‘Be bold for good,” message of the day after Freedom bus ride commences
EASTERN SHORE, Md. – A day of riding through history as the Freedom Bus ride dramatized the systemic racism throughout the Eastern shore, and community leaders expressed the importance for a day like this. “It’s the Western Shore and people coming together over here on the Eastern Shore to lend their support and help which is tremendous,” says Richard Potter, President of the Talbot County NAACP.
The day began in Annapolis and Freedom bus riders traveled to Easton for their first stop. There they sang songs of joy and freedom, but more importantly they discussed the on going controversy of the Talbot boys confederate monument statue, that sits right across the lawn from a statue of Frederick Douglas.
Leaders tell us, historical statues such as this one represent a past that many should not be reminded of every day. “Anybody can look at that monument regardless of your race, color, gender, nationality, and get inspiration from that monument, everybody can’t say the same for the monument that stands behind me,” says Potter as he refers to the Talbot Boys Confederate monument.
Next, they journeyed to Cambridge; the birth place of Harriet Tubman. There they discussed the importance of her legacy, and why it still matters today. “And the ability to have your voice heard whether it’s through traveling through the Eastern Shore and what you stand for, to just being able to be engaged is really important to me,” says Speaker Pro Tem, Sheree Sample-Hughes.
Moving over to Salisbury, the bus made an emotional stop at the lynching memorial landmark where they honored Matthew Williams and other victims of lynching on the Eastern shore. “It really brings to the forefront of other people talking about it, other people understanding it and the sacrifices that have been made and where we are today,” says Del. Sample-Hughes.
Now we’re told the bus trip was more than just discussing a racist past on the Eastern shore. It’s about bringing the whole state together to progress to a more unified future. “A lot of times I think there has been a culture that has been created that the Western Shore, you deal with with yours and the Eastern Shore, you deal with yours. So I’m grateful today to see that culture starting to break down,” says Potter.
Legislators and city leaders who attended some of the stops on Monday also tell 47 ABC, the change to bring justice to everyone starts in the community and is executed through legislation, something the day emphasized. “And that’s what’s important, we gotta’ see things through. Just because we passed the law, we have to fill and see where it makes a difference in our community,” says Del. Sample-Hughes.
Community members say they’re ready to see change and they’re ready to address police brutality by removing the bad apples so they don’t spoil the good ones, and more importantly, unite everyone in Maryland. As Dr. King said, a threat to justice somewhere is a threat to justice everywhere. So this is not only a Talbot County issue, but this is a moral issue for anyone,” says Potter.
