Painting captures Lumbee-Klan clash

Record Number: 
LOCK060
Citation: 

Locklear, James. “Painting captures Lumbee-Klan clash.” The Fayetteville Observer (Fayetteville, NC). October 19, 2015

Annotation: 

Gene Locklear’s newest painting was unveiled on October 16, 2015 at the Holiday Inn Express in Pembroke, North Carolina. Locklear, who was raised in Pembroke but now lives in San Diego, California, has painted hundreds of pieces, but said his latest speaks volumes about the courage and determination of Indians.

The piece, entitled “Defeating the KKK … Lumbee Way,” shows Neil Lowry hitting a Klansman with the butt of his gun, Alfred Oxendine wrestling a microphone stand from a Klansman, and Sanford Locklear holding a shotgun in the air with his back facing the camera.

The painting depicted an attempt to break up a Ku Klux Klan rally, a large group of American Indians confronted the leader. Eventually, Lowry shot out a light bulb and the shooting began. Many community members are too young to remember the event, and Gene Locklear wanted to inform those citizens because it was such a defining moment for the Indian culture.

About 50 people were at the unveiling Friday night, including Lowry’s son, Victor Lowry, along with his wife Sherry and daughter Alexis. The proceeds from the painting will be used to raise money for students to go to college.

First Appeared in 1994 Book?: 
no
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