The Black Panthers have said they are coming to protest in Newberry on Saturday but their gathering will be limited.

The militant group announced on June 10 that they would have a mass march against hate crimes in Newberry after the shooting and dragging of Winnsboro resident Anthony Hill on June 2.

Hill was allegedly shot and killed by 19-year-old Gregory Collins at Collins’ Highway 34 mobile home. Collins then reportedly dragged his co-worker’s dead body almost 11 miles until the rope tying Hill to Collins’ truck broke.

Shortly, after the body was discovered, Sheriff Lee Foster called the FBI to assist with the investigation to determine if it were a hate crime.

While Foster, says the hate crime determination is out of his hands he adds that the two men had known each other for several months and had spent much of the day of the death together.

In a June 10 press conference in the parking lot of the Newberry County Detention Center, members of the Black Lawyers for Justice and the New Black Panther Party for Self Defense claimed they would hold a march at the Louis Rich Road complex.

Both Newberry Police Chief Jackie Swindler and Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Jerry Wright said they saw a flier given out at the June 10 press conference stating the event would occur Saturday but have heard no more about it.

Since the detention center is located in the city limits of Newberry it will fall under the city police jurisdiction and city ordinances.

City ordinances require that a parade permit be filed for any marches a month in advance of the march but Swindler says no permits have been filed.

Since no permits have been filed, Swindler says the group will not be allowed to march or take to the streets.

But being that the detention center parking lot is public property the group can gather in the parking lot of the jail.

Organizers stated in a press release that they planned on bringing hundreds if not thousands of people from surrounding counties and states to the march to make it clear that the acts of Collins’ will not be tolerated.

With that promise in mind, Swindler says he will have the assistance of various state and local agencies in town on Saturday to assist city police if needed.

The event is reportedly scheduled for 11 a.m. but the time can not be confirmed.

The Observer was unable to make contact with the group by phone or e-mails.