ROCKINGHAM — As part of a rally for voting rights, national NAACP leaders will make their way through Richmond County over the weekend on their way to Washington.

The America’s Journey for Justice march began in Selma, Alabama and on Saturday will cross the North Carolina state line from Marlboro County, South Carolina into Richmond County.

Dian Griffin-Jackson, minister of religious affairs with the local NAACP chapter, said the group is still looking for an outside venue to hold a stopping point for those making the walk up the eastern seaboard. Because the national and state NAACP is in charge of organizing the event, Griffin-Jackson said, the local group along with Richmond County Sheriff James Clemmons Jr. are looking for a safe place to hold a rally. State and national NAACP presidents will be speaking after they cross the state line.

“They are planning on being in North Carolina on Saturday afternoon by at least 3:30 p.m., and they’re wanting to hold the rally at 4, but that’s tentative on weather,” said Griffin-Jackson. “After the rally, they’re planning on returning to Cheraw (South Carolina). They won’t walk any more that day.”

Cheraw has been designated as an “anchor site,” according to Griffin-Jackson, and will play host to civil rights workshops, youth teach-ins and other educational seminars.

With North Carolina being a focal point for the NAACP’s campaign to protect voting rights for minorities and the poor, the march through Rockingham on U.S. 1 will culminate in Raleigh on Sept. 3 in front of the state legislative complex.

State and national NAACP leaders have questioned North Carolina voting laws, including a photo identification requirement set to take effect in 2016. Griffin-Jackson hopes this march will help bring awareness about not only voting rights but other important issues affecting Richmond County and North Carolina as a whole.

“The march is to bring awareness that all lives matter, not just black lives matters, but all lives matter,” she said. “It’s to bring awareness to voting here in North Carolina and then jobs, and the minimum wage needs to be increased and schools and education. Those are the main focuses for this particular march. I’m sure the NAACP will address health care and all those things that legislators here in North Carolina seem to ignore like teacher salaries and teachers’ assistants.”

Griffin-Jackson said the groups marching are hoping to reach 17 miles a day throughout the journey and because of that, they’re looking for college-age and young people to be able to walk further than most.

She stressed that this march is not just for minorities, and the NAACP is looking for as many people as they can who are looking for a change.

“I think the size is relative,” she said of expected numbers. “It won’t be one of those Moral Mondays with 5 or 6,000 people, but I think we can expect several hundred to join in some form. People are invited to join the march at any point along the road, but they are encouraged to join at the starting point.”

Those interested in signing up to walk or volunteer handing out water and snacks to marchers can do so by visiting the NAACP’s website.

Reach reporter Matt Harrelson at 910-817-2674 and follow him on Twitter @mattyharrelson.

William R. Toler | Daily Journal The Rev. William J. Barber, state NAACP president, speaks about working together during Richmond County’s Moral Monday rally in Cole Plaza last October. Barber will be back in Rockingham when the group’s America’s Journey for Justice march makes its way through Richmond County and on to Washington, D.C.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_MoralMonday1_cmyk1.jpgWilliam R. Toler | Daily Journal The Rev. William J. Barber, state NAACP president, speaks about working together during Richmond County’s Moral Monday rally in Cole Plaza last October. Barber will be back in Rockingham when the group’s America’s Journey for Justice march makes its way through Richmond County and on to Washington, D.C.

By Matt Harrelson

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