Some of you asked for the full remarks from trustee Bob Peeler yesterday during the BOT meeting.
Here you go:
I found myself over the years riding down Gervais Street in Columbia and looking over at the Statehouse and seeing the Confederate flag flying on the grounds. And I knew that’s not the way it should be. But then I would ride on by and go about my life and not really think about it anymore.
On June 17th of 2015, after the murders of nine innocent people, including my friend Clementa Pinckney at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, you couldn’t ride by and not think about it anymore.
Five years later, as I ride by to go see my granddaughter between Saluda and Greenwood, outside of Ninety Six, I pass by the old home site of Dr. Benjamin Mays. And many times I would think about: “What did he go through to become an outstanding educator, an outstanding Civil Rights leader, and the president of Morehouse College?” And I would ride about my daily life and not really think about it anymore.
After May 25th of this year, and the murder of George Floyd, you can’t ride by and not think about it anymore. And I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes of Dr. Benjamin Mays: “Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive. And if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.”
Mr. Chairman, fellow board members: It’s time to do something unique and distinctive.
Here you go:
I found myself over the years riding down Gervais Street in Columbia and looking over at the Statehouse and seeing the Confederate flag flying on the grounds. And I knew that’s not the way it should be. But then I would ride on by and go about my life and not really think about it anymore.
On June 17th of 2015, after the murders of nine innocent people, including my friend Clementa Pinckney at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, you couldn’t ride by and not think about it anymore.
Five years later, as I ride by to go see my granddaughter between Saluda and Greenwood, outside of Ninety Six, I pass by the old home site of Dr. Benjamin Mays. And many times I would think about: “What did he go through to become an outstanding educator, an outstanding Civil Rights leader, and the president of Morehouse College?” And I would ride about my daily life and not really think about it anymore.
After May 25th of this year, and the murder of George Floyd, you can’t ride by and not think about it anymore. And I’m reminded of one of my favorite quotes of Dr. Benjamin Mays: “Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive. And if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.”
Mr. Chairman, fellow board members: It’s time to do something unique and distinctive.