GREENSBORO, N.C. -- The Greensboro City Council voted 7-2 to describe the 1979 clash involving the Ku Klux Klan, The American Nazi Party and the Communist Worker's Party as a massacre.
The council chambers were full Tuesday with speakers and spectators, wanting to know how the council would vote. The state historical commission the approved the marker that will be placed where 5 people were killed and 10 others were wounded on November 3, 1979. State historians picked the word 'massacre' but asked for feedback from the city council and community.
At the council meeting, almost 20 citizens spoke in favor of keeping the word 'massacre' on the historic marker.
"I think Massacre is too weak of a word for what happened," said one speaker.
Former Councilwoman Goldie Wells said, "History is all that's being asked for. The word when it's defined adequately describes what happened here that day."
Another speaker said, "While this marker might remind us of a period we would rather forget, I believe it is also significant to note that it is a marker of how far we've come as a community."
"We need to honor the truth of the history we've got, honor it. We really need to repent," said another supporter of keeping the word 'massacre.'
Councilmen Zack Matheny and Tony Wilkins were the only two to vote against using the word massacre. When Matheny suggested using 'tragedy' instead, some members of the audience booed and yelled, 'Nazi!' and 'Supporter of the Klan.'
"There's a lot of history that's involved, some of which was said tonight but a lot was left out. And quite frankly I've done my history and I disagree with some of the history that was expressed," said Matheny.
Councilman Wilkins said he could not support the marker with the word "massacre," but said "We had a very lively discussion tonight, this is our government at work. So now we move on to the next issue."
The historical commission that approved this marker didn't need the council's blessings but it's unlikely they would have moved forward without it.
Some citizens called for an official apology from the city for the massacre.
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