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Frank Washington – Spokesperson
April 25, 2021
Thank you for joining us today as we continue to move forward with our Thoroughfare preservation efforts. I’d like to take a moment to update you on recent events, as well as clarify some messaging I’ve seen regarding the cemeteries and our access.
First, I want to confirm the bulldozing of the Scott cemetery. It is recorded as holding 75 to 100 graves. Graves that are believed to be that of slaves, freed slaves and Native Americans. Although the graves themselves still hold the remains of our ancestors, as far as we currently know, any and all markers or identifying signs of those graves no longer exist. The land was bulldozed, the gravesites desecrated. Our worst fears are now our reality.
A gravesite which sat on the land right beside the very road which was blocked by a gate and a boulder leading to another ancestral gravesite. I cannot go into more detail at this point, but I will say that the destructive actions regarding the bulldozing of the Scott cemetery is currently under investigation by the County and relevant entities.
Prior to the discovery of the desecrated Scott cemetery, the Brewery was cited with 3 violations of grading and land disturbance for that site on which the Scott cemetery is located. They did not obtain a land disturbance permit or any other required approval permits before taking those actions of clearing the land. They have been given until April 27th to become compliant and correct the violation. Had they gone through the proper procedures perhaps the Scott cemetery would still be at peace.
I want to clarify as well, that since our first press conference i have read on more than one occasion that the Brewery has stated we have always had a second access to our Peyton community cemetery that they blocked entrance to. This is not true. The Brewery is referring to their entrance into the brewery. They are now saying that by entering their brewery entrance, traveling completely through their brewery, to a back road behind the brewery and crossing over a field, we can gain access to our cemetery. It is not only a misleading statement to the media, but it is a statement to try and excuse the inexcusable actions and blockage of the one and only road access we have ever had to the Peyton community cemetery.
I would also like to point out that the bulldozing of the Scott cemetery coincided with the blockage of the road leading to the Peyton community cemetery.
To clarify the statements I have also read recently made by Kemper Quaintance representing W. M. Tinder Inc.
He states that his client, W. M. Tinder has ”allowed” descendants to visit the cemetery for the last 30 years. Never at any point and time were we made aware, or had any knowledge of anyone claiming ownership of a family and community cemetery. Not until this recent blockage of access by the Broad Run Brewery. Never at any point and time were we informed that we were required to have permission to access our ancestors or lay anyone to rest alongside those ancestors in our community and family gravesite. Never at any point and time were we informed in any way that we could not continue usage of that cemetery as the community has for well over 200 years at the very least.
Kemper Quaintance states that a letter was sent out within the last few months to a nearby homeowner stating that no burials could take place unless we were granted permission. A letter which no one has any knowledge of receiving. Kemper Quantaince and or W. M. Tinder only came to our attention through the threats I received from them after repeated calls I made to the Broad Run Brewery to remove the blockage of our cemetery access. It is also relevant to note that Michelle Dewitt, the brewery owner, initially denied any connection or knowledge of Quaintance or Tinder. A statement that has been found not to be true.
There has to be accountablity for what has happened here. There are many questions that have yet to be answered. There is also another gravesite in question as to whether it still exists in the same vicinty of the gravesites we are speaking of.
We have also been made aware of and reminded that it is recorded that confederate and union soldiers are also buried in unmarked graves here in Thoroughfare. In fact, Confederate artifacts have been found close to the Fletcher/Allen cemetery. An area which is now being surveyed for tearing apart and the installation of 5 septic systems. Actions that threaten that family gravesite as well as the archeological significance of the property.
Thoroughfare’s story continues to grow.
In closing, I have to say that I have tried with every step I have taken to make this just about saving our collective history. Because the story of Thoroughfare is truly our collective history. But as much as I have tried not to, I have to admit and face the element of race in all of this. There are many techniques that have been used for decades to take black owned land. Some of those techniques remain legal to this day. I was stunned recently by an official that made that abundantly clear in an insensitive comment regarding our challenges here.
We are in a situation where there are laws and policies that sanction the extraction of property, history and resources from freed slave communities as well as Native Americans. History has shown us this forcefully time and time again.
Thoroughfare is in the throws of being taken from us. Once again a land, town and home established by slaves, freed slaves and Native Americans is under the threat of being taken and lost, due to greed, profit, and privilege.
Our land is our family. Our land is our history. Our gravesites tell our story of having a place of shelter, belonging and of peace here in Thoroughfare.
My questions to those in power are:
What value and respect are you placing on the lives that lie resting in peace here?
What value and respect do you place on the lives that have thrived and are still thriving here?
Where is your unified outrage over the desecration of the Scott cemetery and the attack on other family and historical gravesites here in Thoroughfare?
These are only a few of the questions that must be answered.
Yes, Thoroughfare is our collective history and we will continue to stand strong for preserving this history, but we cannot pretend that elements of race are not present in the minds and eyes of those who seem to think they have the superiority and the right to seek out, ..to take… And to wipe away this history, with no regard for the sacrifices of the lives that have passed on and are resting here.
Or for the lives that still exist here.
We within this Coalition to Save Thoroughfare, the Coalition to Save Carver Road, those involved with saving the Rural Crescent, our Native American ancestors, the NAACP, and many other cultural and religious supporters, stand strong and united in this connection of preserving our collective legacy and our collective history.