Lumberton Black Panther Rally Update:

The American Flags that Lumberton Community Network put in front of Police Station Looked Great!!

Everyone was very grateful for the free water in the hot afternoon.

In the midst of all the negative aspects of what happened today, we wanted to show a positive, caring side to our city and just be kind because we really should not argue back and forth about what happened until the autopsy and the investigation are both complete. Well it worked. Both sides of the issue came to get water and told us thank for praying for them (both the LaDay Family and the Police Officers) and I believe we showed a very good side of Lumberton today.

We hope this is resolved very quickly and I believe the investigation will reveal that it was all just a tragic accident.

Sincerely,

David Bellow

Quanell X

Prayer and Free Water Booth

Flags in Front of Police Station

Water Booth Again

New Black Panthers and Quanell X plan Rally in Lumberton on Monday at noon at the Police Station to protest what they believe to be a racist beating.

I am sure everyone has seen the news already. A black man died in Lumberton after a struggle with the police and it is already labeled as racist profiling. First off, I think this death, just as any, is tragic and I feel sorry for the family and it should be investigated to find out the cause of death and if there was any wrong doing other than a struggle with someone trying to resist arrest. If the facts show there is something wrong then you have something to protest about. But until the autopsy, there is no evidence of racial profiling or excessive force. A man with a history of drugs and resisting arrest crashed his car and fought back when the police tried to give him a field sobriety test. He was tased and went unconscious after he was put in handcuffs and died. It is tragic and I feel sorry for the family because of their loss and it should be looked into to make sure everything was handled correctly. But before we even have an autopsy (which I believe will show he died of something other than getting "beaten") there is absolutely no justification to say it was racial profiling or even excessive force. I believe the LPD would have done the same thing to anyone of any race or color based on the situation.

So the big question is.... should we show up an do a counter protest to point out the fact that it has nothing to do with racism and everything to do with a guy who crashed his car and was resisting arrest and tragically died.... or should we just sit back and watch them do their thing?

Give me your input!!

davidbellow@davidbellow.com