Documentary shares story of Orangeburg Massacre which Bishop Matthews experienced personally

The Rev. Dr. Marcus Matthews, Resident Bishop of the New York West Area (North Central and Western New York Conferences) of The United Methodist Church and soon to be Resident Bishop of the entire Upper New York Area, was a senior at South Carolina State University, a predominantly black college in Orangeburg, S.C., when the Orangeburg Massacre featured in this documentary happened.

"That night is seared into my memory as well, but for a different reason. On the evening of Feb. 8, 1968, I lay on the ground on campus, fearing for my life as bullets pierced the leaves on the trees overhead, ” Bishop Matthews recalls. “At 10:33 p.m., police opened fire on us -- 200 college students -- as we protested the refusal of a local bowling alley to serve black students.

"Three died, including one of my close friends, and 27 were wounded in the Orangeburg Massacre. That day profoundly changed my life, putting me on the path that resulted in my becoming the United Methodist bishop of Central and Western New York. ”

"Scarred Justice: The Orangeburg Massacre, 1968" is airing this month on local PBS stations:

Albany-Schenectady-Troy WMHTDT3 02/07/2010 10:00 AM
Albany-Schenectady-Troy WMHTDT3 02/07/2010 04:00 PM
Albany-Schenectady-Troy WMHTDT3 02/07/2010 11:00 PM
Albany-Schenectady-Troy WMHTDT3 02/08/2010 03:00 AM
Buffalo WNEDDT 02/03/2010 02:00 AM
New York WLIWDT3 02/07/2010 10:00 AM
New York WLIWDT3 02/07/2010 04:00 PM
New York WLIWDT3 02/07/2010 11:00 PM
New York WLIWDT3 02/08/2010 03:00 AM
Rochester, NY WXXIDT2 02/07/2010 11:00 PM
Rochester, NY WXXIDT2 02/07/2010 04:00 PM
Rochester, NY WXXIDT2 02/07/2010 10:00 AM

For more on the Orangeburg Massacre visit http://orangeburgmassacre1968.com/