Rally in Burnsville

It was kind of a thrill to see this sight in little old Burnsville as people gathered on the square to express outrage over the killing of George Floyd, frustration with the racial structures of power and privilege in our country, and also some hope for the future. I counted about 300 people on the square; there may have been more than that.

Many people brought signs with names of black people killed by police and lots of Black Lives Matter. The speakers were good, including several local ministers and the Yancey Sheriff, Gary Banks. Roberta Whiteside sang beautifully.

At one point in his talk, Bill Whiteside said, "We hold these truths to be self evident. That all men--and women--are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." He paused briefly, and then said, "That's all we want."

Sheriff Banks speaking to the crowd. He offered strong words about the failure of law enforcement in the death of George Floyd. When the speeches were over, a group of about 30 young people marched around the square chanting for about an hour. Everything was calm. People seemed glad to be there. I know I was.