NC Racial Justice Act in the News
Monday, July 20, 2009
Murder victims' family members hold press conference in support of Racial Justice Act (S 461)
July 15-16, 2009
After a heated and lengthy debate, the NC House voted to pass the NC Racial Justice Act (S461) on July 15, 2009.
Click here to listen to audio of debate on House floor
(The debate starts at 34:57 minutes into the session and ends at 03:09:45)
Opinions
July 9, 2009
Asheville Mayor, NAACP and WNC Ministers Endorse the North Carolina Racial Justice Act at July 9 Press Conference
Racial Justice Act (S461) Sponsor: Senator Floyd McKissick debates the Racial Justice Act with RJA opponent Representative Skip Stam on WUNC-TV Legislative Weekly.
Click here to view video
(Discussion begins at 28:00 minutes and end at 41:30.)
June 30, 2009
SOfAR Pilgrimage returns to Raleigh to host press conference to discuss 300 mile Pilgrimage through eastern NC and to express support for the NC Racial Justice Act.
Read SOfAR Media Alert
June 30, 2009
NC House Judiciary I Committee Passes RJA
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Sponsors Rep. Earline Parmon and Rep. Larry Womble
speak in favor of NC Racial Justice Act to JI Committee
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Racial Justice Act clears committee
6/30/2009: News and Observer: Under the Dome blog
Submitted by bkrueger on June 30, 2009 - 12:27pm |
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N.C. House takes up anti-bias death penalty bill
6/30/2009: WRAL
The Associated Press
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Rep. Skip Stam voices opposition to RJA and ensures
committee members that he will express full opposition on
House floor.
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June 26, 2009
NC NAACP National Day of Action and Prayer: I AM Troy and NC's Racial Justice Act
NC NAACP, and Members of HK on J Coalition: Carolina Justice Policy Center and North Carolina Coalition for a Moratorium.
Read Press Release from National NAACP President Ben Jealous calling on national support for NC Racial Justice Act.
June 5, 2009
NC NAACP and the People of Faith Against the Death Penalty to hold Joint Press Conference to discuss the Moral Implications of the Racial Justice Act
Read Media Alert Here
May 28, 2009 Raleigh, NC
NC NAACP, CATHOLIC BISHOPS, AND OTHER MORAL LEADERS CALL FOR STRONG RACIAL JUSTICE ACT--NO PRETEXT FOR RESTARTING DEATH PENALTY
Read Media Alert from NAACP
May 21, 2009, Raleigh NC
NC-NAACP, HK on J Coalition, NC Coalition for a Moratorium and others to General Assembly: Pass Landmark Legislation to Combat Racism Without any Underlying Amendments
Read Press Release
In related news, Wake County Superior Court Judge Donald Stephens issued a ruling regarding the Council of State's decision to approve lethal injection protocol without considering the opinion of the 163 people on death row in North Carolina. Judge Stephens ruled in favor of the Council of State's decision, which paves the way for executions to resume.
Ruling lifts a barrier to execution; A judge strikes down inmates' objections to death-penalty procedures. 5/15/2009: The News and Observer by SARAH OVASKA AND LYNN BONNER, Staff writers
Wake Co. judge dismisses case against execution protocol; death penalty nears in N.C. 05/15/2009: The Independent Weekly by Matt Saldana
Judge OKs death penalty protocol 05/14/2009: WRAL Reporter: Ken Smith
NC judge: Execution protocol approved correctly 05/14/2009: The Herald Sun
The NC Racial Justice Act was reintroduced in both chambers in the 2009 session. The Senate version of the NC Racial Justice Act (S461) passed the Senate floor on May 14, 2009. Unfortunately Republican leaders in the Senate amended the bill to attempt to restart executions in North Carolina. Additional amendment also reduced the use of statewide statistical evidence to judicial districts.
Senate aims to restart lethal injections; Amendment would remove key obstacle 05/14/2009: The News and Observer BY LYNN BONNER, Staff Writer
State Senate takes up death penalty 05/17/2009: The Rocky Mount Telegram, By Mike Hixenbaugh
The NC Racial Justice Act passed the North Carolina House in 2007 but the Senate did not bring the bill to the floor for a vote in either the long legislative session in 2007 nor the short 2008 legislative session.
- Click here for Press Release from Bill Sponsors from the offices of By Rep. Larry Womble – NC House District 71 and Rep. Earline Parmon – NC House District 72