A car show scheduled for April 1 to raise money for the local Crime Stoppers program may get more attention for one of its guest speakers than any of the cars.
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a conservative firebrand considered a likely candidate for the Republican nomination for governor in 2024, is the most prominent of three politicians who will speak at the first Crime Stoppers Classic Car Show. Robinson’s public speeches are often laced with comments that become controversial and go viral on social media, such as when he said last June that Christians should “be led by men” and in 2021 called homosexuality “filth.”
District Attorney Sean Boone and Sheriff Terry Johnson, also Republicans, are scheduled to speak as well. They will not be up for election in 2024.
Crime Stoppers board member Scott Hendren said there was no intent to make the car show a Republican political rally.
“While they are politicians, this is not a political event,” Hendren said. “We reached out to Governor (Roy) Cooper, but he had a prior engagement. We’re grateful to have a speaker, like the Lt. Governor, from the state level to show appreciation for Crime Stoppers and our local agencies.”
Money raised from the car show will help Crime Stoppers, a non-profit organization, pay rewards for tips that lead to solving crimes.
“Some people think that Crime Stoppers is funded through law enforcement, but it isn’t. We work hand in hand with the law enforcement agencies all over Alamance County, and all of the money we raise stays here in Alamance County,” Hendren said.
In addition to the cars and guest speakers, there will be a bounce house for kids.
Bobby Davis Jr. of the Burlington Police Department and the Alamance Crime Stoppers coordinator, said the number of tips provided to Crime Stoppers has grown, going from 200 tips in 2019 to 800 in 2022.
“We’ve come a long way. Over that span, tips have led to numerous arrests. As an officer, we are thankful for all of the tips that come in,” he said.
The car show will be held at Holly Hill Mall from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on April 1. Admission is free.
Anyone wanting to show a car can register the day of the show. For more information on Crime Stoppers and the car show, visit the Alamance County Crime Stoppers Car Show page on Facebook.
