Dear Editors and All Patriotic Americans
On 21 April 2005 at 6:43 PM Floyd Rose was arrested by Valdosta Police
Department. Rev Rose is President of the Peoples Tribunal, former
pastor of the Church at Pine Hill, Author, founder of Save the Children in
Toledo Ohio and activist that galvanized over 2,000 Lowndes County
Citizens and marched on the Lowndes County jail in 1998 following the death
of a Black jailed inmate Willie James Williams who died while in
custody of the Lowndes County Sheriffs Department after a routine traffic
stop.
Also arrested was Willie Head Vice President of the Peoples Tribunal
who lives in Brooks County and was carried to the Lowndes County Jail.
While many others stood by desiring to be arrested along with these two
heroes---for the cause of justice and self respect. (Not just ten like
our local paper The Valdosta Daily Times reported on 22 April 2005
The arrests took place in City Hall because the Valdosta City Council
voted against renaming a recent renovated park in memory of a black
person. The present name “Barber Park” was a man who had a history of
refusing to allow Blacks into the park to swim and participate in other
activities during the ugly period of segregation.
Barber Park is now in a community that is approximately 97 percent
Black and will be frequented mainly by Blacks. However, in Lowndes County
it appears that elected officials refuse to take Blacks seriously. One
can only speculate why Black Councilman Willie Head and White
Councilman Sumner were absent from such an important meeting.
Valdosta seem to consistently disrespect Blacks. For example: When
Rev. Floyd Rose ran for Chairman of the Lowndes County Board of
Commissioners and received racial slurs and threats on his life that caused the
polling place on Jaycee shack Road to be shut down and a Sheriffs
Deputy remain at the sight. However, no elected official within the City or
County spoke out against such ill treatment of a Georgia Citizens
running for public office.
Our local newspaper only reported the story after citizens demanded
something be reported to the public. In addition: For over 16 years
citizens have complained about the inhumane, abusive, unsanitary conditions
in our jail and the denial of inmates constitutional rights. This has
been documented and identified by Civil Action 89-54-Val of the U.S.
District Court of the Middle District of Georgia, Valdosta Division, by
United States Judge Hugh Lawson. The case was filled back in 1989 by
inmates who continues to send signed letters and notarized statements
trying to get their elected officials to respond to their cries for an
outside investigation of the jail—but to no avail and Blacks are tired of
this repeated practice.
All this added to Rev Rose refusal to remove himself from the podium
because he felt the Black community was once again not being treated
fairly in Lowndes County.. This is especially true when it comes to
monuments, naming of schools and other symbols that will instill pride in
Black children. Even though Valdosta is a newly established Metropolitan
City it has one of the shortest streets recognizing the Nobel Peace
Prize Winner Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that has only five blocks. When
much smaller cities in South Georgia have thorough fares named in Kings
honor. This is proof of how Blacks are respected in the circles of
Lowndes County.
It is no secret that Brooks and Lowndes County Georgia have had a long
history of mistreating Blacks that dates back before July 1918 when 12
Blacks were killed in what was known as a “Week of Terror.” The
Georgia Governor and the President of the United States had to get involved
to stop the violence, and it is recorded that 500 Blacks left the area
immediately after the matter was resolved.
One Black man killed during that week of terror was named SIDNEY
JOHNSON-#1 for what ever reason was castrated and dragged up and down
Patterson Street in Valdosta Georgia behind an automobile while the crows
looked on in glee. So reported in NAACP crisis in 1918. This week of
terror is recorded in America and World History.
Also, killed were WILL THOMPSON-#2, WILL HEAD-#3, HAYES TURNER-#4,
CHINE RILEY-#5, EUGENE RICE-#6, SIMON SCHUMAN,-#7 victim #8,#9,#10, name
omitted but included in the week of lynchings and lawlessness against
Black citizens in this South Georgia Area. Others were Hayes Turner’s
wife MARY TURNER-#11, who was lynched and her 8th MONTH OLD FETUS-#12,
was violently ripped from her womb with a knife by a white MOB member
while she hanged from a tree, and the head of the child crushed beneath a
mob member boot. But our city council seems to want us to forget
unlike the Jews who said, “We will never forget.”
These acts of violence all comes to mind to Blacks concerning the name
Barber Park. Councilman Sessions would never have gotten away with
making a statement concerning the Jewish Holocaust that he made concerning
Blacks and the naming of Barber Park at the meeting. Moreover, no one
has been brought before the Bar of Justice for any of these crimes
against humanity. Yet, local elected officials seem to believe that Blacks
and White Right people will let this matter fade into the sunset of is
gravely mistaken. This is an extremely, serious matter that combines
many historical pains and heartaches of the past.
The dream of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and those who suffered, bleed,
and died for this Republic will not rest until justice comes to the
streets of Lowndes county Georgia. My ref for the lynchings is The Crisis
September 1918, Vol. 16, page 5. Lead into this story, and in the book
Before the Mayflower by Leone Bennett.
Our elected officials in South Georgia continues to disrespect Blacks
and refuse to provide even a courteous reply to jailed inmates who are
suffering----many of whom are American Veterans. Moreover a U.S. Court
Judge rendered a Court order and consent decree but no one knows who
was responsible for insuring the order was carried out. Moreover,
approximately eight inmates have died in or surrounding our jail but our
elected officials have never sought to really resolve these long standing
problems within our community. But in the end all this will be a matter
for discussion during the renaming of Barber Park.
Rev Floyd Rose has called for a news conference at 2:00 PM on 22 April
2005 on the steps of City Hall. The seriousness of this just cause
will not stop with two arrests.. Blacks are tired of being treated as
second class citizens in this county.
It must be known that Blacks see Rev Rose as their only and final hope
for change--- in a city that jailed inmates have called a Hell Hole for
Blacks.
Rev Rose has always been available to the press and very much capable
of speaking and addressing the real issues of his community. He is a
patriot that cannot be bought or sold by the status quo. He can be
reached at 229-444-1938-or 229-241-1288. Rev Rose is truly a community
organizer and highly respected by all Black and White Right folks of this
ill community.
I write because our local editor Kay Harris article on 22 April 2005
maintains the status quo as usual in her article. Moreover, all local
media seems to follow the status quo so no real change can come to this
South Georgia Town. However, in the end the voice of the people will
eventually win as it always does.
I’m sure that Rev. Rose passionate action is only a beginning and as
Rev. Joseph Lowery, one of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. lieutenants said,
“Valdosta will set the tone for Civil Rights in the 21st Century,” and
without knowing it local governmental agencies seems to be full filling
this long time civil rights prophecy. Peace!
GEORGE RHYNES
A concerned citizens and brother of humanity
5004 Oak Drive
Valdosta, Georgia 31605
