Black Lives Matters Is Coming to Murphy, NC

This event is currently scheduled for Thursday, June 4th in downtown Murphy, NC.

This protest is being organized on Facebook. The group was created on June 1, 2020 and currently has 646 members

Issue 1:

About This Group

Private

Only members can see who’s in the group and what they post

I asked to join the group but was not accepted. A private group organizing a protest always make me wonder what they have to hide. Even if someone joined the group to disrupt it, they can be removed.

Issue 2:

I have to take someone else’s word but I have a high level of confidence in their character. The initial posts on Facebook stated that 300 people were being bused in from Asheville and Atlanta. These posts have been deleted so I have no screen shots. If this is true, I have to ask who is funding the cost of the buses?

Issue 3:

Based on current government census data, the above information shows 486 people of Black or African American descent in the county. I bought my home in Murphy 10 years ago so that means I am not a local and will always be an outsider. I know there were some racial issues here in the past but I do not know of any since I have been here. What is the purpose of a BLM protest in Murphy?

Issue 4:

The group has been issued a permit which precludes any firearms. The chief of police has issued the following statement:

FROM TOWN OF MURPHY POLICE DEPARTMENT:

To the citizens, business owners and travelers of the Town of Murphy and Cherokee County, beginning at 5:30 pm, on Thursday, June 4th, we will be closing off certain streets and sidewalks in the Town of Murphy for a peaceful demonstration that has been approved to begin at 6:00 pm. On June 2nd, the organizers of this event filed the proper paperwork regarding a Permit to Demonstrate with the Murphy Police Department and the Town of Murphy.

During this event, all motor vehicle traffic will be diverted around this area for the organizers and participant’s safety. As with any peaceful demonstration occurring across the United States, certain individuals and organizations take advantage of these situations turning it into something that it is not. While the organizers and participants of this demonstration are exercising their First Amendment Rights, which everyone is entitled to, we will respect their wishes and assist in any way that we can. We cannot emphasize enough what these organizers are doing to keep this event as peaceful as possible.

While we encourage everyone to exercise their Constitutional Rights, this specific permit does not allow the carrying of firearms, handguns or rifles, during this demonstration. While we have viewed and read many Facebook comments regarding people bringing firearms to this demonstration, even for good intentions, or to show solidarity, this will not be allowed. If you show up with a firearm, you will kindly be asked to remain outside of the demonstration area.

While many injustices occur on a daily basis, we never support, nor condone, what occurred this past week to Mr. George Floyd or anyone else. While we will not make this about us, we will be here to support those who peacefully protest to bring awareness to their cause. Some may agree with this statement and some may not. As with anything else, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Please remember…that law enforcement is here to serve and protect everyone.

Listed below are the following streets and sidewalks that will be closed during this event:

Peachtree St. and Alpine St. (Murphy Police Department)

Peachtree St. and Central St. (Cherokee County Courthouse)

Peachtree St. and Central St. (Adjacent to the Cherokee County Courthouse)

Peachtree St. and Valley River Ave./Hiwassee St. (Town Square)

We would kindly ask that individuals that have questions regarding this demonstration, to please not tie up any emergency lines with the Cherokee County E-911 Communications Center. Please stay tuned for any updates or changes that may occur before this event takes place. Thank You, Chief Justin J. Jacobs.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So much for the 2nd Amendment on public property even if you are not participating in the protest.

Issue 5:

Why has this event been scheduled on a Thursday evening starting at 6:oo PM in a town that has a 9:00 PM curfew for the COVID pandemic? If anything violent did come up at this protest, it could be the catalyst for a national spark this weekend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Of course, the above issues are personal concerns. I have been around long enough to know that just thinking about the above issues is a thought crime and makes me a racist. I have found that being called a racist is just a cover for when the other side cannot win or make their point in a discussion. I believe that there will be unintended consequences to this country if this movement becomes peaceful. If we all come together in peace, either the movement will grow to make real government change (which the powers that be do not want) or the people funding the civil unrest will not achieve their objectives (which they do want) and will initiate false flags.

My concern is based on bricks. The funding and organization necessary to preposition bricks and other material for violence around the country without anyone seeing the deliveries is the tell. The majority of the people in this country know something is wrong and I am not just talking about racial injustice. If we did come together in peace, we would face the opposition outlined above, so what are our alternatives? Trust in God and realize that we are all Brothers in Christ regardless of color, race or any other issue in the culture war manufactured to divide us.

I pray that this will be a peaceful protest. My gut tells me something is very wrong for this protest to be in rural Murphy with very little law enforcement and no backup from other law enforcement agencies in a short time frame. If there are people being bused in, we are in trouble. If this is a local effort to support racial equality, we should all support this event.

David DeGerolamo