Blair teacher featured in local newspaper

This is not original reporting. All information is compiled from the The Washington Daily News article "Martin County's 'bloody Sunday'" located here.

Blair business teacher Jacquelyn Shropshire was featured in The Washington Daily News article "Martin County's 'bloody Sunday'" for her leadership in a march against racism at her high school. Shropshire had attended the all-black E.J Hayes High School in North Carolina in the 1960s as a student. The black population in the South was fed up with their unfair treatment, and the students at her school decided to act. In 1963, Shropshire led a student protest march despite the threats of violence.

The students hoped the nonviolent march would encourage white business owners to provide equal employment for blacks. Teachers and principals at the school warned the students not to participate because of the possible repercussions.

This message did not faze Shropshire, who was the head of the student movement, which consisted of approximately 50 E.J Hayes High School students.

Shropshire's parents, especially her father, had instilled civil-rights values in her since she was young. Styron Bond, her father and the owner of a combination of a grocery store, barbershop and beauty salon, convinced her that blacks should not be treated as second-class citizens.

As Shropshire led the march, the article stated a local police officer struck her in the stomach. The officials were trying to prevent the march by confronting the students. Under the orders of Chief Lloyd Banks, scores of marchers were arrested.

According to The Washington Daily News, after the police brutality against Shropshire, the march turned violent. The protesters began throwing various objects, including glass bottles and bricks from Bond's store, at the police. Protests ended in 1965, and activists believed that protests helped end the segregation in Martin County.