Gov. Perdue Signs Historic Pardon of Innocence for the Wilmington 10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
31 December 2012
For More Information:           Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137
                                                Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700
                                                Atty. Al McSurely, Communications Chair, 919-381-0856
 
NAACP News Conference Held in Raleigh December 31, 2012
at Martin Street Baptist Church
RALEIGH - "Today the spirit of justice was awakened in the Capitol of North Carolina," said Rev. Barber. "Governor Beverly Perdue has signed a Pardon of Innocence for nine men and one woman known as 'The Wilmington 10.' These young people were non-violent protestors fighting for educational equality. They were framed, wrongfully convicted and incarcerated in connection to a fire bombing in Wilmington, NC over 40 years ago. These unjust convictions were due to racist manipulation of the court system and extraordinary and blatant racially motivated prosecutorial misconduct. A Federal Court overturned these convictions over 30 years ago but until today, NC had fallen short. In the last few days of her governorship, Governor Perdue has walked us into a season of epiphany."
            "In this season, NC has finally had a revelation and with this revelation comes a continued need for redemption and repentance from the stain of injustice. Not only will the civil rights and human rights communities honor this act, but history itself will record this day as groundbreaking. On the eve of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Governor Perdue has proclaimed a contemporary emancipation for these freedom fighters, Benjamin Chavis, Connie Tindall, Marvin Patrick, Wayne Moore, Reginald Epps, Jerry Jacobs, James McKoy, Willie Earl Vereen, William Wright, Jr., and Ann Shepard, whose fight for justice will never be forgotten. These pardons are not only for North Carolina but also for the nation and for the world. We honor the Governor's noble, courageous and righteous decision today and we commend her heart's steadfast commitment to justice."
            Special thanks is extended to: The National Newspaper Publishers Association, The Wilmington Journal, Attorney James Ferguson, Attorney Irving Joyner, Attorney Al McSurely, Cash Michaels, Marry Thatch, Dr. Timothy Tyson, officers and members of the NAACP, and the thousands of persons who signed petitions, prayed and pushed for this dream to become reality. 
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Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

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The Wilmington Ten Are Innocent and Should be Pardoned

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

29 December 2012

For More Information:           Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II, President, 919-394-8137

                                                Mrs. Amina J. Turner, Executive Director, 919-682-4700

                                                Atty. Irv Joyner, Legal Redress Chair, ijoyner@nccu.edu

 

            The NC NAACP has carefully reviewed all of the court opinions, supporting documents, contents of the infamous "Stroud Files" and other legally significant materials in the case of the Wilmington Ten. They all support the conclusion that the Wilmington Ten were not involved in any criminal conduct associated with the burning of Mike's Grocery or any other Wilmington businesses in February 1971.  

            Allen Hall, the only person who claimed to have witnessed any unlawful conduct, recanted his testimony under oath. Two other supporting witnesses also confessed under oath that they perjured themselves during the trial of the Wilmington Ten.  Official documents obtained from the New Hanover County District Attorney's office confirmed much of the illegal conduct of the Prosecutor, including his efforts to pack juries with biased, "KKK"-type jurors and to fraudulently and corruptly obtain a mistrial because the jury selection in the first trial had placed ten African-Americans and two Whites in the jury box.

            Our attorneys have carefully studied the 1980 opinion of the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals which concluded, after an exhaustive examination of the court records, that the Prosecutor and Judge had purposely used or allowed the use of perjured testimony to infect the trial proceedings.  In doing so, they violated the fundamental constitutional rights of the Wilmington Ten.  The Appeals Court, therefore, reversed their convictions and the State of North Carolina has chosen not to re-try any of them.

            When viewing these uncontested facts, we are led to the only reasonable conclusion: there is no evidence that did or can prove that any of the Wilmington Ten members committed any crimes in Wilmington during the weekend of February 5-7, 1971.

            As a matter of law, these conclusions overwhelmingly support our legal position that the Wilmington Ten are actually innocent.   During the last few days, the suggestion has been made that the Wilmington Ten now must prove their innocence beyond a reasonable doubt. Such a demand at this late hour is no more than a cynical distraction from the task of the Governor to grant Pardons of Innocence. We know the "TEN" can carry their burden of innocence.  We have already offered compelling evidence of their actual innocence to the Governor.  

In our criminal justice system it is the state, not the defendants, that must prove beyond a reasonable doubt the defendants' guilt. We reject last-minute suggestions that this burden of proof should be turned upside down, and the Wilmington Ten defendants now must prove beyond a reasonable doubt their innocence. The notion that they, in the closing hours of the pardon review, must prove anything other than what has already been presented to the Governor for her review, is ungodly.  

            From our vantage point, the case for the actual innocence of the Wilmington Ten has already been made.  The Governor should apply the same standard for issuing this pardon as has been applied in past pardon petitions.

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Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.

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Equality NC Vigils for Marriage Equality

1. SANDHILLS ALLIANCE Vigil for Equality (Fay-ville)
2. UNCW PRIDE Vigil For Equality (Wilmington)
3. Winston-Salem Vigil for Equality
4. Greensboro Vigil For Equality
5. Asheville Vigil for Equality
6. Charlotte Vigil for Equality
7. Raleigh Vigil for Equality
8. Duke and Durham Vigil for Equality
9. Vigil for Equality Greenville

a coalition of pro-equality organizations, and supporters of LGBT rights from across the state. We will wait in vigil with the hope that our legislators will oppose the anti-gay constitutional amendment.

The anti-gay amendment will change our State Constitution to ban same-sex marriage (as statute already does),and prohibit civil unions and nullify domestic partnership benefits. The vigil will take place the night of a special legislative session on constitutional amendments and will coincide with the predicted vote on House Bill 777/Senate Bill 106.

Please remember to invite your friends and family. I encourage you to re-post this event invitation on your wall. Spread the word y'all!

All who support civil rights should attend.
All who support equal rights should attend.
All who support keeping discrimination out of our State Constitution should attend.

You should attend.

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Pender Sheriff suspends captain after prostitution arrest

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- A high-ranking Pender County deputy is off the job facing prostitution charges. Wilmington Police say they arrested Capt. Mark Sloan last night.

Police charged Sloan with soliciting prostitution, crimes against nature and directional signals required after pulling him over on Physicians Drive around 11:30 pm. Tuesday.

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NAACP to Meet in Wilmington, Budget on the Agenda

Leaders of the NAACP from around southeastern North Carolina gathered in Wilmington today to talk about their disgust for the proposed budget. They claim the budget was developed by ultra-radical, tea-party conservatives.

They are mostly upset by the cuts to the budget concerning Education. Hewett said that our leaders in the NCGA care more about politics and propaganda then the people of NC.

"I suggest they go back to the drawing table," Brunswick County NAACP President Bernest Hewett said. "I suggest they get off party lines and get on human lines.

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Michelle Bachmann speak to NCGOP via Video

if you look closely she is read from a teleprompter, I don’t know which is worst Palin for President or Bachman for Bachmann. Also can you heard the lies…

Update, just found, this speak was recorded before North Carolina Republican convention Started..

I could understand the day before, but almost a whole week.. I guess her speech write needed time to get the lies to run smoothly in the video.

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Hate Crimes Conference with the F.B.I

Time Wednesday, April 6 · 4:00pm - 7:00pm

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Location Lumina Theater-Univeristy of North Carolina Wilmington

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Created By OutReach, Amy Schlag

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More Info

Enjoy us for a fascinating and timely discussion of Hate Crimes and Hate Crimes Legislation. This event is FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

INTRODUCTION: Keith H. Bethke Jr., FBI Resident Agencies Supervisor, Wilmington and Raleigh

PRESENTATION ON HATE CRIMES: The FBI's Civil Rights Program from Washington HQ will be conducting an unclassified presentation on Hate Crimes. It will include definitions of Federal Hate Crimes statutes (Ma......tthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009), nationwide statistics on Federal Hate Crimes cases, and examples of Federal Hate Crimes Cases previously worked by the FBI and other agencies.

SERVICES: Victim Specialist Kory Williford, FBI Charlotte Division, Office for Victim Assistance Rapid Deployment Team. Kory Williford will discuss services provided by the FBI’s Raleigh Resident Agency program to victims of Hate Crimes.

HATE CRIMES INTELLIGENCE: Tom Kuhl will conduct a brief presentation on Southeastern North Carolina Hate Crimes statistics and how Hate Crimes affect our local community.

HATE CRIMES PANEL DISCUSSION: Moderator Buffy Ruffin, Coordinator of Multicultural Student Affairs.

SHOWING OF S.P.I.C. The Storyboard of My Life (27mins)

CLOSING REMARKS: Quynh Rcom

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