The ministers, with the Greensboro Pulpit Forum, said statements by some southeastern Guilford County residents, including articles written by redistricting committee member Lynn Snotherly and former member Terry Lee, appeal to racial stereotypes and base fears. The articles in the semiweekly Pleasant Gardent Post newspaper call on southeastern Guilford County to mobilize against the plan and resist the influx of black students the articles say would be bused to predominantly white Southeast middle and high schools. Snotherly could not be reached for comment Monday despite messages left at her home and a call to her paging device. Lee, however, strenuously denied that race or racism motivated him and Snotherly.
Race has nothing to do with it.
The meeting is part of a series of forums to obtain citizen input on the five proposed school attendance zones drawn by the redistricting committee. Tonight's meeting is to discuss Feeder Zone 3, which includes predominantly black Dudley High and predominantly white Southeast Guilford. Alamance Elementary is in a rural area, noted the Rev. Nelson Johnson, pastor of Faith Community Church. Yes, some people are afraid. There is absolutely no reason that anyone should be fearful, Lee said.