'The Camilla Massacre continues' … divided citizens confront Camilla leadership days after mayor's arrest
The meeting's intent, Owens said, was to keep the public informed on the ongoing legal situation involving himself, City Clerk Cheryl Ford and Election Superintendent Rhunette Williford. The three were arrested on election interference and other charges on May 28 then released on bond last Friday.
At Monday's meeting, an Atlanta-based transactional attorney spoke over Zoom and shared her legal opinion that under a Camilla ordinance, the city is obligated to pay for the trio's legal fees. The mayor confirmed that a written request for this payment was submitted to the city attorney.
'The basis of it (the ordinance) is that if you are a city official, or an employee, an elected official, and you're operating within your job and your title, then there should be some degree of support if you're doing that particular job,' Owens said during the press conference. 'No employee or elected official should feel threatened in operating within the scope of their job.
Dozens showed up in support of the mayor and to speak out against what they believe is systemic racism plaguing the city. A smaller minority showed up and rebutted racist accusations. They expressed concerns over corruption, citing November's canceled – and then resumed – special election among other matters.
Despite the mayor's attempt at transparency to Camilla citizens, the meeting ended with a clear divide – one that Camilla's black residents say is ingrained in the city's history.
Camilla's City Hall was so packed Monday, that people brought foldable camping chairs to sit outside the council room, leaning toward the door to listen to what was happening inside.
Charlie Will Dixon, an 80-year-old lifelong Mitchell County resident, made sure to have a front row seat in the room. When public comment began, he rose slowly, using a walker to make his way to the podium.
'The reason we are here today is because the Camilla massacre continues in Mitchell County,' Dixon said. 'It started in 1868, and it hasn't ceased yet. It's carrying on because of racist white people in this community.' Charlie Will Dixon talks about systemic racism in Mitchell County during a special called meeting Monday. Staff Photo: Lucille LanniganThe so-called 'Camilla Massacre' took place on Sept. 19, 1968. It was a violent episode of Reconstruction in Georgia. Hundreds of black people and a few white people marched from Albany to Camilla to attend a Republican political rally. As the marchers entered the courthouse square, white people opened fire on the group, shooting and killing about a dozen and wounding nearly 30. White people reportedly continued to assault the group as they marched back to Albany.
This violence intimidated many black people who remained home on Election Day, and white leaders reportedly misplaced black votes through fraud at the polls, therefore sweeping the election.
This history wasn't directly addressed by the city until 1998.
'My great-great grandparents were shot and ran off the street in Mitchell County,' Dixon said. 'During that week … white people in Mitchell paraded through the black community to make sure they didn't come to vote. … It's the same thing being carried on today. They don't want blacks in political positions. They don't want us to vote.'
Camilla's council consists of a black mayor, three black councilmen, two white councilmen and a white councilwoman.
Owens said when he took office, along with three black councilmen, in 2022 that they formed the 'first progressive, black voting block' in a city where 68% of its roughly 5,000 residents are black. Owens told The Albany Herald in November that not everyone was happy about this voting power of four black men.
Tensions followed as lawsuits challenging residency of two black councilmen, demands that a black Councilman's name be removed from a November 2024 special election ballot because of these residency issues, and a canceled – then resumed – special election that led to election interference arrests.
Several Camilla residents showed up at Monday's meeting to deny racist intentions from community members.
'It's not about race,' Camilla resident Joe Marsh said. 'It's about what's right and what's wrong. If you know you're going to break the law, then you suffer the consequences.'
On a Facebook page called 'Camilla for Transparency,' anonymous residents break down concerns about inappropriate spending and misused city funds. In January, the group posted against the Cobblestone Hotel project. At a January meeting, the council discussed the prospect of issuing a $13 million bond for constructing the hotel. Commenters on the Facebook page were adamant that it would be a misuse of taxpayer money.
Charlette Wimberly, a 50-year-old Camilla resident, said she believes the mayor and three council members are doing what's best for the city but are constantly being challenged by a divided council and city.
'The city has progressed more in the last six years than it ever has,' Wimberly told The Albany Herald. 'We've been moving forward … vs. where we were this time 10 years ago. There were no amenities for the citizens … council members voted against them.
Wimberly said she's been most impressed by the new Community Resource Center, which houses the Boys & Girls Club. The project was estimated to cost about $2.5 million in 2022, fully funded by the city. Charlette Wimberly urges the city to put aside 'black and white' and work together as a city. Staff Photo: Lucille Lannigan'That was a dilapidated gym that kids had been playing in for years and years,' Wimberly said. 'They tore that gym down, and now the kids have a modern facility to do things in.'
She said she also feels current city leadership is finally supporting its senior residents.
On Friday, the first Senior Citizen Sneaker Gala was held. Mayor Owens attended the event on the same day he was released from jail.
'We'd been planning this for months, and I thought it was important for me to be there,' he said. 'Even though I was tired, and there was a lot happening in my life at the time, I had to remind myself that it's not about me. I recognized that showing up for this Sneaker Ball would be important for our seniors.'
Owens said showing up for Camilla's citizens is what he plans to continue doing, 'until something changes.' He maintains that the indictment is just an accusation. Owens told The Albany Herald in November that he used emergency powers to cancel the November special election after the elections superintendent resigned the night before.
Williford and Ford cited 'mental duress, stress and coercion experienced by recent court decisions' regarding their role in elections and a 'requirement to violate our oath of office' as reasons for resignation in a November letter.
Two council members challenged the city's obligation to pay legal fees.
'In my opinion, the allowance of paying city attorneys and fines and penalties and so forth to individuals that are voting for this to enrich themselves is totally and absolutely against the law,' Councilman W.D. Palmer said.
Councilwoman Azalee Vereen said her priority is what's in the best interest of the city, and court costs approaching $123,000 would create a financial burden.
'I love this city. I've been living here for 34 years, and it makes me sad that we are here today,' Vereen said. 'But this is not racial in the eyes of the district attorney, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and the Mitchell County grand jury. This is a criminal prosecution.'
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