POLICE: Two Friday shootings connected

ROCKINGHAM — The Rockingham Police Department confirmed there were two shootings on Friday afternoon that appear to be related.

The first shooting occurred on Armstead Street in an apparent drive-by shooting. One victim was shot in the arm and transported to FirstHealth. They were later released.

About 45 minutes later, a gold passenger vehicle and silver SUV fired rounds “back and forth at each other” at the intersection of Long Drive and US HWY 74, situated between the Burger King and Sonic, according to Detective Clint Neeley.

There were no injuries reported in the second shooting, but one bullet did hit the vehicle of a family that was eating in the Sonic parking lot. It’s unknown exactly how many shots were fired in each shooting, but Neeley said there were “numerous” rounds fired.

Both incidents are currently under investigation.

* * *

ACLU files lawsuit against NC Department of Public Safety for inhume treatment of incarcerated transgender woman

RALEIGH — The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of North Carolina, and Patterson Harkavy LLP today filed a complaint on behalf of Kanautica Zayre-Brown, a transgender woman incarcerated at Anson Correctional Institution who is being denied essential gender-affirming health care. Mrs. Zayre-Brown has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a serious medical condition, and for several years has requested necessary treatment consistent with established medical standards. DPS officials’ pattern of inhumane treatment has caused Mrs. Zayre-Brown physical health complications and extreme emotional and psychological distress, leading to thoughts of self-harm and suicide.

“Mrs. Zayre-Brown has a serious medical condition that DPS’s own health care providers have recognized requires treatment including gender-affirming surgery. But DPS continues to ignore its constitutional obligation to provide this medically necessary care simply because she is a transgender woman,” said Jaclyn Maffetore, staff attorney with the ACLU of North Carolina. “DPS’s denial of treatment is not only discriminatory – it is inhumane. By refusing to treat her gender dysphoria, DPS subjects Mrs. Zayre-Brown to needless suffering and places her life at risk.”

In spite of the fact that Mrs. Zayre-Brown is a woman and DPS has known about her gender dysphoria diagnosis since she entered custody, DPS housed her in male facilities for nearly two years before transferring her to Anson CI, a women’s facility where she has continued to be a target of discrimination due to suffering from gender dysphoria.

“The discrimination, mistreatment, and neglect perpetrated against Mrs. Zayre-Brown is far too common for transgender people who are incarcerated,” said Taylor Brown, staff attorney for the LGBTQ & HIV Rights Project at the ACLU. “The North Carolina Department of Public Safety will now have to answer for their unlawful and discriminatory behavior, as we fight to get Mrs. Zayre-Brown the health care that she requires and is constitutionally due. The ACLU and our affiliate partners across the country, will continue to hold prisons accountable for violations and deprivations of the rights of incarcerated transgender people.”

DPS’s refusal to provide necessary care for Mrs. Zayre-Brown violates the U.S. and North Carolina constitutions, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The complaint seeks damages and an injunction requiring DPS to provide Mrs. Zayre-Brown with necessary medical care and accommodations for her gender dysphoria, including the use of gender-consistent terminology, consistent hormone therapy maintenance, and gender-affirming surgery.

“The North Carolina Department of Public Safety has a duty of care that must be exercised in the case of Mrs. Zayre-Brown,” said Kendra R. Johnson, executive director of Equality NC. “For years, she has been outspoken about the mistreatment, discrimination and harassment she has faced, and LGBTQ+ and racial justice advocates have repeatedly called for these issues to be addressed. DPS’s denial of required medical care is a continual and prolonged denial of her basic human rights and dignity. We at Equality NC stand behind Mrs. Zayre-Brown and hope to see compassionate care extended to her immediately.”

In response to litigation from the ACLU and ACLU affiliates, courts across the country have consistently recognized the right of incarcerated transgender people to adequate health care and safety measures. In late December 2021, a federal court ruled on a motion and ordered the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate Cristina Nichole Iglesias for gender-affirming surgery. This landmark decision marks the first time a court has ordered the federal government to address an incarcerated person’s medical need for gender-affirming surgery.

Zayre-Brown was convicted of two felony counts each of insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretenses, and one felony count of being a habitual felon in 2017, and was subsequently housed at a men’s facility, reported the Anson Record in June of 2021. A judge refused to list Zayre-Brown’s gender as female and use the legal name, Kanautica, on the judgement and commitment paperwork.

* * *

Veteran Stand Down is Saturday

BENNETTSVILLE, S.C. — At-risk and homeless veterans will have access to immediate intervention support at Saturday’s Veterans Stand Down.

The event will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Brightsville Community Park.

Event organizers are encouraging all veterans experiencing homelessness, job loss, or those who are at risk of losing their housing to attend the Stand Down.

Services and supplies to be offered include breakfast, sack lunch, towels, assessment and referrals, benefits, blankets/sleeping bags, clothing and hygiene items, permanent housing information and referrals, shoes, and employment information.

All participants are encouraged to pre-register by visiting www.eventbrite.com/e/2022-marlboro-county-veterans-stand-down-tickets-274473035237.

For information, email [email protected].

* * *

Social media causes controversial start to one-stop voting

LUMBERTON — An investigation is underway after a Facebook page presenting itself as the Robeson County Board of Elections posted a cover photo with the words “re-elect John Cantey.”

The post comes at the start of one-stop early voting which began Thursday and will run through May 14. John Cantey is running for re-election to his Lumberton City Council seat, in which he represents Precinct 5 residents.

Robeson County Board of Elections Director Tina Bledsoe told The Robesonian that the page is not maintained by the RCBOE. The Board of Elections does not have its own Facebook page, and its information is posted on the Robeson County Administration/Government page by the county public information officer.

“We have addressed it and I want the public to know that it’s not coming from the Board of Elections Office,” she said.

Bledsoe said she has sent the information to the county public information officer for further review and action.

“We didn’t set that page up,” said Emily Jones, Robeson County’s Public Information officer. “This is not an official Facebook page.”

Jones told The Robesonian she is investigating the matter and that the post was made on Wednesday. Jones said she will report the page to Facebook and request that it be taken down.

The page also listed the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office’s website on the site.

John Cantey told The Robesonian he didn’t have anything to do with it.

“All I posted is my location at the Board of Elections,” he said.

His Facebook post includes photos that appeared on the page after he tagged it, stating that he was at the Robeson County Board of Elections. One photo of his campaign sign was used as a cover photo on the page.

Cantey said he has been in office for 17 years and involved in the elections process for more than 22 years.

“It’s a first for me,” he said.