It’s been fifty years since President Lyndon Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law.
In Pocomoke City the New Macedonia Baptist Church held an event during what has become a tough fight over the dismissal of the first African American Police Chief of the town.
Pastor Ronnie White, one of those leading the fight for his reinstatement, told the gathering that the event was a moment to bring the community together.
Mayor Bruce Morrison, who was involved in the firing of former chief Kelvin Sewell, was received warmly at last night’s event.
Meanwhile, the invited speaker Carl Snowden, a civil rights activist and the civil rights director in the Maryland Attorney General’s office, spoke of the history and legacy of the act.
Finally, Meredith Curtis with the American Civil Liberties Union spoke of – what has been described as – an election irregularity in which an election for District Four on the council was cancel.
A woman wanted to run as a write in candidate but was refused.
Curtis said that was a violation of the Voting Rights Act.
