Distorted WBLT "Report" on Our Racial Equality March>>>Hearsay incorrect implied "motivation. OUR MOTIVES WERE TRUE AND PURE WITHOUT THE "HIDDEN MOTIVE" THEY ACCUSED lynn and i OF!!!


IN THE MAGEE LOCAL NEWSPAPER>>>


Magee "race" protest motivation questioned
Posted: Aug 05, 2009 3:25 PM PDT
Updated: Aug 05, 2009 4:53 PM PDT


By David Kenney

MAGEE, MS (WLBT) - A south Mississippi couple is trying to bring attention to racial equality in their small town, but now others are questioning their motivation. Wednesday, a protest calling for the hiring of more African-Americans to management positions was held in downtown Magee.

We were notified by email from Lynn and William McLean that they were holding their protest on Main Avenue.

In that note, they named several businesses and local government entities they planned to target.

When we got there, we found out this was about much more than just race relations.

The McLeans began their peaceful demonstration by walking the streets while holding signs calling for change. They say the percentage of African-Americans holding management positions at businesses around town is well below their percentage of the population.

The McLeans singled out local city government, and the Magee Courier newspaper as two places where blacks have almost no representation. But other African-American business owners, disagree.

"We're not looking for perfection, we're just looking for improvement. There's a lot of wonderful people in Magee, and Magee is a wonderful city to live in, and we would like to see progress in the area of affirmative action and more racial equality," said William McLean.

In response to the protest, African American business owner Havard McDonald said, "I know the people, I know the terrain, I know what's going on, and I don't see lots of racial things happening. As a whole, Magee has a very good working relationship with the whites and the blacks."

Several people we talked to in Magee say they believe the McLeans' protest is really just a grudge against the Magee Courier.

Last summer, they featured Mr. McLean in a front page article when he got caught growing over 100 plants of marijuana on his farm.

McLean was charged with felony growing. He was sentenced to eight years, with seven and-a-half suspended. McLean only served six months house arrest, and has five years probation.

Those who know him say he and his wife are moving to California soon to be with his family.

Business owners in Magee we talked to say it's hard to hire anybody right now because of the economy.

For the most part, blacks and whites there tell us race relations are good, but could use improvement, like anywhere else.