'Black Lives Matter' Rally Rescheduled in Westhampton Beach

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — A new 'Black Lives Matter' rally has been rescheduled for next Sunday in Westhampton Beach — the community where racist KKK flyers were recently found in residents' driveways.

The rally was initially supposed to unfold on Sunday but has been rescheduled for Sunday, August 14.

"The reason we want to go there is because of the KKK thinking it's okay to pass out their racist pamphlets at a time like this," said Riverhead's Vanessa Vascez-Corleone, who has organized a series of "Black Lives Matter" rallies across the East End, with a message of peace and unity the goal.

"We feel like they're doing that as a way to mock the Black Lives Matter movement," she said, of the KKK flyers. "But we're not hiding in the shadows, having secret meetings. We're right out in the street."

Westhampton Beach residents were disturbed recently when they found the KKK flyers outside their homes.
According to Westhampton Beach Village Police, officers responded to a Beach Lane residence on July 24 at 1:08 p.m. In addition, the Westhampton Beach Police Department received a second, walk-in complaint at Westhampton Beach headquarters from another Beach Lane resident; both complaints involved receiving a flyer inside a plastic, resealable bag, found in respective driveways. The flyer depicted it was from the KKK, police said.

"There is no crime at this time as the incident falls under freedom of speech; however, the throwing of the bags on private property can be portrayed as littering in the village code," police said.
Westhampton Beach Police detectives are investigating the incidents.

The KKK flyer was also forwarded by the Westhampton Beach Police Department to Suffolk County Police Hate Crimes for intelligence gathering.

Resident Alison Akant, who works as a diversity consultant, lives on Beach Lane and said her husband drove into the driveway Sunday when he noticed a little sandwich sized baggie containing colorful rocks and a flyer from the KKK.

The flyer states that "Black Lives Matter, Black Panthers are telling followers to kill white people and police officers in the name of justice" for the killing of black individuals by police officers in the line of duty. The flyer states that the black individuals "were not innocent, they were thugs breaking the law and standing up against police."

The flyer also lists a North Carolina-based phone number. When called, that number connects to a recording by the KKK, urging individuals to go to the KKK website, the Loyal White Knights of the KKK.
But on the East End, a series of "Black Lives Matter" marches and rallies, most recently held in Southamptonon Sunday, have brought the community together with a unified message for peace.

The rallies include poetry, with participants, including children, holding signs.

Co-organizer Donna Stovall met in advance with Southampton Village Police Det. Sgt. Herm Lamison to discuss the route; she also met with East Hampton Village police in advance of a rally in East Hampton that took place earlier in July.

"I am trying to keep my liaison with all officers because it's easier, peaceful — and we have the chance to build rapport with communities," Stovall said.

The Southampton vigil follows the two events held earlier in July on the South Fork.

Chanting "Hands up, don't shoot," "No justice, No peace," "Black lives matter, All lives matter, Blue lives matter," a group joined together, waved signs, stood on the sidewalk and marched down streets in both East Hampton and Bridgehampton as some motorists honked in support.

The first took place at the park near the Stop and Shop in East Hampton Village and was the second gathering organized by Vascez-Corleone, 28, of Riverhead, who planned a similar peaceful demonstration a week earlier in Riverhead.

The East Hampton rally, also organized by Stovall, was focused on diversity and peace, and meant to raise awareness.

Stovall said the rallies are critical.

"They're so important, because they're bringing the community and the police departments closer together," she said.

A second event, presented by Racial Justice East End, a "Community March & Vigil to Support Black Lives Matter" as well as Alton Sterling and Philandro Castile, took place the same day, beginning at the Unitarian Universalist Meetinghouse on Sag Harbor Turnpike. A march continued to the Hampton Library on Main Road in Bridgehampton, where a vigil took place.

The demonstration in Riverhead drew more than 100 people, carrying signs and peacefully mobilizing to bring unity after the killings of black men at the hands of law enforcement.

The event was a catalyst for change, and plans have come to fruition to take the rallies on the road, with similar events planned across the East End and Long Island.

Next week's rally is scheduled to begin at noon outside Westhampton Beach High School.