It was a peaceful protest with a powerful message June 1 as people of different colors, age groups and backgrounds came to together to address problems plaguing communities in the wake of the death of George Floyd, a black man who died May 25 in Minneapolis while in police custody.
Bladen County NAACP led a parade along Martin Luther King Drive to Swanzy Street, ending in the Fresh Food IGA parking lot in Elizabethtown. Protesters, Elizabethtown Police Chief Tony Parrish and Bladen County Sheriff Jim McVicker took a knee for nearly nine minutes in memory of Floyd, who was born in Fayetteville and has family in Hoke County. Floyd was pronounced dead after a white police officer held his knee on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes.
A protest in Fayetteville on May 30 turned violent. Downtown businesses were damaged and a fire was started in the historic Market House. Friday, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced the arrest of a man for taking part in the arson of the building. There were other protests in Cumberland County during the week and all were peaceful.
Social media has become a way to learn and to stay in touch with family and friends. It also can be used as a way to pass along false information as Bladen Online learned last week. BladenOnline.com became aware of two lies being spread on Facebook. One was a Facebook paid advertisement, and the other involved our company.
Seemingly lost amid recent news is COVID-19, but the potentially deadly virus is still around and health professionals still are encouraging social distancing, wearing a face mask and washing hands. Bladen County Health and Human Services director Dr. Terri Duncan said Friday that her office was investigating 23 new positive cases in the county. Bladen County had 153 confirmed COVID-19 cases and two deaths as of Saturday, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Southeastern Health announced a series of changes Monday in response to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the closing of its White Lake clinic.
In crime news, Elizabethtown Police were searching for Marcus Cyril McKoy of Clarkton in connection with the shooting death of David “DJ” Swindell Jr. of Elizabethtown. The shooting took place May 24. A warrant for first degree murder has been issued for McKoy, according to police. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Det. Sgt. W. Thompson at 910-862-3125.
Three Molotov cocktails were thrown into a residence on Britt Street in Bladenboro on June 1, according to Bladenboro Police Chief William Howell. Anyone with information may contact the Bladenboro Police Department at 910-863-3333.
The school year in Bladen County ended Thursday. The buildings have been closed since mid-March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, instruction continued online. While graduation ceremonies have had to be adjusted because of the virus, Bladen Online congratulates those seniors. Here is a list of Bladen County high school graduates.
Stay safe and enjoy the week ahead.
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