Sam Allen addressed a rally outside Valdosta City Hall Wednesday
after Tuesday’s landslide 4 to 1 defeat of school consolidation.
He promised the people who backed the consolidation referendum
that there would be consequences if they ever tried it again
without the cooperation of the community.
He observed that since there was apparently a lot of disposable
income around here (see the $300,000 CUEE raised to promote consolidation).
He recommended that people put such money where their mouth is and
contribute to the Lowndes County or Valdosta City school foundations.
He concluded by complimenting CUEE on bringing CUEE together.
What you have been able to achieve, is that you have indeed brought
a community together.
[applause]
A community,
black, white, Republicans, Democrats, no god, some god.
You brought them all to the table.
Not only did you bring them to the table, but you brought them to the polls.
[applause]
Finally, he thanked all the volunteers who helped,
and said
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For the second week in a row, protesters picket outside the Chamber of Commerce to the tune of: ‘No Consolidation’.
But unlike the
occupy movement, this rally has one message; one voice.
They say: ‘Vote No’…..
But what does Valdosta’s first black mayor say about it?
“Just Vote No,” the Mayor chants from a podium.
Mayor Sonny Vickers is one of the strongest opponents of the consolidation
plan. “The group that’s pushing this has no authority. No kind of plan to
tell us anything. Because they are not on the board. So they cannot tell
us anything specific about what’s going to happen,” says Mayor Vickers.
Received Saturday.
Lots of people from Hahira. -jsq
Valdosta, Lowndes County and other concerned citizens marched from the
Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce building through downtown
to Rev. Martin L. King Jr., Monument. There were many speeches given
along with the sharing of ideas at this historic event. The marchers
were lead by Valdosta Police Department and eneded in peace as we all
expected in our beloved community. Peace!
-George Boston Rhynes
George Rhynes talks to No Consolidation marchers
No school consolidation,
Vote No for Consolidation March, Friends of Valdosta City Schools (FVCS),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 October 2011.
Videos by George Rhynes for bostongbr on YouTube.
Occupy the Voting Booth @ Vote No for Consolidation March 22 October 2011 Part 1 of 2:
No school consolidation,
Vote No for Consolidation March, Friends of Valdosta City Schools (FVCS),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 October 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman and John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Here Amber, Bobbi Anne Hancock, LHS student Nathan Wilkins,
and VSU professor Karen Noll all march together.
They all Marched to Occupy Valdosta.
(Erin was in Atlanta, and Austin and others were out of town due to
VSU’s Fall Break.)
Doubtless there were others; nobody tried to take a head count of the crossover.
CUEE you have done what you tried to do —Sam Allen
No school consolidation,
Vote No for Consolidation March, Friends of Valdosta City Schools (FVCS),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 22 October 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman and John S. Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.
Although maybe this isn’t exactly what CUEE wanted FVCS, SCLC, NAACP,
both school boards, the Valdosta City Council, etc. united about:
What are we gonna do?
Vote!
How we gonna vote?
No!
Sam Allen addressed a rally outside Valdosta City Hall Wednesday
after Tuesday’s landslide 4 to 1 defeat of school consolidation.
He promised the people who backed the consolidation referendum
that there would be consequences if they ever tried it again
without the cooperation of the community.
He observed that since there was apparently a lot of disposable
income around here (see the $300,000 CUEE raised to promote consolidation).
He recommended that people put such money where their mouth is and
contribute to the Lowndes County or Valdosta City school foundations.
He concluded by complimenting CUEE on bringing CUEE together.
Amber Smith,
