Walk for peace held Friday
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on July 24, 2016 1:45 AM
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Caroline Clucas holds a sign that reads "Peace" as she leads a group of people down Center Street to Cornerstone Commons during the Goldsboro Community Peace Walk on Friday evening.
More than 40 people gathered in Cornerstone Commons in downtown Goldsboro Friday evening for a community peace walk that took a stand against violence in the community and the nation.
Event organizer 18-year-old Caroline Clucas said the walk was initially spurred on by the recent deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, black men who were shot to death by police in Louisiana and Minnesota in early July. The deaths led to five police officers being slain in Dallas in an apparent act of retaliation.
But with Goldsboro having a recent rash of violence, Ms. Clucas said she hoped the event would speak to people in the community and inspire them to act.
"Strong oaks start with small seeds," Ms. Clucas said. "I hope this event inspires others and that we can have more things like this."
Ms. Clucas said Friday's murder of 19-year-old Goldsboro resident Atiya Maddox that happened at the intersection of Olivia Lane and Slaughter Street less than three hours before the peace walk began Friday hit close to home with her.
"I'm only 18 years old myself, so for that to happen to someone who was only 19 hits really close to home with me," Ms. Clucas said. "This event is about spreading a message of peace for our community and our country in the face of violence."
Before the peace walk began, there were several performances from musicians and spoken word artists. Some played songs of peace with a guitar in hand, while others read poetry and some simply took to the microphone to speak their mind on violent incidents in Goldsboro and the rest of the country.
Kayleon Dortch read an original poem to the crowd gathered in Cornerstone Commons.
"I wrote a poem to voice how I feel about what's going on," Ms. Dortch said.
Ms. Dortch said Ms. Clucas is a close friend, and that she wanted to support the effort behind the community peace walk and promote unity in the community.
Ms. Dortch added that she hopes Friday's event spurs the community to take action toward stopping the violence happening in Goldsboro.
"Even though there aren't that many people here today, it's a start," Ms. Dortch said. "I believe this could be something that sparks change here."
Everlena Eason also attended the community peace walk Friday. Ms. Eason is a close friend of the mother of the 19-year-old Ms. Maddox who was killed on Friday by a gunshot wound.
She said she had been planning to attend the walk regardless, but that having an act of violence affect a family she knows so well inspired her to speak to the people gathered at the event.
"It hurts. It's indescribable," Ms. Eason said of Ms. Maddox's death and the events unfolding around the nation. "We used to hear about it happening in other cities, but now it's here. My friend's daughter is gone because of a gunshot -- when does it stop? You've got the Bloods and the Crips, the black and the white -- everybody is divided. When do we make a stand? If we make a stand they'll say, 'We don't go do that in that city, they don't play that.' "
Ms. Eason said she would like to see a consistent, organized effort in the community geared toward stopping the violent acts that have been happening. She said Friday's event was a good start, and that she would like to see those efforts continued.
"Let it be a movement that we do this every three months, or every quarter, and people would say Wayne County is really doing something," Ms. Eason said. "I believe if we continue to do this it will make a difference."