KINGWOOD — Frank Goines said he wants to make the world a better place for his children.
Goines said that is why he is participating in a Black Lives Matter march at 10 a.m. Saturday in Kingwood.
He said he wants the march to be a peaceful one that focuses on areas in law enforcement that need to be changed.
“The Morgantown Chapter of the NAACP reached out to me,” Goines said. “Dr. Jerry Carr Jr., president of the Morgantown/Kingwood chapter of the NAACP, said he wanted to be involved in the march.”
Goines said he contacted local law enforcement and let them know about the event.
He said between 40 and 60 people have indicated they want to participate.
“I spoke with Deputy John Bryan and (Kingwood Chief of Police) Charlie Haney. I want to keep it peaceful,” he said.
Goines said he thought the march would “get the ball rolling.”
“If I can get one person to agree or to agree to disagree with me that there’s a problem with law enforcement that needs fixed, that’s all I want,” Goines said. “I don’t know how else to fix it. If it makes life easier for my children to live in this community, it’s worth it.”
The Rev. C. Jonathan Anderson, who was with Goines at the interview, said in the 21st century some wrongs should have already been righted.
“I am proud of this young man to have a desire to open up dialogue with those who don’t understand the current issues related to police brutality,” Anderson said.
Goines said his family has lived in Preston County for more than 100 years.
“One side of my family came to Preston County from Virginia in the late 1800s,” he said. “The other side of the family is Hungarian, and they came here in the 1900s.”
In a press release, Kingwood Mayor Jean Guillot said, “The BLM march scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, has been organized on the right to free speech. The city leaders encourage anyone who wants to attend to attend and have a peaceful, safe and socially distanced march.”
The Morgantown/Kingwood chapter of the NAACP did not respond in time for this report.
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