HKonJ.com -- Historic Thousands on Jones Street in Raleigh Annually in Support of a Progressive Agenda, & NCProsecutorialmisconduct.com

NC Legislative Black Caucus Backs Resolution on James Johnson

The North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus of 27 legislators of African American heritage passed the attached resolution protesting the continuing persecution of a young Wilson man, James Johnson, by the State of North Carolina.

“James Johnson, his family, the NAACP, and the social justice family in North Carolina, all join the Legislative Black Caucus in sending our deepest sympathies to the family of Brittany Willis,” said Rev. William J. Barber, President of the N.C. State Conference of the NAACP.

“We also stand for truth. James Johnson is innocent of any involvement in the kidnapping and murder. His courageous act of identifying the murderer to the police is what all parents would want their sons to do. We thank the Legislative Black Caucus and its leader, Dr. Alma Adams of Greensboro, for taking the unusual step of speaking out about a case while it is still pending,” Rev. Barber said. “These veteran political leaders know the legal/political dynamics that develop in these racially-charged cases and have helped enlighten us all with their resolution, particularly this statement.”

The mishandling of this case by the State is self-evident to those who know the facts; the jailing of Mr. Johnson for 39 months is inexcusable; and the last-minute accessory charge against him for taking three days to turn in the murderer seems an effort to pacify some forces who had much invested in showing the public they had some reason for holding Mr. Johnson.

“The State and National NAACP, many important and knowledgeable people throughout North Carolina who have learned the facts of this case, and now 27 North Carolina legislators have all come to the same conclusion,” Rev. Barber said. “Drop the last-minute charges against James and let him get on with his life.”

Text of the resolution follows:

Advocates Seek Passage of Racial Justice Act

Spurred by the recent release of three black men from death row, a group of NAACP members, elected officials and released inmates are urging lawmakers to pass the North Carolina Racial Justice Act, which allows for reviews of racial bias in death penalty cases. If defendants can show their convictions or sentences were based on race, they can have their death sentences overturned.

Advocates say the bill is desperately needed to ensure innocent people are not sent to death. "You can overturn a wrongful conviction, but you can't unpack a wrong grave," said the Rev. William Barber,  president of the state NAACP. Read full AP article.

• House Bill 1291: Racial Justice Act

When Will We Say 'Enough' to Racial Injustice?

Rev. Dr. William Barber, President of the NC NAACP: "Another Black man has barely escaped execution by our State Government because of gross mistakes and prejudice in our criminal 'justice' system.  That makes three North Carolina Black men in the past five months who, but for the grace of God, would have been wrongly executed in our name. How long will we let these injustices in our name continue?  When will we say Enough?" Read the whole thing.  

Justice and Unity Legislative Day Schedule

May 28, 2008    Pre-Opening Session*
First Baptist Church - 101 S. Wilmington Street - Raleigh, NC 27601

8:00 to 8:40 a.m.        WELCOME SERVICE    
                Rev. Dr. Mazie Ferguson
Chair of Religious Affairs Committee, NAACP State Conference         
[*Attendance optional, otherwise proceed to Opening Session at 9:15 a.m.]

8:40 to 9:00 a.m.    Recess and walk to Legislative Building

Opening Plenary Session and News Conference
NC General Assembly - State Legislative Building
Legislative Auditorium, 3rd Floor - 16 W. Jones Street,  Raleigh, NC 27603

Zephyr Teachout's Video Clip of HKONJ 2

Zephyr Teachout, an Internet pioneer and professor of law at Duke University, posted this videoclip to Youtube.com of HKONJ 2:

Video: HKONJ Pictures Set to Music

Dudley Hinton has posted three videos to YouTube.com, collections of pictures from HKONJ 2 set to music. The first one video is set to the Negro National Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

To watch this on Youtube.com, click.

How “HK on J” Highlights the Difference Between Progressives and Conservatives

Rob Schofield, NC Policy Watch writes that HKONJ symbolizes the diverging world views of conservatives and progressives. Doctrinaire conservatives believe that "the principal objective of life is to acquire property and the main reason for having a government is to aid us in that quest."

“Progress” may occur – in material wealth and human comfort – but only to the extent we constantly rededicate ourselves to the insights of espoused by the white, western European men of the 1700’s.

In sharp contrast, progressives look to the future. They "believe that many of the most important advances in the history of humanity (the development of democratic government, the end of slavery, the ongoing (albeit agonizingly slow) demise of racism and sexism and homophobia and child labor, the very contemplation of the idea of “human rights”) are the byproducts of intentional, collective action by people of good will who dared to dream. Future progress depends on humans continuing to dream and give voice to audacious demands.

Anyone who doubts the reality of this critical distinction between modern progressives and conservatives would have done well to join the thousands of North Carolinians who descended upon downtown Raleigh this past weekend to participate in the “HK on J” march and rally.

HK on J (for “Historic Thousands of Jones Street”) is the public face of a growing non-partisan, multi-racial, multi-ethnic movement for progressive policy change. The movement features, at last count, 82 partner organizations that have come together to promote a 14-point “People’s Agenda.” 

Read the whole thing (a very thoughtful column).       

'We Have Legitimate Discontent'

Rev. Dr. William Barber II, president of the NC NAACP and one of the founders of the HKONJ movement, made three statements on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, the full text of which are now online on his website, www.revwilliambarber.com:

• Why HKONJ 2? Statement to the Media: "While we have made progress, North Carolina is not yet fully upholding its founding principles." 
• How Do We Spell Justice? Speech to Crowd of 7,000 Gathered at North Carolina General Assembly for HKONJ 2: "We have gathered in front of the OUR State Legislature where on the very ground is etched the Great Seal of North Carolina. This Seal bears two images that serve to hold this state accountable for the decisions made within these four walls. These two images, the image of Liberty and the image of Plenty, juxtaposed in this seal remind us that every citizen of this state has the right to be free from forces that would perpetuate lack in the midst of abundance and perpetuate great poverty in the midst of great wealth."
• A Movement of HOPE. Rev. Barber's Address to the Masses at Chavis Park, Raleigh, for HKONJ 2: "God has brought us together. HKonJ -- Historic Thousands on Jones Street in Raleigh -- is about us coming together for a movement and not a moment.  We are determined that N.C., it’s leadership will not ignore us, dismiss us, deter us, divide us.  We have legitimate discontent."

In December, Rev. Barber spoke to the Progressive Democrats of North Carolina about helping to build a new progressive movement in North Carolina. The video is now online. Click.

NC Legislature Earns D+ on HKONJ Agenda for 2007

Dr. Jarvis Hall,  Director of the Political Science Department at North Carolina Central University and chair of the NC NAACP Political Action Committee, presents a report card for the NC General Assembly on HKONJ issues. The General Assembly earned an overall D+ on the agenda, with a D in Education, a C on Justice for Workers, a C on Health Care Reform, a C on Racial Justice Issues, a C on Election Reform Issues, a C on reform of Historic Black Colleges and Universities, a B- on Housing Reform, a D on Criminal Justice reform, a D- on Inmate reform, an F on Environmental reforms, a D- on Immigrant Justice, a D on civil rights, a C on equal rights for workers, and an F on supporting NC troops in Iraq.

The overall report card was based on 83 legislative items. To view the report card, click to open a new window.

2007 Report Card for Each State Legislator in NC on the HKONJ Agenda

Click to open up and read in a separate window.

HKONJ Made A Difference in 2007 State Legislature, But Much Work Remains to be Done

By Jarvis Hall

The Political Committee of the North Carolina Conference of Branches of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is proud to present the Legislative Report of the 2007 Regular Session of the North Carolina General Assembly. It evaluates the Legislature on its advancement of the  Comprehensive Reform Legislation that was developed from the value-based Historic Thousands on Jones Street (H K on J) Coalition Legislative Agenda.

This Report Card is intended to be an informational tool that the H K on J Coalition and the people of North Carolina can use for advocacy and voter education.

Historic Thousands on Jones Street in Raleigh (HKONJ 2): Media Coverage, Video Clips, Your Comments and Photos

Media coverage of HKONJ2, Feb. 9, 2008:

• "March, Rally Pushes 14-Point Progressive Agenda," WRAL.com, including video;
• WRAL Interview: State NAACP President Speaks About 2nd HkonJ Rally, March

• "Thousands Rally and March for Reform: The NAACP and more than 80 other organizations say they are "On fire" to bring change and social reform to the State Legislature," News14, including video.
• "Organizers say the marches mark the beginning of a new activism in North Carolina. They have hopes of coalescing into a movement as powerful as the civil rights struggle, forcing state legislators to adopt reforms that aid minorities and the poor," writes Kristin Collins in an analysis of the significance of HKON for the News and Observer.
• "Thousands Rally in Downtown Raleigh; No Peace, No Justice, Marchers Chant," News and Observer;
• Photo Slide Show, NewsObserver.com
• "NAACP, Supporters March to Legislative Building," WTVD.com, abc11.com, Durham.

If you know of other news coverage, please post a link in the comments section below.

Share your photos of HKONJ2 by posting them on FLICKR.COM, tagging them HKONJ and posting a link in the comments below.

Share your videos of HKONJ2 by posting them on Youtube.com, tagging them HKONJ and posting a link in the comment section below.

Join our online community on FACEBOOK by clicking here.

What did you think of the event? What were the highlights? How would you make it better? How can we grow this movement?

PHOTOS BY COREY LOWENSTEIN FOR THE NEWS AND OBSERVER. CLICK FOR ORIGINAL POSTING AT NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Visit Rev. Barber's website for background information and excerpts from many of his speeches.

Here's an overview of the Fourteen Point agenda. The 2008 rally included a new agenda item on reducing prosecutorial misconduct and providing justice for all people in the criminal justice system.

Watch and listen to the beginning of a nationwide movement, the first HKonJ rally, held in February of 2007 in Raleigh.

Watch larger version of this video.

Video and Audio Promotions for HKONJ

Go to YouTube.com and forward this video to your friends, colleagues and relatives. (Videography by Jan Nichols of NC Justice Center; video editing by Jim Buie.)

Audio Message from the Rev. Dr. William Barber, president of the NC NAACP -- download and forward to friends.

Download rev_barber_finished.mp3

Congressman G.K. Butterfield Demands Federal Investigation of Prosecutorial Misconduct in James Johnson Case, Due to 'Failure of Government'

Statement of Rev. Dr. William Barber:

I bring to your attention a remarkable letter from a true public servant—Cong. G. K. Butterfield.  We welcome his call for a federal investigation of the Wilson prosecutors who held an innocent young man, James Johnson, in jail for 39 months with no basis, other than an angry young man who was mad because James had broken the no-snitch rule. The federal investigation should be coordinated with the N.C. State Bar investigation that is determining whether prosecutors violated their professional duty to act as Ministers of Justice.

We also welcome Cong. Butterfield’s humanity—his reaching out to the two families who have been wronged by State’s sloppy handling of this case.  He is the first public official we are aware of who has publicly expressed his regrets and condolences to the Willis and Johnson families. Having served as a Judge in the Wilson County Courthouse for several years before representing it in Congress, he is uniquely qualified to speak to this issue. The admission of wrong-doing is always the first step toward redemption and reconciliation.

HKONJ Agenda is Focus of Gubernatorial Candidates' Debate

The original fourteen points of the HKONJ agenda, as well as concerns about prosecutorial misconduct, were the focus of a debate by 2008 candidates for governor, in an early February forum sponsored by the NC NAACP in Durham. WRALTV is streaming the entire debate on its website. Watch it now. Additional Media coverage: "Four Spar in Heated Durham Debate; NAACP Event to be Broadcast Monday," News and Observer.com; "Four NC Governors' Candidates Answer NAACP Questions," Associated Press. "Forum Puts Candidates in Hot Seat," News 14.