Published Thursday, Aug. 6, 1998
|
Free bus schedule The following is a bus schedule for residents who want to attend ̉The Rally in the Valley:
|
"We are purposely trying to make the program free flowing," said Keith T. Smith, president of the Mercer County Branch of the NAACP. "We know not everyone is going to show up at 11 and stay until 1. We are going to let the momentum of crowd dictate the pace of the event."
The unity rally will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday in Bicentennial Park, Sharon.
The Klan plans to hold their rally on the Mercer County Courthouse steps from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the same day.
The local NAACP took the lead while working with area officials, pastors and groups to plan a rally to unite the county against the Klan.
A host of speakers has been lined up for the occasion including state Senator Bob Robbins, Salem Township, R-50th District; Sharon Mayor Robert T. Price, the three Mercer County commissioners; Ann Coleman, from the office of U.S. Rep. Phil English, Erie, R-21st District; representatives from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Shenango Valley, Grove City and Mercer ministeriums as well as the Sharon Clergy Association.
Alphonse Allen, formerly of Farrell, will be returning to serve as the main speaker for the rally. Allen is a pastor in Scranton who previously worked as a counselor for Horizon Hospital System.
"He's a local guy who has a lot of respect in the community," Smith said. "He is very knowledgeable in this area."
At noon the emergency sirens throughout the county will sound and residents are asked to pause for a moment of prayer and reflection.
"I think it makes a unified statement," Smith said. "There's not one siren for the whole county but one for each community. If each one sounds their alarm at this particular time, we are saying we are all together against hatred."
A community choir, which will practice at 7 p.m. Friday at Valley Baptist Church, Farrell, will perform at different times during the rally.
Also planned for the day is a unity sheet which people can sign with markers and include their message against hatred, he said. Children's activities such as face painting will also be available.
Smith said the group is able to do some other activities including the children's events because of donations from a number of area businesses and companies.
About 20 merchants with shops on courthouse square in Mercer will be voluntarily closing up shop Saturday during the Klan rally.
"I don't think anyone should attend," he said. "I'm sure the curious will but I would advise no one to attend.
