Wilson NC – Ignant Comments about the D.A. Appointment

Three Eastern N.C. NAACP presidents, Yolanda Thigpen, left, Edgecombe County; Andre Knight, Rocky Mount Branch; and Alonzo Braggs, Wilson County; along with Reuben Blackwell, from the N.C. State office of the NAACP, held a press conference on the steps of the Tarboro courthouse to ask Gov. Perdue to have a qualified African-American fill the position of D.A. of the seventh district. (Wilson Times)

What tickles the hell out of me is some of the ignant twisted comments trying to make it appear that the NAACP want just a black and not a qualified black. In my opinion the objective is that if a qualified black puts his her name in the hat then the NAACP want the Governor to not just appoint another white person because of the good ole boy system. But this is too heavy for folks to comprehend because all they want to do is go on the attack mode.

I dare any of these ignant posters to address the ratio make up of the District Attorney Offices in Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson Counties.

Curmilus Dancy II
Life Fully Paid Member NAACP
Pinetops, NC

See related:

Edgecombe County – District Attorney Appointment At A Glance

Tarboro NC – NAACP leaders call on Perdue to appoint black district attorney to replace Boney

NAACP leaders call on Perdue to appoint black district attorney to replace Boney report at the Rocky Mount Telegram

NAACP: Appoint A Black District Attorney report at WITN TV 7

See related:

Edgecombe County – District Attorney Appointment At A Glance

Tarboro NC – History of Black DA’s in the USA

FYI -

Tracey Cline, who was elected this past Nov is the only Black elected district attorney in Durham NC. Prior to her election, Rockingham county had a Black female DA, Belinda —- (can’t remember last name). After Belinda lost reelection to the son of NC Senate Minority Leader Phil Berger who also bears his daddy’s name, she was appointed as one of the special prosecutors in the James Johnson case that recommended the accessory charge.

A study was done in the mid-90s to look at the # of elected DA’s by race. At that time, there were only 22 elected Black DAs in the entire country and Hispanics either tied or had one more Hispanic attorneys than Blacks. I’ll look for the study.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Note: This information was sent to The DCN from a resource.

See related:

Edgecombe County – District Attorney Appointment at a Glance

Tarboro NC – NEWS ALERT: LOCAL NAACP BRANCHES ANNOUNCE PLANS TO PETITION GOV. PERDUE ON DISTRICT ATTORNEY APPOINTMENT

NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE
114 WEST PARRISH STREET, SECOND FLOOR ▪ DURHAM, NC 27701
919/682-4700 ▪ 919/682-4711▪ turner@naacpnc.org

Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II
President

Amina J. Turner
Executive Director

NEWS ALERT: LOCAL NAACP BRANCHES ANNOUNCE PLANS TO PETITION GOV. PERDUE ON DISTRICT ATTORNEY APPOINTMENT

For Immediate Release: April 15, 2009
More Information: Call Andre’ Knight, Pres. Rocky Mount NAACP at (252) 544-2949

The Edgecombe, Rocky Mount and Wilson NAACP Presidents will hold a News Conference at the Edgecombe County Courthouse in Tarboro, NC, at noon on Thursday, April 16th to announce a drive to appoint the first black District Attorney in the history of the district to fill retiring D.A. Howard Boney’s position. “This week we will ask Gov. Beverly Perdue to appoint an African American to what we believe is the most powerful position in the three counties we represent-the D.A. of the 7th Judicial District,” said Ms.Yolanda Thigpen, Edgecombe NAACP President said.

“When the 44 District Attorneys in North Carolina meet, only one is African American,” said Andre’ Knight, Rocky Mount NAACP President. “The 7th Judicial District, composed of Nash, Wilson, and Edgecombe counties, has a high percentage of African Americans; we constitute a majority in Edgecombe County. Now is the time to stop the ‘business as usual’ politics of picking an ‘insider’ secretly from the old court house groups. Let us move boldly into a future where every citizen in the District can participate and appoint a person of color as our District Attorney.”

“Last November’s election propelled Kay Hagan and Beverly Perdue into US Senate and NC Governor chairs, riding on the wave of President Obama’s message of hope and change,” said Alonzo Braggs, Wilson NAACP President. “We cannot talk about change and then, when we have the chance to make it, backslide to the same old ways. This is Gov. Perdue’s chance to make a bold statement that she wants to address some of the inequities in our justice system.”

“We expect Gov. Perdue to review the empirical and historical data about this District and its judicial system,” said Rev. Dr. William Barber, NC NAACP President. “If she reviews it carefully, she will find only one black assistant D.A. out of 38 attorneys and staff for this three county district. That is an insult, not just to people of color, but to all people who believe in justice. This insult has been in place since English colonists drove the Native Americans from the land and replaced their fair and merciful system of justice with a color-coded system that always put African Americans, Latinos and Native Americans on the bottom. There are thoughtful, fair and highly capable African American attorneys who are ready to lead this office and address the inequities in the justice system in an impartial and fair manner.”

Rev. Dr. Barber reflected that “Black people and progressive people of all races in North Carolina and in our counties turned out in unprecedented numbers in November to elect President Obama, Sen. Kay Hagan and Gov. Bev Perdue for a change in ‘business as usual.’ We are watching and making note of every move of progress that is made and every opportunity of progress that is lost. While the NAACP does not endorse candidates or political parties, we do hold ALL elected officials true to their words and true to the ideals of this great state and nation. An African American District Attorney appointment is a good way to begin undoing the legacy of injustice that slavery, the Wilmington Riots of 1898 and Jim Crow have left in our state today.”

Wilson NC – Boney to step down as D.A.

After 31 years of overseeing the prosecution of cases in Wilson, Nash and Edgecombe counties, Howard S. Boney Jr., the district attorney for the Seventh Judicial District is retiring.

According to a press release issued Monday afternoon, Boney will vacate his seat May 1. (Wilson Times)

See related:

Is the Governor’s Process Fair for Replacing D. A. Howard S. Boney Jr.?

Tarboro NC – Is the Governor’s Process Fair for Replacing D. A. Howard S. Boney Jr.?

I really do not believe the Governor had the time to think about the process to use to replace District Attorney Howard S. Boney Jr. since she made her statement on the same day he announced his retirement. However I hope she would reconsider the process.

So is it really fair for the Governor to pick 2 attorneys from Wilson, Nash and Edgecombe Counties to come up with a name to report back to her. I have a problem with this because I could see where there could possibly be  perceived favortism within the system when it comes to the attorneys involved and the D. A. as it relates to court cases.

So why not allow law enforcement to be involved because they would be more neutral in a court case than an attorney. When a case goes to court it will be law enforcement, attorney and the D. A. involved. I do not see how it could be perceived favortism between law enforcement and the D. A.

I recognize and understand that the Prosecutorial Committees in the  Democratic Parties in Edgecome, Nash and Wilson Counites do not have a say in the appointment due to the nature of the resignation. However, I believe the fair thing to do would be to allow the Prosecutorial Committees which would be 2 people from each county to come up with a name and present them to the Governor.

I would also suggest that Edgecombe, Nash and Wilson Counties Superior Court Judge Toby Fitch, Jr. be the person to confide with about the appointment. He know the attorneys very well in all 3 counties and I feel he would make a wise decision.

Another food for thought I don’t think it is but 1 black D. A. out of 44 in the state. It really should be someone outside of the D. A. office who will be considerate for the good of all folks especially how the justice system relates to black folks.

I would love to know what others think about the process that will be used for the appointment? Please post your comments here. You do not have to sign your name and can use a code name or just say anonymous. You also do not have to leave an email address.

See related:

Long-term district attorney retiring

Diversity needed in the D.A.’s Office

Tarboro NC – Diversity needed in the D.A.’s Office

I was shocked to learn the racial make-up of the staff of the D. A.’s office. I don’t believe in giving folks a job just because they are one race or another. However I do have a serious problem with a particular race being turned down for a job when they are qualified.

So has the 7th Prosecutorial District every had a black D. A.? I don’t think so. I don’t know of any black person who is considering the appointment however I am concerned that whoever the next D. A. is they will look at the make-up of their staff and make some changes.

See related:

Long-term district attorney retiring