In spite of numerous dialogues with the staff and
board of trustees of Penn
Center, Inc., a fence is currently being erected at
the national landmark historic district which is part of the Reconstruction Era
National Monument. The Gullah/Geechee community and
residents of St. Helena Island repeatedly stated that they did NOT
want Penn Center gated off from the community and wanted it to remain
an open and welcoming public historic area. The board of
trustees and staff have made statements in the media about reasoning
for a fence which has been accurately refuted by the community, yet
Penn Center has begun placing stakes in the ground to erect a fence
and gate out the community.
Anyone that has learned the history of the
displacement of Gullah/Geechee communities are well aware of the fact
that gated areas are the primary mechanism used against the
community. The gates promote exclusion no matter what reasoning
may be provided about them. The native Gullah/Geechee
family of St. Helena Island, SC in the Gullah/Geechee Nation has made it
clear that fences and gates are in opposition to their culture and
their lifestyle. Yet, an institution that their ancestors built
is now becoming a gated area.
In response to the stakes that have been driven
through the heart of the community, protesting has begun.
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There will be a major
march and rally on Saturday, June 30, 2018 beginning at 10 am at the
St. Helena Elementary School. The St. Helena
Island family is calling on the global community to stand with them
and refuse to go through the gate.
They are also calling on those that support building
community and not fences to sign
this petition that the Concerned Citizens of St. Helena Island
has launched:
#EliminatetheGate
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