Amy Lotven/Herald Staff Writer

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ROANOKE RAPIDS - Monday afternoon, NAACP president David Harvey thanked Halifax County officials for helping the organization receive state honors and to inform the community that the chapter continues to work to improve race relations.

The Halifax County chapter was named ”Branch of the Year“ last weekend by the state National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and Harvey was recognized as ”President of the Year,“ which he said was the first time that a first-year president had received that award.

”We thought it was appropriate to inform you, as a community, of how and why this branch brings home this honor,“ Harvey said at the conference, held at H.D. Pope Funeral Home.

He stressed the group's desire to be positive and improve life for everyone and defended the Halifax NAACP's approach.

”It is not, nor has it ever been, the desire or actions of the Halifax County Chapter NAACP to promote racial hatred. It is our desire and is counted as the task before us, as a civil rights organization, to promote the spirit of inclusion as it lends to the well-being of this entire community.“

Harvey also said a large banner with a controversial quote from Halifax County Commissioner Rachel Hux regarding the situation at Halifax Community College, which was a prominent feature during an NAACP press conference last month, was not officially sponsored by the group.

He said it had been placed at the front of the funeral home, which the press conference was held in front of, by NAACP member Hubert Pope, who as owner of the building had every right to do so, and defended the rights of all to free speech. ”Hux spoke out; we spoke out against it,“ Harvey said.

The recognition from the state NAACP came just weeks after one of its members, a former chapter president and then chapter attorney Sammy Webb, resigned while accusing the organization of making racial slurs during the earlier press event.

”I will not support or associate with any organization that promotes racial hatred or racial discrimination,“ Webb wrote in his Sept. 27 resignation letter.

Harvey dismissed Webb's actions as politically motivated. ”Mr. Webb has not been a part of the organization all year,“ he said.

The chapter will continue to concentrate on its mission of increasing membership, educating the community on the importance of being involved in the political process, and supporting the city and county with economic development, he said.

The organization will also continue to work with the court and educational systems and with youth throughout the area.

Pope said the chapter also plans to hold a diversity forum next month where people of all ages and races can meet and start a healthy dialogue. ”We invite all races to come to the table,“ he said.

Harvey concluded by thanking all the civic, school, church and law enforcement officials who had help the chapter achieve the honor, as well as the media and their ”open door“ policy. ”You have assisted this branch in its obligations to this community and for that, you must all recognize yourselves as the catalyst by which we should all stand proud of this honor and achievement in Halifax County,“ he said.