RFP Staff
♦ On Sunday afternoon tempers were heating up in Salisbury when word got out in the black community about the Confederate flag wavers and protest down at the Confederate Monument on West Innes and Church Street. Later in the afternoon crowds of young people created a counter-protest at the intersection of Long Street and East Innes where young black persons held up cardboard signs with the words “Black Power” printed on them and shouted “Wake Up!” at passing cars.
Officers from the Salisbury Police were present and kept a watchful eye on both protests. It was later reported the Salisbury Police shut down the Long Street protest for lack of a permit.
Salisbury is a potential powder keg at a time not far removed from the Charleston AME Church massacre. Many in the black community are livid about what happed in Charleston and elsewhere. Old wounds have been painfully reopened.
Contrary to what is being reported elsewhere, the Rowan Rifles chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans did not sanction or participate in the protest at the Confederate Monument according to their leader Steve Poteat.
Videos of Counter Protest:
