June 19th was supposed to be a celebration on Juneteenth. However, I was targeted by a Caucasian woman and man held at the groundbreaking ceremony on the Railroad Corner.
I, William Green, was the person who fought to save the historical State Theater Building when the city originally wanted to tear it down. It was my vision for the building to be transformed into an African American Museum, noting the significance of the Railroad Corner to the Black Community of Orangeburg. When it was obvious that no one cared, I stepped forward.
On this particular day, as I was holding a conversation with Councilwoman Ms. Knotts, I was approached by a lady (whom I found out later was Jennifer Van Cleave, PIO) and was rudely told that I could not sit beside Ms. Knotts. I had no intentions of sitting, I was merely holding a conversation and speaking to Mr. Cecil Williams.
While speaking with Mr. Williams, he invited me to the reception stating that I was there from the beginning pushing to save the building. Originally, it was not in my plans to attend, but after the invitation, I decided to go. When I arrived at the door of the event, Mr. Williams approached the officer at the door and told him that a gentleman (later identified as a board member) and I were his guests.
As I was walking to Mr. Willams’ table, John Singh, Director of Public Works, came to me and very rudely told me that I needed to leave as I was not on the list of invited guests. I first asked what was he speaking of as I was a guest of Mr. Cecil Williams. Immediately he approached Mr. Willams, who was obviously very busy and asked was I on his list of invited guests. Whatever the outcome of the answer, I was escorted out of the building by John Singh, who obviously has forgotten that he is a “public servant”.
Besides the fact that the officers at the door allowed me to come in the door as a guest of Mr. Williams, I was singled out and asked to leave. This was in no way proper treatment of a citizen of Orangeburg. It was very embarrassing and rude. I would like to reiterate the fact that I was one of the first to initiate the idea of restoring the Railroad Corner.
I travel all over the country in competitions as a celebrity makeup artist and decorator, and I have gained more respect than I have gotten from my own community. Orangeburg City is lacking in customer service and good leadership from the top to the bottom. It is very obvious that they work for the citizens and can be voted out at the citizen’s discretion. We do not work for them, they are to serve and be impartial in their service. They lack class, culture and social breeding. It seems that they are attuned to treating people rudely. They have friendly platforms while running for their offices, but as soon as they are elected, the “honeymoon” is over. SMILE IN YOUR FACE AND STAB-BING YOU IN THE BACK. But remember, we are watching everything you do.
I am called the “Street Mayor” of Orangeburg, and I say that we must vote these people OUT!
William Green, Activist
Orangeburg
