ROANOKE, Va. – The leader of a civil rights organization voiced her concerns over the sale of the historic Dumas Hotel in Roanoke.
Pernellur Wilson, president of the local chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, is calling on the group TAP to sell the building to the Dumas Legacy Group.
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The building was once the center of Roanoke's African-American community.
As WSLS 10 has previously reported, the Dumas Legacy Group was raising money to buy the historic hotel, but last week it was sold to an anonymous buyer.
Wilson said there's concern the black community is being treated unjustly.
She says in a statement “This is the last thing we have, is the black community supposed to just stand by and let this happen and do nothing? Our tax dollars and private dollars brought and renovated the Dumas.” Roanoke’s “All-American City” distinction is at risk and serious fall-out could likely follow. The black community insists TAP do the right thing. This moment can be a pivotal moment of racial reconciliation and healing or it can be an eruption of deeper mistrust and frustration. This is the last straw for a lot of us!”
WSLS 10 reached out to TAP for a response but have not heard back.