Draft:Greg Drumwright

Reverend Greg Drumwright
Senior Minister & Establishmentarian of Citadel of Praise Church & Campus Ministries; Founder of Justice 4 the Next Generation Coalition
Born	December 18,1979 Burlington, North Carolina
Education	North Carolina A&T State University (BA) Wake Forest University (M.Div)
Occupation	Senior Pastor; Senior Principal Consultant for L.E.A.D. (Leadership Enhancement and Academic Development)
Website	www.gregdrumwright.com; www.j4tng.org

Gregory Brooks "Greg" Drumwright is an American theologian and social justice organizer. His work has been seen on CNN, ABC, FOX, NBC, and featured in articles published by Forbes, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg, and Newsweek as well as numerous international media outlets that have highlighted his leadership. He is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, where he served as Student Body President and Wake Forest University. Through his ecumenical and community leadership across North Carolina and the United States, Drumwright is regarded as being "Today's Voice for Tomorrow's Generation". His works as a faith leader, collegiate professor, millennial/Gen Z, and a racial equity expert has garnered him various platforms to share his message of education, empowerment, and encouragement to more than a million people since he began his public speaking career. Rev. Drumwright's local parish, The Citadel Church, in Greensboro, has become a case study for attracting large millennial audiences, despite a sharp decline in religious practice across all church denominations. Among the many doors opened to him, Greg cherishes being a three-time musical concert guest performing in the White House, a commencement speaker from elementary to collegiate stages, and an internationally traveled proliferator and activist. Drumwright's reach has proven to be ecumenical, building the beloved community, indiscriminate of race, religion, gender, orientation, and social status. His message of non-violence and reconciliatory practice has garnered him various platforms to share his message of education, empowerment, and encouragement to multigenerational audiences, corporate entities, and public establishments. Currently, and alongside his pastoral duties, he serves as a professor of Public Speaking and Human Communication at High Point University, and the Senior Principal Consultant for L.E.A.D. (Leadership Enhancement and Academic Development), while preparing for his sophomore record release: Songs of Justice, Reconciliation, and Peace. Gregory has received numerous local, state, and national awards for his service and humanitarianism. Recently, Governor Roy Cooper conferred the Old North State Award upon him for more than 20 years of community work and appointed him to serve on the North Carolina Courts Commission as the only non-attorney/non-legislative representative for North Carolina citizenry. Upon the commission, Greg has become a vital voice in shaping policies pertaining to Criminal Justice Reform and new laws prohibiting the use of underage vaping. In February 2020, Black Business Ink magazine honored him as one of the Top 40 under 40 most influential African American leaders, as a result of his continuing work for equity and justice in the community and higher education.

Biography

Early life and Education

Reverend Drumwright and his classmates alongside Dr. Bill Leonard, founder of Wake Forest Divinity.

Gregory Brooks Drumwright was born on December 18, 1979, in Burlington, North Carolina. He was raised in Burlington, where he began his life in the public eye as a child. At the age of five, Drumwright was introduced to the world starring in a national television commercial for IBM computers. This was only the beginning for young Drumwright. He began to study and travel with a classically base, all-boys choral society where he stood out as the only African American member for several years. At the age of 14 found his purpose in music ministry after being introduced to mainstream music through the BET telecast, Bobby Jones Gospel. His purpose opened the door for him to become a notable singer, songwriter, producer, and musician. He has shared platforms and stages with noble artists such as Walter Hawkins, Kurt Carr, Kirk Franklin, John P. Kee, Mali Music, The Clark Sisters, Ricky Dillard, and many more. Drumwright went on to graduate from Cummings High School in Burlington, North Carolina. He decided to continue his educational journey at the largest historically black university in the United States, North Carolina A&T State University where he attained his Bachelors of Arts in Mass Communications and served as Student Body President. In 2015, Rev. Drumwright decide to further his educational journey at Wake Forest University where he obtained his Masters of Divinity.

Citadel of Praise Church & Campus Ministries

During his senior year at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Rev. Drumwright established The Citadel Church, in Greensboro, N.C., after hearing the clarion call from God. The Citadel of Praise Church is an inter-denominational Christian Church, whose mission is to transform lives, enlarging the kingdom, and equipping believers. After 19 years of serving the beloved community, The Citadel has become a lighthouse for all ages, specifically youth and young adults through its campus ministries which was established by Rev. Drumwright and his mentees Joshua Lee and Cameron Moore in 2012. Drumwright impacted more than 200,000 young people since he began his career in 1996. Over the past 8 years, his collegiate arm, The Citadel Campus Ministry has led more than 5,000 students to Christ.

Rev. Drumwright leading praise and worship at the Citadel of Praise in Greensboro, NC.

Rev. Drumwright at the Citadel of Praise Church and Campus Ministries.

Reverend Drumwright leads his parishioners down a hiking trail

In the Citadel of Praise Church & Campus Ministry Rev. Drumwright instructs his parishioners on the importance of being a beacon of light to the beloved community at all times by embracing and exemplifying Christ-like character through warmhearted fellowship and community service. To aid his parishioners in their matriculation to servanthood, Rev. Drumwright has taught them how to find God in all things.

Reverend Drumwright visits Jerusalem and participates in ecumenical service.

Drumwright instills the values of unconditional love and service through leading by example. Reverend Drumwright's reach has proven to be ecumenical building the beloved community, indiscriminate of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, and social status.

Throughout the nearly 20 years that the Citadel has known the Gate City as home, Rev. Drumwright has led the historically millennial and Gen Z to fulling its vision of Transforming Lives, Enlarging the Kingdom and Equipping Believers.

Citadel Foundation Group

The Citadel Foundation Group was established in 2015; its mission, Scholarship, Leadership, and Discipleship. Since being establishment, the Citadel Foundation Group has sponsored several initiatives to transform the lives of many in the community. The foundation has sponsored the M.A.L.E. Initiative (Minority. Male. Academic. Leadership. Enrichment), The Fall Summit on Black College Student Leadership, the North Carolina Student Government Leadership, Kicks4OurKidz, Demon Deacon Angel Fund. While striving to purchase a campus ministry complex the foundation has sponsored $5,000 dollars in scholarships and has served over 2,000 meals.

M.A.L.E Initiative

The M.A.L.E. Initiative was birthed to motivate, stimulate and engage the minds of minority males through an interactive caucus with speakers and presenters to bridge the achievement gap with their academic and societal status. The event took place February 21-22, 2013. When Drumwright was asked about the platform of the event Rev. Drumwright responded, "If a student asks what is being done to raise black graduation rates and to reduce the racial gap between minorities and whites, what will be our university's appropriate response and enacted plan?" The initiative's s platform addressed five major concerns:

• Nationwide: Black enrollments in higher education are at an all-time high. But nationwide black student college graduation rate remain dismally low, at a level of about 45 percent. The black student college graduation rate is about 20 percentage points lower than the rates.
• North Carolina: According to UNC GA website statistics latest statistics on 4 year graduation rates in the UNC System, whites graduate at a rate of two times higher than that of blacks. African Americans males rate the lowest of those findings.
• Education & Economic Correlation: minority men of color remain at the bottom of every gender and race study in education and social economic status throughout the history of our country as late as 2010.
• Criminal Dilemma: The National Council on Crime and Delinquency reports that in the juvenile justice system, African American rates of residential placement are four times as high for blacks. Native American and Hispanic rates also exceed whites, three times and twice as high.
• Crisis: At every level of education in the US, K-12 and high education minority male students from every ethnic background face an educational crisis.

Attendees at the conference during the morning session.

Rev. Drumwright has a discussion with a conference attendee after the conference.

Kicks4OurKidz Initiative

The Kicks4OurKids Initiative

J4tNG Change for America Tour 2020

Justice 4 the Next Generation was founded in the midst of the pandemic after the Murder of Ahmaud Arbery in Brunswick, Georgia. Reverend Drumwright and the newly founded Justice 4 the Next Generation Coalition traveled to the Satilla Shores where Ahmaud was hunted and shot to death. Drumwright organized a town hall to bring attention to the modern-day lynching.

Brunswick, Georgia

After the news broke and the video of the execution of Ahmaud Arbery went viral, Reverend Drumwright and his production crew, soon to be known as the Justice 4 the Next Generation Coalition, decided to travel to Brunswick, Georgia to help bring attention to the Arbery case, which had been ignored and mishandled for over three months by the local law enforcement. Upon arrival in Brunswick, Georgia, Drumwright and his crew went to work immediately organizing a town hall to spur awareness of the pain and injustice that Arbery's family had experienced. On May 23, 2020, Reverend Drumwright and the Justice 4 the Next Generation hosted a live town hall honoring the legacy of Ahmaud Arbery. Arbery's parents Marcus Arbery Sr. and Wanda Cooper Jones were esteemed guests. Drumwright also interviewed Jason Vaughn his former football coach, Akeem Baker Ahmaud's best friend, Dr. Felicia Harris, Professor of Communication Studies, and Rev. James Woodall, the President of the State Chapter of the NAACP in Georgia.

After the town hall, Rev. Drumwright continued to support the Arbery family and be there for them as an advocate and in a pastoral capacity.

Rev. Drumwright and the panelist for the town hall listed from left to right.

Rev. Drumwright and the panelist for the town hall listed from left to right.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

It had not been a full 24 hours after the Rev. Drumwright and his crew returned home from their trip to Brunswick, Georgia that they heard the tragic news of the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Some watched the heart-wrenching video of Floyd's final moments where he exclaimed the now infamously iconic words "I can't breathe" and begged Officer Derek Chauvin to remove his knee from his neck for 8:46 minutes. Rev. Drumwright and some of the crew packed the equipment back up and took an 18-hour Minneapolis, Minnesota to stand and fight for justice on behalf of George Floyd and his family.

Rev. Drumwright in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Upon arrival in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Rev. Drumwright was asked by a member of the beloved community to uplift a prayer over the community. After prayer, Rev. Drumwright and his crew visited the store, Cup Foods, on the corner of 38th and Chicago, which called the police on George Floyd because of his counterfeit money.

Rev. Drumwright offers an ecumenical prayer for the community at 38th and Chicago.

On June 2, 2020 Rev. Drumwright and his crew then interviewed the store owner, Mike and found out the truth behind what happened to George Floyd. Abumayyaleh told Drumwright, "They already had him in hand cuffs and in the car, he was taken out of the car and put on the ground . " Drumwright was visibly shocked and emotional because he could not bring himself to watch the modern-day lynching.

Rev. Greg Drumwright interviews Mahmoud Abumayyaleh, owner of the Cup Foods store, where George Floyd was suffocated to death by Derek Chauvin.

Drumwright and J4tNG remained in Minneapolis, Minnesota seeing what was truly happening at the corner of 38th and Chicago, which Drumwright would coin as the "Epicenter of Peace". On June 3, 2020, the news broke that all four officers, Derek Chauvin, Tou Thaou, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane had been arrested and charged in the death of George Floyd, whose death was ruled a homicide by two autopsies. Rev. Drumwright went live from the Epicenter of Peace capturing people's initial reactions to the breaking news and leading the activists in chanting, "We got all four! " which was seen on news broadcasts across the nation. Drumwright even got the chance to interview Micheal Brown's father. Brown had also been a victim of police brutality in St. Louis, Missouri on August 9, 2014. You can see the full interview here.

Michael Brown's Dad message to the Floyd family.

The next day, June 4, 2020 was the day of the memorial service at the Frank J, Lindquist Sanctuary at North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Rev. Drumwright received an invitation from the family to come into the funeral. After the memorial service, Rev. Drumwright received an invite from the family to attend the funeral in Houston, Texas. It was then that

Rev. Drumwright outside of Frank J. Lindquist Sanctuary where George Floyd's Memorial was held in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Crowd outside of George Floyd's Funeral in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Houston, Texas

After receiving an invitation from the Floyd family, Drumwright and a portion of the Justice for the Next Generation coalition travelled to Houston, Texas to support the Floyd family as they laid George Floyd to rest. Before,Rev. Drumwright and J4tNG attended the funeral and were allowed to ride in the processional on the way to the committal.

Rev. Drumwright reflects on people's support of the Floyd family in their time of grief.

While in Houston, Rev. Drumwright and his crew went back to First Ward where George grew up and connected with his niece, Brooke Williams who he sat down with for an interview.

Atlanta, Georgia

Drumwright and his crew packed up once again and this time they were headed to Atlanta, Georgia where Rayshard Brooks had been fatally shot and killed by Officer Garrett Rolfe.While in Atlanta Rev. Drumwright and his crew joined forces with the local activist and organizers to bring attention to unjust killing of Rayshard Brooks peacefully protesting in the streets and stopping at intersections to show solidarity with the Floyd family. While protesting outside of the District Attorney's office, Rev. Drumwright had the opportunity to interview the LA Lakers center Dwight Howard.

The Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed.

While protesting outside of the District Attorney's office, Rev. Drumwright had the opportunity to interview the LA Lakers center Dwight Howard. When Drumwright asked Howard how he had been impacted by the recent deaths, Howard responded "It could have been any one of us, could've been my brother, my kids, my teammate, my friend it could have been any one of us. " Howard was in Atlanta to support his uncle the then District Attorney Paul Howard,

Rev. Drumwright interviews former LA Lakers Center Dwight Howard whilst protesting in Atlanta, Georgia.

Rev. Drumwright and J4tNG leave their condolences at the site of the death of Rayshard Brooks.

Rev. Drumwright and local protestors take a picture with former District Attorney Howard after confronting him about what he plans to do about the death of Rayshard Brooks.

Attorney Howard came down out of his office to speak with the protesters after they had been calling him out for just over an hour wanting to know what he was going to differently and if he was going to see to it that the family of Rayshard Brooks received justice. When he came down from his office, Attorney Howard was interviewed by Rev. Drumwright. When asked, "Why did you allow those officers a chance to turn themselves in? " Attorney Howard responded, "We did not know where they were."

While in Atlanta, Rev. Drumwright was targeted by local police who alleged that Rev. Drumwright's Range Rover was connected to a shooting that happened earlier in the day. They impounded his vehicle, without letting him retrieve any of his belongings including his wallet and hotel room key. The beloved community stepped in to make sure that he and his crew had dinner, and luckily the hotel staff recognized him and let them into their rooms. Drumwright would later have a press conference, where the public would be notified that Rev. Drumwright had been targeted by the Atlanta Police Department who had impounded his car because they said it had been abandoned for a couple of days, even though it had only been parked for a couple of hours.

Since Rev. Drumwright would not be able to make it home in time to preach at the Citadel of Praise Church he began his hallmark series "Black Preaching From White Spaces" which explores the intersectionality of social justice, equity and the African American Christian experience. According to Rev. Drumwright his Black Preaching and White Spaces is not meant to ostracize or alienate the white church but, to foster relationships with allies and show true unity by allowing a black preacher in their white pulpits. The first sermon of the series entitled "Race and Riots: White Silence and Black Suffering" occurred at the historical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, Georgia where Rev. Mark H. Larson is the Senior Pastor.

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, Georgia where Rev. Greg Drumwright preached "Race and Riots: White Silence and Black Suffering".

After being in Atlanta, Georgia for almost two weeks the Atlanta Police Department decided to release Rev. Drumwright's car, allowing Rev. Drumwright and his crew to finally begin their journey back home to Greensboro, North Carolina.

Talledega, Alabama

While preparing to make the journey back home to Greensboro, North Carolina, Rev. Drumwright and the Justice 4 the Next Generation Crew received the news that there was a noose found in Bubba Wallace (the only full time African American driver at the top level of NASCAR's top cup series). Drumwright and his crew decided to take a detour to Talledega, Alabama to stand in solidarity and support Bubba Wallace. Drumwright and crew once again found themselves in the national news this time for calling for diversity and equity in the stock car industry. In an interview with Drumwright remarked, "We want to see that the call for diversification and true equity in the sport extends beyond the banning of the Confederate flag...We want to see that NASCAR is true to the message that they're saying that this is a new day in NASCAR and they understand what it means to the African-American community."

While preparing to make the journey back home to Greensboro, North Carolina, Rev. Drumwright and the Justice 4 the Next Generation Crew received the news that there was a noose found in Bubba Wallace (the only full time African American driver at the top level of NASCAR's top cup series). Drumwright and his crew decided to take a detour to Talledega, Alabama to stand in solidarity and support Bubba Wallace.

Drumwright and crew once again found themselves in the national news this time for calling for diversity and equity in the stock car industry. In an interview with Drumwright remarked, "We want to see that the call for diversification and true equity in the sport extends beyond the banning of the Confederate flag...We want to see that NASCAR is true to the message that they're saying that this is a new day in NASCAR and they understand what it means to the African-American community."

After the race, Rev. Drumwright went live on Facebook showing how they protested as everyone departed the stadium letting everyone know that, "We bang with Bubba."

Protesters who travelled with Rev. Greg Drumwright and J4tNG from Atlanta, GA to support Bubba Wallace

Rev. Drumwright at the NASCAR race in Talledega, Alabama.

Stokes County, North Carolina

After returning home from Talledaga, Alabama it was not long until Drumwright saw the infamous Facebook Marketplace post made by Mike Fulp the owner of 311 Speedway in Stokes County, North Carolina. Fulp claimed to be selling "Bubba Rope". It was reported that the post read, "Buy your Bubba Rope today for only $9.99 each, they come with a lifetime warranty and work great." However, the post was taken down after receiving backlash from fans and spectators alike. Offended by the fact that a white man would think it is appropriate to make such a post right after a noose had been found hanging in Bubba Wallace, the only black NASCAR driver, garage. Drumwright and the Justice for the Next Generation Coalition got on the road and headed for Stokes County. When Drumwright and his crew arrived at the 311 Speedway they were greeted by Fulp's workers and associates who were armed with automatic weapons. They even told Drumwright and his crew if you come through here (the gate to the race track) we will shoot you. Concerned for his and the protesters safety,

Sign at the 311 Speedway in Stokes County owned by Mike Fulp.

Employees of the 311 Speedway, who threatened to shoot Rev. Drumwright and any protestor if they tried to come through the gate.

Drumwright instructed the protestors to line up across the street from the gate with their signs. Drumwright then requested to speak with the owner of the 311 Speedway and author of the infamous Bubba Rope post Mike Fulp. Eventually, after several request Fulp agreed to come out speak with Rev. Drumwright against the wishes of his associates and employees. Rev. Drumwright went live on his Facebook page to record the conversation. Drumwright confronted Fulp about his incredibly insensitive and ill timed Facebook post. Fulp initially claimed that he did not realize how his post could be viewed as racist and insensitive since there is an actually is a brand of rope called Bubba Rope; however, after an extensive discussion with Rev. Drumwright Fulp was moved to tears and apologized to Rev. Drumwright and each protestor that was present that day.

Mike Fulp tearfully apologizes to a protesters after critical conversation with Rev. Drumwright.

Rev. Drumwright confronts 311 Speedway owner about his Bubba Rope post.

Bristol, Virginia

Rev. Drumwright making his demand of NASCAR.

Rev. Drumwright watching the All-Star NASCAR Race.

On July 15, 2020 Rev. Drumwright and members from the Justice 4 the Next Generation Coalition travelled to Bristol, Virginia to show their support for Bubba Wallace and equal representation in the motorsport. Justice 4 the Next Generation peacefully protested with their signs and many witnessed their first NASCAR race. Rev. Drumwright spoke with some the local officials and had an interview with News 5 WYCB, a local news source. In this interview, Drumwright noted that he would like to meet with NASCAR President Steve Phelps, "To talk about diversifying its fanbase to, to talk about growing its fanbase. We brought millennials and members from the Gen Z population out here. We believe there is great opportunity from the Gen Z population out here. We believe there is great opportunity for young African Americans and NASCAR to partner."

Louisville, Kentucky

After meeting with his crew once again, Rev. Drumwright and Justice for the Next Generation Coalition travelled to Louisville, Kentucky where Breonna Taylor had been fatally shot in her own apartment by three officers: Jonathan Mattingly, Brett Hankison, and Myles Cosgrove. When Drumwright and his crew arrived they spent their nights speaking with the locals and marching in the streets.

Rev. Drumwright at protests at the Breonna Taylor Memorial in Louisville, Kentucky.

While in Louisville, Kentucky Rev. Drumwright went to visit the First Unitarian Church of Louisville, Kentucky which is known for offering sanctuary to the Black Lives Matter Protestors from the Louisville Metro Police. After establishing a relationship with the minister of the church Rev. Lori Kyle, Rev. Drumwright preached the second installment of the "Black Preaching From White Spaces" series, entitled, "Give Us Sanctuary".

Rev. Drumwright delivers impassioned "Give Us Sanctuary" sermon.

Kenosha, Wisconsin

After hearing about the shooting of Jacob Blake who was shot by a police officer seven times in the back, leaving him paralyzed; Rev. Drumwright and Justice 4 the Next Generation hit the road again this time headed for Kenosha, Wisconsin. The trip to Kenosha did not start off as expected.

Rev. Drumwright and his crew had just arrived in Kenosha and were headed to their hotel for the night after a long day of traveling. While en route to the hotel, Rev. Drumwright was pulled over by the police and was arrested because they were "violating curfew". Rev. Drumwright did not know about the curfew and even offered to show the police officer their boarding passes from their flight in and the hotel reservation; however, the officer refused to look at it and proceeded to arrest him and the two members of Justice 4 the Next Generation that were with him. Members of the Citadel of Praise Church and Campus Ministries witnessed their Pastor being arrested as he was on a Zoom call with some of the men from the ministry. Rev. Drumwright and one of the members were able to post bail and get out jail; however, due to the time one of his parishioners was forced to remain in jail over night. Even though Rev. Drumwright was released that same night he spent the night outside of the jail sleeping on the bench.

In the face of this adversity, Rev. Drumwright met with Rev. Matthew Butterbaugh and preached the third installation of the "Black Preaching from White Spaces" at the historic St. Matthews Episcopal Church, from the thought "When Will America Turn?" before heading back home to Greensboro, NC.

Graham, North Carolina

After a long fight on the road, the fight for justice met him at home, in Alamance County. After several correspondences and requests from the residents of Graham, North Carolina. Rev. Drumwright decided to head to Graham and have a community meeting with what would become the founding members of the Alamance Alliance for Justice (AA4J). The locals were terrified of the current Sheriff Terry Johnson and his deputies who have a long standing reputation for being unnecessarily hostile toward African Americans and white allies. The locals were also tired of the discriminatory arresting and sentencing policies that had been enforced by the Alamance County Sheriff's Department. Moved by the experiences and stories of the community, Rev, Drumwright decided that it was time to restore power back to the people of Alamance County using civil disobedience and peaceful protest. Over the next couple of months Rev. Drumwright worked with the founding members of the AA4J and the Alamance Agents for Change to organize the March for Justice and CommUNITY.

Drumwright determined help the community he grew up in and help them realize the power of the ballot, Drumwright decided to make some special deliveries to the Tucker Street Apartments. Drumwright and volunteers with Justice 4 the Next Generation packed care packages containing non-perishable essential items for the families of the Tucker Street Apartment community and knocked on every door until all the bags had been distributed.

Tucker Street Apartments Food Give Away

On July 4, 2020 J4tNG and AA4J decided to protest outside of the Graham Courthouse to not only build the confidence of the newly formed Alamance Alliance for Justice. Quenclyn Ellison, Co-founder of the Alamance Alliance for Justice told Drumwright that the Graham Police Department had been arresting people when they would protest on the street corner, this obviously infringing on their First Amendment right.

July 4th protest outside of Graham Courthouse

On July 11, 2020 over 1,000 people from Burlington, Graham, Greensboro and the surrounding areas hit the streets to protest the injustice occurring in Alamance County. Rev. Drumwright delivered the keynote speech entitled, "State of Emergency".

Drumwright called for the racist practices to come to the end in Alamance County and for the Confederate Statue which was located in front of the Courthouse to come down. Rev. Drumwright called and continues to call for the statue to come down because the dark history it commemorates. On February 26,1870 the White Brotherhood, an offshoot of the Ku Klux Klan lynched Wyatt Outlaw, who was the first African American Town Commissioner and Constable of Graham, North Carolina. They lynched him in the very spot where the Confederate statue sits in front of the Courthouse and rang the bell which still sits off to the right of the statue.

Rev. Drumwright concluded his speech by demanding that Sheriff Terry Johnson release the organizer who had been arrested after going to get the Rev. Drumwright's itinerary for the rally from his car. The rally went better than expected and the local protesters were Invigorated by Rev. Drumwright's speech and passion so they continued to fight for justice in Alamance County.

Rev. Drumwright speaking with Sheriff Terry Johnson concerning the release of the arrested organizer.

One night after meeting with Justice 4 the Next Generation and the leaders of the Alamance Alliance for Justice, Drumwright decided the perfect way to end a long season of protesting was to have a peaceful march to the polls. Rev. Drumwright, J4tNG and AA4J began to plan and organize the I AM CHANGE March which would be the march seen and heard around the world.

Images from the July 11 March for CommUNITY

The I AM CHANGE March was one march that took place in two locations, over the span of two days : Greensboro, NC and Graham, North Carolina. According to Rev. Drumwright, the I AM CHANGE March was meant to get out the vote on the final days of early voting and registration and J4tNG asked people to dress up as someone who had been a victim of police brutality and cast a vote on their behalf. On the morning of October 31st, Rev. Drumwright met with J4tNG to pray and remind the of purpose and protocol for the March, which was to be PEACEFUL, NON-VIOLENT, AND UNARMED. After prayer, the group departed Greensboro, NC; headed to Graham to hold what was to be there last march of the year. According to J4tNG, over 1000 people showed up and many were dressed up in outfits that would remind people of exactly how many people had tragically lost their lives due to police hyper-vigilance and brutality.

High Point, North Carolina

On November 8, 2020 Fred Cox, an 18 year old young man was at the Living Water Baptist Church in High Point, NC attending the memorial service of Jonas Thompson. As a crowd was departing from the funeral, shots rang out as there was a drive by going on outside of the side. Cox had been sitting in his car on the side of the church opposite the shooting, Cox got out of his car to help and mother and her son who were struggling to get inside the church to take cover. Whilst Cox was hold the door open for the mother and her 12 year old son , he was shot in the back several times by Deputy Michael Shane Hill, from the Davidson County Sheriff's Department. Hill had been at the funeral because the family had invited him since he had been investigation Thompson's untimely death. According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, Hill claimed to have seen a handgun in Cox's hand; however, upon further investigation there was no handgun found.

Even though it was found that Cox did not have a gun as it was initially alleged by Deputy Hill he was not indicted by the grand jury and was not reprimanded by the Davidson County Sheriff Office. Infuriated by this injustice, Tenicka Shannon, Cox's mother called Rev. Drumwright and Justice 4 the Next Generation for help and support. Moved by this tragedy, Rev. Drumwright and the Justice 4 the Next Generation mobilized, helping Mrs. Shannon to organize multiple marches over the course of the year. Rev. Drumwright also connected Mrs. Shannon with Attorney Benjamin Crump, the renown trial lawyer for justice and civil rights advocate. At the press conference at the end of one the marches organized by Mrs. Shannon and J4tNG Crump remarked,

For so long, we have seen marginalized people stopped and injured by police for driving while Black, riding a bicycle while Black, or walking down the street while Black. But this young man was shot in the back by an officer while trying to save lives in a very dangerous situation.

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

On April 21, 2021, Andrew Brown Jr. was killed by a gunshot to the back of the head by the Sheriff Department in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The deputies were supposed to be serving search and arrest warrants to Mr. Brown when the shooting began. According to the District Attorney, Andrew Womble the officers were justified because "They did not fire their weapons until Brown tried to flee." However, the Brown families lawyer, and witnesses would disagree. According to the family, the deputies began firing their weapons,

After hearing about how Andrew Brown Jr. had been killed by the Pasquotank County Sheriff's Department Attorney Benjamin Crump and Rev. Drumwright knew one thing...They must head to Elizabeth City to help the Brown Family organize and advocate for justice on Andrew's behalf. Thus the Andrew Brown Jr. March 4 Criminal Justice Reform was formed and on Sunday May 2,2021 Rev. Drumwright and J4tNG, the Brown Family, and local protesters marched from Enfield Park, to Andrew Brown's home and to the Elizabeth City Courthouse. Rev. William Barber a renowned civil rights activist and advocate and activist, spoke at the end at the rally where he called for there to be a "full federal independent investigation" because, "the community can not rest until this happens." Rev. Drumwright and Justice 4 the Next Generation held a tribute to Andrew Brown Jr. to bring attention to the senseless killing.

Bibliography

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See also

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• autobiography
• biography

External links

• [wwww.gregdrumwright.com GregDrumwright.com]
• [www.citadelofpraise.com citadelofpraise.com]
• [www.j4tng.org j4tng.org]

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