Updated 6/14/2020 10:15 AM
A small crowd of about 50 peaceful demonstrators gathered in Centreville just before 10 a.m. today. The event was billed as a demonstration to promote voter registration; however, it also appeared to be an event to recognize the death of George Floyd and to voice calls for racial justice.
As marchers started moving chants were heard calling for “No justice, No peace”, “Black Lives Matter” and “Tear It Down Bibb County”, a reference to the Confederate Monument standing on the town square.
Local officials prepared for the event by stationing fire trucks on the town square and patrolling the area with local police and sheriff department cruisers. ALEA also had officers in town although their presence was low key.
The peaceful event was led by organizer Chondale Rembert, a graduate of Bibb County High School. As promised, marchers stayed on the sidewalks as they were protected from traffic or any unwanted interference by police escort on their route to Brent, where the march ended.
Tents were set up at Heritage Drive intersection off of Brent Main Street and about 20 voter registration forms were completed. The organizers promised to assist any unregistered eligible voters and to turn in the completed registration forms to the county registrar for entry into the Voter Registration system.
No disruptive incidents were reported during the day.
