Vote No to Restructuring the Fayetteville City Council A GDN Exclusive

Peter Grear

I was a part of the Civil Rights movement in the sixty’s while a student at Fayetteville State University. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a direct out-growth of student engagement during the sixties. Defeating voter suppression and protecting Blacks voting rights and access to the ballot was one of, if not, the most important right won during the Civil Rights Era.

It is important that Broncos, their families and friends, who are eligible to vote on the upcoming Fayetteville City Council election process change, vote “No.”

As a part of the opposition to the scheme, Cumberland County NAACP President, Jimmy Buxton, wrote that the proposed change was “A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing. Thanks Jimmy trues words have not been written. At-Large voting schemes was one of the core tactics of the “Jim Crow Era” (1877-1965). Those in Fayetteville that are promoting a change to the present election process of the Fayetteville City Council to create four at-large seats on the 9-member council are asking for a return to “Jim Crow.” The proponents for change offer several reasons for the change, but none are persuasive. Vote No!