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Thursday's event, organized by Rev. Greg Drumwright's Justice 4 the Next Generation, also served to speak out against the City of Graham's protest ordinance.
Avery Harvey, one of two protestors arrested in Graham this week, and several other community activists gathered in Court Square Thursday night to speak out against the city’s protest ordinance and call for the community to continue protesting what they called the city’s violation of their constitutional rights.
On Tuesday, Harvey, of Graham, and Theresa Draughn, of Burlington, were arrested while attending a protest on Court Square in Graham. According to police, the protest was deemed unlawful as the organizers did not file the necessary notifications to local officials and the crowd was ordered to disperse. Both Harvey and Draughn were arrested and charged for a city ordinance violation and failure to disperse. They were later released on a written promise to appear in court.
During a Thursday night press conference, Avery Harvey (center) speaks about his arrest earlier this week while protesting in Graham.
Times-News
Elizabeth Pattman
On Thursday, Harvey spoke at a press conference organized by Rev. Greg Drumwright about his arrest.
“It’s really hard to speak on stuff like this because we should be way past this by now, but we’re still here,” Harvey said. “Like my sister said, we’re not our ancestors; we’re fighting, we’re pushing.”
“We just need justice. … We’re going to keep fighting,” he added.
“The target that has been placed on Avery’s back is not justified by Avery’s character,” Drumwright said. “This young man has had a target on his back since July 7. They have assaulted him, they have given him a criminal record that is undeserved and this entire community intends to stand behind him until he gets justice.”
Thursday's event, organized by Rev. Greg Drumwright's Justice 4 the Next Generation, also served to speak out against the City of Graham's protest ordinance.
Times-News
Elizabeth Pattman
In addition to giving Harvey an opportunity to speak, the event served to speak against the city’s protest ordinance.
The current protest ordinance in Graham requires a permit or "notice of protest" for a demonstration of 10 or more downtown. The ordinance was recently updated from a previous version in which two or more people gathered was labeled as a protest.
“The recent arrests of protestors here in Alamance County is an infringement upon the constitutional rights of citizens, organizers and activists working right here at the epicenter of injustice in Graham,” Drumwright said. “Unfortunately, in Graham, North Carolina, you can get arrested for existing while Black on this street corner if you have or hold a sign that says Black lives matter,”
In addition to Harvey and local protest organizers, several community members attended the event, voicing their support.
Times-News
Elizabeth Pattman
Drumwright said he, other organizers and their lawyers, are still fighting against the updated ordinance.
"One thing we do have is staying power. We're not going anywhere. We're going to stay here and do what we need to do until it gets done," Clif Carter with the Alamance Alliance for Justice said Thursday. "We will be here. We will stand a fight until we change it. We will do whatever it takes to make a change."
To view a live stream of the full event, including Drumwright's full speech and speeches from attorney Jason Keith, Graham activist Ann Jones and Quenclyn Ellison with the Alamance Alliance for Justice, visit Drumwright's Facebook page.
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Elizabeth Pattman is the trending topics reporter for the Times-News in Burlington, covering business, COVID-19 and all things trending. Contact Elizabeth (she/her) at epattman@gannett.com. I'm also available on social media @EPattmanTN on Twitter or @burlingtontimesnews on Instagram.
