About 60 people took part in a peaceful protest and voter registration drive held in Itta Bena over the weekend.
Led by Itta Bena native Andrias Lowe, residents marched on Saturday from the police station to Dorothy Street Park, where they were encouraged to register to vote and complete 2020 census forms.
The protest was held to highlight the Black Lives Matter initiative and demand equality for all citizens. It is part of the #StandUpMSDelta movement, which, according to its Facebook page, was created to “provide an opportunity for our community to get actively involved in the changes we wish to see in the world.” The voter registration drive was included along with the march because the group said that “voting is our most powerful weapon.”
The Leflore County Sheriff’s Department assisted by blocking off the protest route and helping to ensure the safety of the protesters. In a statement, the group said the event “symbolized what a positive relationship between law enforcement and the community looks like.”
Lowe, 43, who works for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Houston, Texas, returned to her hometown to coordinate the event. She graduated from Leflore County High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University and a master’s degree from Tulane University.
She said she attended the Black Lives Matter demonstration in Houston and wanted to bring that message and empowering spirit she felt to her hometown.
“We wanted to acknowledge the Fourth of July, but we wanted to give it a different narrative,” Lowe said. “We wanted to give it something we could identify with and make it personal.”
Two “Empower My Community Scholarships” also were awarded to recent high school graduates. The funds for the scholarships came from “Black Lives Matter: #StandUpMSDelta” T-shirt sales. Lowe said around 140 shirts were sold.
A $500 scholarship was awarded to Leflore County High School graduate Shakyra Young, 17, who plans to pursue a career in nursing. Young will attend the University of Southern Mississippi in the fall. A $250 scholarship was awarded to Amanda Elzy High School graduate Dee Fant, 17, who plans to provide beautification services for the community. Fant will be attending Mississippi Valley State University in the fall.
Lowe said she wanted to “give back” during a difficult time for the students but also wanted to “inspire them to be actively involved in their community and do things to empower their community.”
DJ Mannie Fresh, a performer and producer best known for his work alongside rappers Birdman and Lil Wayne, also vocalized his support for the #StandUpMSDelta initiative. “Itta Bena, Mississippi, this is y’all’s day. Get up, get out and vote,” DJ Mannie Fresh said on a Facebook video to the group.
Lowe said she plans for #StandUpMSDelta to host annual community events on Independence Day.
• Contact Adam Bakst at 581-7233 or abakst@gwcommonwealth.com. Twitter: @AdamBakst_GWCW
