the haves and the have nots in our City and works against a progressive effort that the regional business, grassroots and governmental communities have been working towards in strengthening the Twin Counties region” Knight continued.
President Knight further stated that “from our viewpoint, the request to dismantle our system is reactionary, regressive and racist. We will give all parties an opportunity to explain to the people why they take the position that they do. Our Town Hall Meeting is designed to educate the public on the factors that created the current school systems in our region, the plan that was reached to address the segregation that was occurring then and an opportunity to address concerns that exist today. We extend an invitation to appropriate representatives of the Nash County Commission, Edgecombe County Commission, City of Rocky Mount, Nash/Rocky Mount School Board and the Edgecombe County School Board to inform us why they take the positions that they take on the future of our students, schools and region. We also are open to hearing from local members of the NC General Assembly about their intentions to address Nash County’s request.”
As of today, the Nash/Rocky Mount School Board, Edgecombe County School Board, Edgecombe County Commission and the City of Rocky Mount have all voiced unanimous opposition to Nash County’s request.
For more information, contact Rev. Knight at (252)544-2949.
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