The Cherokee County Branch of the NAACP has secured a permit from the City of Centre to host a March and Rally this Saturday (June 13th) – in the wake of the wrongful death of George Floyd at the hands of a now ex-Minneapolis police officer on May 25th of this year (2020).

President of the group, Tracy Clifton Burkett; along with Bernard Simelton, the President of the Alabama NAACP State Conference; the Vice President of the local branch; and several members of the organization – met with Centre Mayor Tony Wilkie, the Centre City Council, Centre Police Chief Kirk Blankenship, Sheriff Jeff Shaver and Chief Deputy Josh Summerford on Tuesday evening to work out the details.

That event is set to begin at 12:00 noon at the Hatcher Community Center, formerly the JFK Building off Bay Springs Road in Centre with the march going out to Main Street, then to the County Courthouse.  The march is expected to take about 30 minutes to reach the courthouse, where the group’s president and several other speakers will address those in attendance.  Afterwards those in the group are expected to return to the community center, where a hamburger and hot dog lunch will be served

The mayor stressed Main Street along that route will be blocked, and no through traffic will be allowed from the Huddle House to City Hall from noon until 3:00.

The march organizers, city leaders and law enforcement agencies are working together for a peaceful event and to keep everyone safe.

Sheriff Shaver said the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency will be sending extra Troopers to assist local agencies by providing extra manpower.

Following Tuesday night’s meeting, WEIS Radio’s Jerry Baker spoke with Ms. Burkett about the upcoming event:

Ms. Burkett summed up things by sharing these thoughts:

We’ll continue to follow this story as it develops.