WSFA 12 News – by Justin Smith
WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – The N.C. Democratic Party is calling on state lawmakers to pay descendants of people victimized by the 1898 Wilmington Race Riot.
The party’s State Executive Committee passed the resolution Saturday.
“This was a dark time in North Carolina’s and our Party’s history, and one that the NCDP felt needed to be acknowledged,” said Chairman Randy Voller. “Though we understand that no amount of compensation can ever rectify this atrocity, we believe that opening the dialogue will assist in the healing of the African-American community that was so harshly affected.”
A state commission concluded in 2006 that racial violence led to an “armed overthrow of the legitimately elected municipal government” on Nov. 10, 1898. The actions – deemed a “documented conspiracy” – were led by members of the Democratic white elite that “achieved their political goals through violence and intimidation.”
The commission’s report found that the events “left an unknown number of dead on Wilmington’s streets.” The coroner performed 14 inquests, but, the according to the report, other evidence suggests as many as 60 people were killed.
The Democratic party’s resolution states, “The legacy of this holocaust still haunts the economic and political life of Wilmington, as many white-owned businesses and political careers were financed with the spoils of the devastating attack, and African Americans in New Hanover county today own less than 1% of local businesses and have only two black elected officials…”
Wilmington resident Sonya Bennetone pushed the state party to pass the resolution. She didn’t know how many people would be eligible to receive reparations.
“I think it’s a disservice to the decedents of the victims of the 1898 to have these monuments put up, have these programs every year and not provide compensation,” Bennetone said.
A Democratic party spokeswoman said the resolution would be sent to New Hanover County’s legislative delegation next week.
Area lawmakers didn’t respond to e-mails Friday asking if they would back the measure.
http://www.wsfa.com/story/27453350/democrats-calls-for-1898-wilmington-race-riot-reparations
I want reparations from the descendants of the Pharaohs! My ancestors were repressed! While I’m at it, I want reparations from Rome for persecuting my Christian ancestors, too! I want reparations from the church for oppressing my Scottish ancestors of Clan Campell!!!!!
I want it all, and I want it now!
This reparations crap has gone from rediculous to ludicrous. Slug pinned it. Does everyone decended from a persecuted group deserve “reparations”? How about the Indians, the Irish, the Italians, etc. Stop this nonsense now!
I live in NC. They owe 100 of 1,000 dollars of money to the people that were serialized from the 1920’s to 1950’s. No money has been paid out. These women deserve it PLUS.
So this happened almost 117 years ago and they want to force the taxpayers of today pay? WOW!