Marching toward change

"Let them see us."

Hakeem Croom told his co-event organizer Karima ElMadany to slow their march in the sweaty heat and humidity, seeking more exposure for the crowd behind them. The walk progressed along Main Street from Farmville's First Baptist Church to the Robert Russa Moton Museum - both historic civil rights landmarks.

Some of the demonstrators carried signs displaying the faces and names of both unarmed black people killed by police officers and police officers killed in retaliation.

The nonviolent crowd contained a mix of the town’s college community and Farmville residents, totaling over 100 people. They were brought together on Thursday, Sept. 1 for Croom and ElMadany’s event called, “Am I Next: Debunking Stereotypes.”

The peace walk was confined tightly to the sidewalks, according to Croom. The Town of Farmville required them to have a parade permit for more space.

Several participants felt the walk provided a time for reflection - thinking about the names they carried and the names they didn’t.

“It feels great to be a part of change, and it also makes me reflect and get emotional about these people who have lost their lives due to senseless violence,” said Deja Mills, Longwood’s Black Student Association senior president, as she walked carrying the face of Michael Brown. “It is a peace walk, so it’s a lot of time to think to yourself about (how) that could have been me or that could be them.”

The demonstrators filed through the double-door entryway of the Moton Museum, a co-host for the event, finding seats and relief in the air-conditioned auditorium hosting the second part of the event.

A panel of Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College professors of mixed backgrounds were joined by Hampden-Sydney Police Chief Scott Williams to answer prepared questions from Croom.

The discussion allowed for responses from both the panel and the audience as ElMadany challenged audience members to think about other perspectives. The event aimed to unite the African-American and law enforcement communities and foster understanding while sitting in a place bursting with civil rights history.

“We’re here today not to argue; we’re here today to come together; we’re here today to debunk stereotypes,” said ElMadany to the participants. “There’s no better place to start than your own community. We all know the history of Farmville. We’re in the Moton Museum right now, so if we want to make a change, we have to start where we are.”

Topics like the Black Lives versus Blue Lives Matter movements, how to have dialogues about race and law enforcement relations and the lack of diversity in the local police forces were discussed.

Hampden-Sydney sophomore Chris Wiggins, treasurer for the college’s Minority Student Union, said the conversations directly impacted his own life and campus.

“Going to Hampden-Sydney, it’s predominately white,” said Wiggins. “You get a lot of backlash when you try to talk about race, but when you start to talk to people on a one-on-one basis, you get your ideas across, and you really create a discussion.”

While some of the panel’s professors were based in the criminal justice field, Williams was the sole representative and voice for active members of law enforcement.

Williams said providing his perspective and answering questions in front of a community audience was furthering some of the goals of his police force.

“Being the police chief at Hampden-Sydney College, we’re trying to bring community policing to our campus, and this is the perfect way for us to be part of the community,” he said. “This is the perfect venue for us to get the conversation started.”

"Be involved and communicate with us." - H-SC Police Chief Scott Williams asks of the community

— Longwood Rotunda (@longwoodrotunda) August 31, 2016

Representatives from the Longwood University Police Department, Farmville Police Department and Prince Edward County Sheriff’s Office were not present. Croom said the three police forces were busy with vice presidential debate preparations and unable to attend. Longwood University is set to host the 2016 vice presidential debate in less than a month on Oct. 4.

“I know they want to help, and they want to be a part of the conversation,” said Croom. “So, after the debate, we’ll get together and see what we can do for the community.”

Both Croom and ElMadany assured there would be more events held in the near future.

ElMadany said she believes “as long as we continue to push the issue, as long as we continue to shed light on wrongs and ask those tough questions,” people will continue to come to the events.

Croom said, “This won’t be the last time; it has to be continuing. Because we’re going to face things again, we don’t know when, but we need to be proactive, not be reactionary.”

A diverse crowd across ages, races and backgrounds gathered at First Baptist Church last Thursday, Sept. 1 before marching peacefully to the historical Robert Russa Moton Museum to take part in a panel discussion. The "Am I Next: Debunking Stereotypes" event, organized by Hampden-Sydney College's Dean of Inclusion Hakeem Croom and Longwood University alum Karima ElMadany, sought to foster understanding and improve relations between Farmville's African-American and law enforcement communities.