Leaders meet with activist
By Jessie Burchette
jburchette@salisburypost.com
City officials say a meeting with a civil rights activist Wednesday dealing with fallout from an Aug. 28 brawl at a night club produced a good discussion but no changes in direction.
Mayor Susan Kluttz said the city began an investigation of possible police misconduct shortly after the incident, and the investigation continues.
“We saw the video and heard of the incident immediately after it happened. We began an immediate investigation and called in the SBI,” Kluttz said Wednesday, following the meeting. “This meeting was not necessary for that action.”
Officer Kareem Puranda has been on paid leave since the incident. Various recordings of the La Bamba brawl show Puranda striking a man, who has been identified as John Allen Fox, and choking a woman.
John C. Barnette, founder of the Gastonia-based organization True Healing Under God (T.H.U.G.), who is organizing what he calls a Justice Rally in Salisbury this evening, said his goal is to expose what happened.
Barnette said he showed the recording of the incident to a group of city officials and ministers Wednesday. Judging by their facial expressions, he said, “they weren’t too happy.”
“Several people are coming to me saying they want him (Puranda) removed,” Barnette said after the meeting.
Barnette said he is working with the woman whom the officer appeared to be choking in the video. The woman, whom he identified as “Miss Sullivan,” was scheduled to meet with lawyers later Wednesday.
“We’re going to negotiate which lawyer,” Barnette said.
He added that the Fox brothers, John Allen Fox and Michael Jeffrey Fox, are getting separate attorneys.
The brothers, along with the woman, will be at the rally at 7 p.m. tonight at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 317 S. Caldwell St.
Barnette said the rally will include Livingstone College students, T.H.U.G. members from Rock Hill, S.C., Charlotte and Gastonia, and concerned citizens.
Kluttz said the meeting Wednesday was arranged at the request of the Rev. Olen Bruner, pastor of Trinity Presbyterian, who contacted the mayor earlier in the week.
Kluttz invited several prominent ministers who have worked for years with the city on various projects related to race relations, gangs and improving neighborhoods.
Attending were the Rev. Nilous Avery of Mount Zion Baptist Church, the Rev. Grant Harrison of Soldiers Memorial AME Zion Church, the Rev. Clary Phelps of Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, and the Rev. Henry Diggs of Faith Temple Triumphant Ministry.
City Manager David Treme and Police Chief Mark Wilhelm also attended.
Barnette, who arrived at the Tuesday press conference 45 minutes late citing Charlotte traffic problems, was an hour late getting to the meeting with city officials Tuesday.
Kluttz said the group had a good discussion and she was “happy for Barnette to see the type of leadership we have in this community.”
Kluttz said the pastors at the meeting and pastors throughout the community know if they have a problem or complaint, they can call her immediately.
“We’re a small town. We work closely together,” Kluttz said. “Maybe we’re different from the other communities he visits.”
“He (Barnette) indicated his role is to start the process. … We assured him the process began two weeks ago,” Kluttz said.