To The Editor,

I want to thank the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, The University of North Carolina at Pembroke and the Public Schools of Robeson County for their outstanding collaboration on Oct. 12, 2011 called “Unity Day.” This day was set aside nationally to send “an orange message” that loudly said “stop bullying now.”

The great people at each one of these institutions of our community rose up energetically to support this effort when I asked for their collaboration. From Chancellor Carter, to Superintendent Hunt, to Chairwoman Hunt to the administrative assistants to the technology folks who put it up on the marquees, thank you. You welcomed not only me and my support of this national observance but you took steps in one day to change lives.

I walked through Purnell Swett High School and was almost brought to tears with the number of students and faculty members creating the sea of orange. Our classrooms and our schools can be and will again be safe places for learning and for individual diversity to be appreciated.

This proves a couple of things to me. The people of our community want better and they know we can do better. Secondly, the people of our community are willing to do what it takes to make this world a better place. Finally, all we have to do is speak up and ask each other to improve the world around us and we can make it happen.

Eric R. Locklear

Pembroke