North Carolina City Denies NAACP Permit To March On One-Year Anniversary Of Andrew Brown Jr.’s Death
Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where Andrew Brown Jr. was fatally shot by police a year ago next month, has denied the NAACP a permit to march.
According to the News & Observer, Keith Rivers, president of the Pasquotank Branch of the NAACP, said an application to march at 5 p.m. on April 21 was submitted. The deputy city clerk called to ask what the march was for and he explained it was for Andrew Brown Jr. Nine days later, the permit was denied.
Rivers also said the police chief refused to support the march.
“They just had a marathon here that shut the whole city down,” Rivers said. “We’re marching one mile. We have had nothing but nonviolent protests. We have been out here every day for Andrew.”
Elizabeth City Councilman Darius Horton, who participated in Brown’s marches last year, said, “This did not come across our desk. We were not even made aware. I’m in full support of this march.” Horton said he would look into why the permit was denied.
The News & Observer said messages to the Elizabeth City Police Department were not returned.
On April 21, Brown was shot and killed by deputies while they executed a search warrant. Witnesses say Brown was driving away at the time and deputies fired several rounds, killing him.
Seven deputies were placed on administrative leave and three others resigned due, according to WAVY.
Back in May, family attorney Chantel Cherry-Lassiter told reporters that shots were heard from the instant the clip started with Brown's car in his driveway and his hands on the steering wheel.
Cherry-Lassiter said Brown did not try to back away until after deputies ran up to his car and began shooting, and he did not pose a threat to deputies. "He finally decides to try to get away and he backs out, not toward officers at all," Cherry-Lassiter said.
Brown was shot five times, including in the back of the head, according to an independent autopsy commissioned by his family.
