Indians Rally, Urge Action on N.C. Judgeship

A predominantly Lumbee Indian crowd of about 600 people rallied Monday at a recreation center where slain Indian leader Julian Pierce recently kicked off his campaign for a state judgeship.

The marchers, carrying signs reading, “Gov. Martin: We Need That Special Session,” proceeded peacefully down several city blocks, singing “Amazing Grace” and “We Shall Not Be Moved.”

Pierce, a Lumbee, was shot to death at his home on March 26 in what authorities said was a domestic dispute.

Rally Not Endorsed

Several elected and religious leaders from across the state attended the rally, which was not endorsed by local officials.

The seat Pierce was seeking was created by the General Assembly to improve the chances of minorities in Superior Court elections in racially troubled Robeson County. Blacks and Indians make up 58% of the county’s population.

The lone candidate remaining in the race, white Dist. Atty. Joe Freeman Britt, will be declared the winner of the judgeship unless the Legislature takes special action to allow another candidate. The protesters want Gov. James G. Martin to declare a special session to act on the matter.

The march was sponsored by Concerned Citizens for Better Government, a coalition of 10 local citizens’ groups. Local elected officials have criticized the group for being too radical and for attracting outside interference in the affairs of Robeson County.

Peaceful Change

State Rep. H. M. (Mickey) Michaux told the crowd at the Bill Sapp Recreational Center that no one is an outside agitator as long as they advocate peaceful change.

“Like Martin Luther King wrote from the Birmingham jail, whatever affects one, affects all,” Michaux said. “Nobody can be called an outside agitator when it is in the best interest of America that everyone sticks together for a cause.”

Besides Michaux, state Rep. Sidney Locks, who represents Robeson County, and Dan Bell, a Democratic candidate for secretary of state, attended the rally.

Democratic presidential candidate Jesse Jackson sent the group a telegram urging Robeson County acitizens to “keep up the fight.”