The annual “Stop The Killing” march was held on Sunday evening in Danville. This year it will actually accomplish something. Not.
Let’s start with the Danville Register & Bee article about it (because SouthsideCentral sure forgot about it and wasn’t invited). Remember, it’s a R&B article so the paywall may apply unless you break through it.
Danville march remembers King’s goals
I’ve said before that these types of events are purely symbolic and have absolutely no effect in the real world. This one seems to have set a new low. Let’s take a look at why.
Let’s look at with Avon Keen’s quote section…
“It will be the theme until the killing stops,” Keen said. One point organizers have not been able to make people understand, Keen said, is that there is all kinds of “killing” — the death of ideas, visions and dreams; police killings; killing each other and even the killing of corporations were kinds of killings Keen said are being fought. “We’re still having trouble getting that across,” Keen said.
I’ll translate that for you. “Since we’re not stopping the killing, we will change the definition of killing.” Seriously. This new definition of “killing” is serious job security
Donna Waddell, of Blairs, is a member of the national SCLC board and regional director for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union; she said she has attended the march in Danville since 1999. This year, Waddell said, she brought shop stewards from the Richmond chapter of the UFCW to the march. “My belief is we need [organizations like the SCLC],” Waddell said. “Dr. King fought for workers; that’s the main reason I stick with the march; workers make the world go around — without them, nothing happens.”
I criticized all of the outside agitators that came into Danville to support the Confederate Flag issue, and I’m throwing the same criticism at these people from Richmond. These people won’t be back in Danville until the next time they’re sent down. Does the UFCW union represent anybody in Danville? I’m also obliged to point out that these people’s hometown of Richmond hasn’t been very successful in “Stop The Killing” efforts there.
Danville Mayor Sherman Saunders and Vice Mayor Gary Miller are both regular participants in the march, and were looking forward to the service at Shiloh Baptist Church on Betts Street. Also taking place in the event was Kim Adkins, former mayor of Martinsville and a candidate for state Sen. Bill Stanley’s seat in the November election.
Well, it wouldn’t be a Denice Thibodeau article unless Saunders & Miller are mentioned. Kim Adkins came to the march for campaign purposes. There’s nothing wrong with that because she’s mingling with the voter bloc that she has to count on in her attempt to knock off Bill Stanley. But don’t think that she would have been here if she wasn’t running for state senate this year, folks.
If you want to discuss the symbolism of this march, note that this march’s direction was in the opposite direction from Danville’s last violent crimes. The shooting into a house on Harrison St. on January 14th, the stabbing on Walker St. on January 10th, and the shooting on North Main St on January 6th. If you wanted to show the community that you really want to be on the streets and stop the violence, march into those areas of the city and “take over the streets” for the cause. Marching 2.5 miles in the other direction into Shiloh Baptist Church does nothing to directly confront the causes of the violence in Danville. The people doing the shootings and the stabbings aren’t attending these marches. Instead of a once-a-year walk to a church, attack the “Don’t Snitch” philosophy directly every Sunday in church. Take that message to the streets on the other days of the week. Embrace the police department and encourage the community’s partnership with them. Make the community uncomfortable and force them to look at what’s happening around them.
You’ll never “Stop the Killing”. You can do real things that make real people see what the real problem is. That’s how you make a real difference.
droll and boring …uneventful to me !!
And it shouldn’t have been. That’s the problem.
Editor’s Note: Marcus Hughes wrote this on my personal Facebook page to answer my question…
Well written article with excellent points. Trevor, you’re a tit.
????? what do YOU mean? a tit to some is attractive and desirable !
Just one? 😀
u said “TIT” as in singular/one so I metioned one…then 2 tits are double attractive and desirable
Trevor, Obviously you are not well-informed enough to qualify as the plural. Your comment about an important event being “droll and boring …uneventful to me !!” shows your lack of concern for anyone other than yourself. You take a well-written article that doesn’t interest YOU, read it, and then post a negative comment about the waste of your own time. Do you get all your news from People magazine?
Further, while tits on a woman may qualify as beautiful (even if they reach her knees?), the tit you are belongs on the belly of a sow.
You’re an idiot and, like many others who read this site’s articles, I’ll just stick to calling you one.
and I say SCREW YOU and forget you. I could care less about Black Jesus mess !!! the blacks get their weaves and fros and dred locks in a wod when whites want to fly a confederate flag. so you think I care about a frickin black jesus march??? NOPE. putting tits and twats aside.
Ah Trevor. You and your racist attitude have just moved from “idiot” to “shit-iot”. On this day of celebrating Dr. King’s legacy, it’s just beyond reason that you even exist.
I am not alone in the views—racist as u say—- as many people agree with me as those in the march that resulted in nothing but some exercise. call me what you want but others would and DO agree with what I typed. so according to you there are other idtiots and that other word you created. Today on STAR NEWS someone called in saying there needs to be a “WHITE DAY” so seeeeeeeeeeeeee
People still watch Star News?
There are more like you? I guess there are a few rocks still left turned over. Your hate for others who might be “different” from you is disgusting. Here’s hoping there’s nothing “different” about you other than your lack of intelligence.
Regarding my name, I left out the comma. Now it’s there. Figure it out.
does ” K M A” in your name mean kiss my ass? are you saying this to someone named PAM? an observation . if EYE am correct who is an “idiot” now? did I call you out? but in cyber language and general abbreviations K M A usually mean kiss my ass. is there a Pam in your life whom you dislike ? Huh? 🙂 if I am wrong then so be ittttttttttttttttt…..
Once again your favorite topic, Talking about issues that affect the African-American community. The citizens who gathered should take over the streets where the “Blacks are” and that will fix it…So sad. I must admit I enjoy reading your blog ( at least in the beginning), you certainly know what can draw attention to it. It is entertaining to say the least. It is a shame your intellect will not allow you to actually be a responsible journalist. Why don’t you reach out to the family of the home that was shot in. Since you have this awesome 3rd party relationship with law enforcement(Its is strange that when you are challenged on you articles you always state you have spoken with law enforcement) there’s children in that home that may need help (Since all lives matter). Maybe you will send some of the African Americans that you love to compliment to check on the families, (Bryan Hood, Lillie Jones, Justin Ferrell) and they can report back to you. You can then talk about how “They get it” and you will have done your civic duty. You bash Avon Keen, Marcus Hughes, the guy from the Scott Foundation, but then point fingers about a community you know nothing about. African Americans should no longer play your silly games just so they can see there name on the Internet to make themselves seem to be a crossover type of relevant. I cant speak for anyone else but I am strongly reconsidering dining at Texas Steakhouse (I wouldn’t want to eat there having to digest some of your articles). FYI be careful what you spread African Americans hold a great deal of spending power from a consumer perspective. I think your sponsor would agree.
Threats made by an anonymous person using a fake email mean nothing to me. I have gotten strong support from all races on this article.
Thank you for reading SouthsideCentral.
Straight shooter: Let me know when you’re going to boycott Texas Steakhouse. I’ll bring my whole family there for dinner and laugh at you. This guy tells it like it is.
If, and IF is a big word, Avon Keen was seriously interested in helping solve problems in this city, he would preach against black on black crime. He would also speak out and try to curb the number of black babies born to unmarried women and girls in Danville. Then he would preach to the men and boys who are making these babies and then take no responsibility whatsoever for the baby. It is the normal way black pregnancies happen in Danville these days, not the exception. In fact it is the norm nationwide. Over 70% of all black babies in USA are born out of wedlock. Does anybody think that is the preferred way to have children?
Now be careful saying that. You might get threatened like I just did.
amen !! amen !! bingo
Buck, children out of wedlock and Black on Black crime is a true issue in this community called Danville just like most places. The change will come once it becomes everyone’s issues not just Blacks. If you follow someone like Avon Keen you will see that he is a change agent, some Caucasian view him as divisive. I would consider Faith Stamps who us is executive director of the Boys and Girls club and white to be the same she really cares about those kids. A old proverb states ” you are either part of the problem or the part of the solution” I appreciate what he does because he has pride in his community, it is in my opinion know different than the pride some have in the Confederate Flags. It is there right and definitely apart of history. As relates to children being born out of wedlock the nationwide trend for the past 10 years is interacial teenagers having children, some how that gets grazed over when statistics are presented about African Americans. The Bruce guy wants to call himself threatened, but he has no remorse when it comes to perpetuating sterotypes against blacks. Meanwhile certain African Americans in our community look to him for mentions on his blog as way to appear accomplished, the nerve of those individuals who obviously do not take time to read his perspectives of us. Please remember we are talking about children, children that didn’t ask to come here…They are just here. Danville and Martinsville hold great distinctions statewide of children that live in poverty. That is a problem we all suffer from.
Bernard Goldberg wrote a column today,here is a quote:
“Sharpton might have called for an emergency meeting to deal with fatherlessness in Black America, where the out-of-wedlock birth rate is north of 70 percent. He might have called for an emergency meeting to deal with the disproportionately high number of black kids who drop out of high school. He might have called an emergency meeting to deal with black crime, whose victims are overwhelmingly black people.
But there are just so many hours in the day, so Al had to prioritize. Memo to Whitey: Lay off the Rev, a man who never lets an opportunity (to stoke racial tensions) go to waste.”
His point is mine as well. You are correct, the children are not to blame, but the guys making these children are. The women are too, and nobody will speak out against them. Not Keen,not Sharpton, not Jackson, nor Holder, or Obama, and you won’t either. Bringing a child into the world in this manner is wrong,it is not fair to the children either. Now go ahead and tell me I am wrong on this.
Trevor you are a wee bit sensitive and you comments go to far. The honoring of Dr. Martin Luther King is not a trivial thing. The march has been held for many years, I have participated in the march several times, but not every year. My first one march with the group was for the first March over the Martin Luther King Bridge in Danville. That was a momentous moment! Unfortunately, a march ever year can do little to make change. Dr. King believed in marching over fighting and killing-a march is a tribute to that. What would Dr. King say of events that happen daily in places in this country? The numerous killing of young people, people have homes riddled with bullets while they lay sleeping, shootings by police, shooting of police, people not voting, and students not learning. There is much to be done to make our world a different place. A march is a tribute, but an even greater tribute would be to work to make change. Take it to the neighborhoods and help them take control of where they live. Give the skills and help parents need to get their kids to school. Help the schools take control and teach students, don’t sit back and tell them they must figure it out. Give the skills so they can figure it out. Control the classroom, make them want to learn. We all must do our part to make change. If you do not vote, I recommend watching the movie Selma-maybe you will then understand the importance Dr. King and others placed on being able to vote. Every year the march gets attention, now turn the attention into action and we will all benefit.
No threats here, what good would that do? I certainly apologize if that is how you feel. You have so many irrelevant layers, are checking people’s emails to? I’m just saying I will not spend my money at Texas Steakhouse knowing they support your opinion based blog. To me it means they support your opinions. Its my money I can spend it how I like. I know a lot of other consumers that have disposable income that feel the same way, Caucasian and African American That is Texas Steakhouse problem not yours, maybe they care more about your blog and less about there patrons. Be a good steward of your sponsorship don’t put them in the cross hairs of your “Race Pimp” tactics. You know they didn’t sign up for that. Translation. … watch your mouth.
I tried sending an email to the address you used on the comment form and it bounced back. You’re also using a fake name (which I’ve got no problem with). For every one of “you” who would boycott a sponsor, there’s two people that will show their support. SouthsideCentral is way more than race-based articles, but your tunnel vision only sees and threatens on that issue.
I repeat. Your anonymous threats mean nothing to me. Stand behind your real name and make your boycott threat.
You must really be nervous, Is it your normal practice to share so much of your business practices with your viewing audience. You are not actually viable media, just one guys opinion so why can’t I share mine? Don’t turn the Texas Steakhouse is to big deal. STAND BY YOUR WORK. Just tell there corporate division how you feel. That’s how you handle that. I’m sure the many African American patrons and employees of there brand wont mind how you feel.
I’m very viable. The fact that you keep replying proves that. You’re welcome to share your opinion. This is my website and you keep coming back to it.
You are right it is your website, where is the viability in that? You are entertaining at best. I’m sure Texas Steakhouse is proud.
I need some popcorn and kool-aid, this is great! I wonder why it is always negative when it comes to issues that deal with race, equality, and social justice? Explain it to me while I put some more butter on my popcorn.
I know! Maybe instead of marching, it would be better if those who consider killing a viable solution to a situation, if they just didn’t do it…thereby stopping the killing…