Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 62F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.

Pictured is Enfield Mayor Mondale Robinson during Tuesday’s press conference.

A press conference was held in Enfield on Tuesday.

Pictured is Attorney Dawn Blagrove.

Pictured is Enfield Mayor Mondale Robinson during Tuesday’s press conference.

A press conference was held in Enfield on Tuesday.

Pictured is Attorney Dawn Blagrove.

ENFIELD — Mayor Mondale Robinson of Enfield held a press conference on Tuesday to request that Gov. Roy Cooper declare a state of emergency in Enfield.

The request came after racially charged messages began appearing soon after Mayor Robinson destroyed a veteran memorial on Aug. 21 that had a section honoring Confederate veterans.

On Aug. 27, residents found flyers with a racial message in their yards that reads:

“WHITE PEOPLE OF ENFIELD! YOU HAVE LET A ‘N-----’ (THEIR WORD) TYRANT STOMP ON YOUR WHITE HERITAGE! WHAT WILL YOU DO? DON’T LET THEM GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING!!!”

According to research, the Town of Enfield is more than 80% Black, with more than 11% White.

The bags filled with seeds and a flyer were mostly found on Martin Luther King Drive.

According to a previous Herald article, Enfield Police Chief James Ayers said he was looking into the matter.

“We’re trying to see who exactly is responsible for the situation,” he said. “Because right now, you don’t know who is responsible for it. Just because you got some stuff written on a piece of paper does not mean that organization is the one that’s actually the one putting that out there. You don’t know — we don’t know. So we are looking into it to determine who is putting this stuff out.”

Read the article headlined “Enfield residents find racial flyers in yards: Mayor, police chief respond” at bit.ly/3U1wuu6.

Mayor Robinson also began receiving racial messages, which were displayed in the press conference packet.

“As reflected in actions over the last few weeks, we found ourselves in the middle of America’s long fight to deny that structural racism is continuing to erode truths that were supposed to be self-evident,” Robinson said during the press conference.

“The ideas of this country’s Constitution cannot be counted as valid, as long as white supremacists are allowed, without consequence, to threaten the calm of everyday life for Black people. The removal of a monument is viewed as a constant reminder of slave owners’ right to own people that look like me, has exposed this country and more directly the state’s unwillingness to stand with Black folk, as we ourselves push back the narrative, that we must not ask for too much freedom too fast. As Black people we are sold the idea that we are more than ever, that we are whole as any, that our lives matter as much as any other. Yet, the racist fire that allows us to be over-policed over sentenced, red line and killed by public official at rates that are unmatched by any other race paints a different story.”

Robinson said he is asking Cooper to move beyond the political quietism and act quickly to ensure every resource is available to Enfield in light of racially charged messages toward the community.

“Our small police force have enough resources to provide our residents exactly what they need, as it pertains to day-to-day interactions,” he said. “But the added need to prevent racialized violence is beyond our capacity and must be addressed by our state. In closing, it should be said that if one believed that Black lives truly matter, then said person has no opposition to our tireless simple request for freedom, peace and tranquility, from racialized terror. And with that, I invite Governor Cooper to come stand on the side of Enfield residents and those of us who are fighting against racialized terror. Thank you.”

The Herald reached out to the governor’s office for a response to the mayor’s request.

Deputy Communications Director Mary Scott Winstead with the Office of North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said on Wednesday, “The source of these threats needs to be fully investigated.”

Additionally, Attorney Dawn Blagrove said during the press conference that Cooper and NC Attorney General Josh Stein “are actively enabling White domestic terrorism by turning a blind eye to the threats against the life of a Black elected official and the people of Enfield. Instead of using the power of the state to root out white supremacy and protect the physical and mental health of the citizens of Enfield, by responding with safety measures and practices, our governor and AG have instead used the power of the state to investigate a Black elected official and worse off the destruction of an effigy of racism and terror.”

Robinson is being investigated for the destruction of the monument by the SBI at the request of Chief Ayers and District 6 District Attorney Valerie Asbell for destruction of property.

Anjanette Grube, SBI public information officer, said on Tuesday that a criminal investigation has to be requested by the sheriff, police chief or DA.

“The scope of the SBI investigation at this time is to investigate property damage,” Grube said. “That investigation remains ongoing. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be submitted to the DA for review. The DA will determine whether criminal charges are appropriate, not the SBI.”

Nazneed Ahmed, spokeswoman for Stein’s office said, “Every North Carolinian deserves to live in a community free from violence and hate, and Attorney General Stein and the Department of Justice are committed to keeping the people of North Carolina safe, including from white supremacist threats of violence. Although we do not have the authority to investigate this matter directly, we encourage a full law enforcement investigation into all threats that undermine the security and wellness of Enfield’s residents. We are continuing to monitor this issue and are committed to doing everything in our power so every person can feel safe in their own communities.”

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