The New Black Panther Party made its presence known in Newberry County ... the location of 30-year old Anthony Hill's dragging death.
"We fundamentally cannot allow a modern day lynching to take place," says party leader Malik Zulu Shabazz, "and we sit back and doing nothing about it."
The brutal murder is under investigation. Police say 19-year-old Gregory Collins shot and killed Hill before tying his body to a truck and dragging it ten miles. The incident is being considered as a possible hate crime.
Members of the New Black Panther Party have called for quicker action from law enforcement."He was the best husband ever and the best father he could be," says Anthony’s estranged wife Aurea Hill. "When they told me what happened I was in shock."
Newberry County Sheriff Lee Foster insists that his department, along with federal officials are doing everything they can.
"What is perplexing to me and law enforcement is that we have a suspect in jail and charged with murder," says Sheriff Foster, "which is the highest crime that you can be charged with in the state of South Carolina."According to Foster, Collins is sitting behind bars without bond as investigators continue their probe into what led up to the killing.
New Black Panther Party members and supporters say until Collins is charged with committing a hate crime, they will not be silenced.
"We as black people need to get together," says Newberry resident Leslie Means, "we need to come together with some unity and be as one."The group has planned a march against hate crimes for July 17 in Newberry County.
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I think that this blog may begin to keep an eye out on the new Black Panther Party over the coming days and weeks. Is there any activity from this group in your geographical area?
2 comments:
I'm very happy that I do not live or function with that sort of hate in my heart or consuming my life. Such a senseless act of violence, may that young man rest in peace.
Shae - Amen! It takes a special kind of hate to put a rope around a man; tie that rope to your truck; and drag that man for miles. I hope that the white killer is charged with a hate crime.
re: the New Black Panthers. Are you hearing more about them in your area?
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