22:
381:'s office in May 2013. Total compensation was $ 1,113,605: Ben Chavis received $ 244,470 (equivalent to $ 320,000 in 2023), Marvin Patrick received $ 187,984 (equivalent to $ 246,000 in 2023), with most of the remaining rewards being $ 175,000 each (equivalent to $ 229,000 in 2023). As four of the Wilmington Ten were deceased before the December 2012 pardons, their families received no compensation.
141:
Violence continued to escalate, as a crowd of white vigilantes shot Rev. David Vaughn with buckshot outside
Gregory Church on February 3, 1971. As the white vigilantes stepped up their attacks, an armed cadre joined the students. Firebombings occurred across the city, with 20 buildings going up in
165:
Chavis and nine others, eight young black men who were high school students, and an older, white, female anti-poverty worker, were arrested on charges of arson related to the grocery fire. Based on testimony of two black men, they were tried and convicted in state court of arson and conspiracy in
107:
On Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, January 15, 1971, a delegation of Black students at John T. Hoggard High School requested a memorial. The principal refused, and students began a boycott at
Hoggard as well as New Hanover High School in response. On January 27, students asked Rev. Eugene
302:
reporter Wayne King published an investigatory article; based on testimony of a witness whose anonymity he protected, he said that perhaps the prosecution had framed a guilty man, as his source said that he had committed the crimes at the behest of Chavis. In 1978 Governor
162:, whose forces entered the church on February 8 and removed the suspects. The Guard claimed to have found ammunition in the building. The violence resulted in two deaths, six injuries, and more than $ 500,000 (equivalent to $ 3.8 million in 2023) in property damage.
154:
from the roof of the nearby
Gregory Congregational Church. Chavis and several students had been meeting at the church, which also held other people. The neighborhood erupted in rioting that lasted through the next day, in which two people died.
225:, 35, received 15 years as an accessory before the fact and conspiracy to assault emergency personnel. The youngest of the group, Earl Vereen, was 18 years old at the time of his sentencing. Reverend Chavis was the oldest of the men, at 24.
104:, a source of community pride. It laid off black teachers, principals, and coaches, transferring students among white-majority schools. Several clashes between white and black students resulted in a number of arrests and expulsions.
385:
a case was pending before the NC Industrial
Commission, seeking that compensation be awarded to the families of the four deceased: Jerry Jacobs (d. 1989), Joe Wright (d. 1991), Ann Shepard (d. 2011), and Connie Tindall (d. 2012).
65:, 637 F.2d 213 (4th Cir., 1980), the convictions were overturned by the federal appeals court on the grounds that the prosecutor and the trial judge had both violated the defendants' constitutional rights. They were not
284:
took on the
Wilmington Ten case in 1976. They classified the eight men still in prison as among 11 black men incarcerated in the U.S. who were considered to be political prisoners, under the definition in the 1948
220:
Each of the ten defendants was convicted of the charges. The men's sentences ranged from 29 years to 34 years for arson, which was considered severe punishment for a fire in which no one had died. Ann
Shepard of
325:); and (2) the trial judge erred by limiting the cross-examination of key prosecution witnesses about special treatment the witnesses received in connection with their testimony, in violation of the defendants'
776:
By that time, four of the
Wilmington Ten were dead. Jerry Jacobs had died in 1989. William Wright died in 1990. Ann Shepard died in 2011 and Connie Tindall died in August 2012—four months before the pardon was
209:
At the time, the state's case against the
Wilmington Ten was seen as controversial both in the state of North Carolina and in the United States. One witness testified that he was given a
123:, to Wilmington to try to calm the situation and work with the students. Chavis, who had once worked as an assistant to King, preached non-violence and met with students regularly at
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groups began patrolling the streets. They hung an effigy of the white superintendent of the schools and cut his phone lines. Street violence broke out between them and black men.
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Perdue granted a pardon of innocence for each of the ten on
December 31, 2012. The pardon qualified each of the ten to state compensation of $ 50,000 per year of incarceration.
326:
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overturned the convictions, as it determined that: (1) the prosecutor failed to disclose exculpatory evidence, in violation of the defendants' due process rights (the
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45:. Most were sentenced to 29 years in prison, and all ten served nearly a decade in jail before an appeal won their release. The case became an international
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Templeton from
Gregory Congregational Church to use the space for meetings. As tensions escalated, the church became a safe haven and a gathering place.
426:
364:
published an editorial titled, "Pardons for the Wilmington Ten", that urged Governor Perdue to "finally pardon" the group of civil rights activists.
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through congressional passage of civil rights legislation in 1964 and 1965. Many struggled with poverty and lack of opportunity. Despair at the 1968
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On February 6, 1971, Mike's Grocery, a white-owned business, was firebombed. Firefighters responding to the fire said they were shot at by
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333:. It ordered a new trial, but the state chose not to prosecute again. Chavis and the other seven prisoners were released.
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were dissatisfied with the lack of progress in implementing integration and other civil rights reforms achieved by the
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aired a special about the case, suggesting that the evidence against the Wilmington Ten was fabricated. In 1978, the
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increased racial tensions, with a rise in violence, including the arson of several white-owned businesses.
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took up the case in 1976 and provided legal defense counsel to appeal the convictions. In 1978, Governor
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Black Wilmington and the North Carolina Way: Portrait of a Community in the Era of Civil Rights Protest
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In May 2012, Benjamin Chavis and six surviving members of the group petitioned North Carolina governor
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and had to be removed from the courthouse since he recanted on the stand under cross-examination.
51:, in which many critics of the city and state characterized the activists as political prisoners.
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in exchange for his testimony against the group. Another witness, Allen Hall, had a history of
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858:""Pardons of Innocence: The Wilmington Ten" Honored During 14th Annual NC Black Film Festival"
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69:. In 2012, the Wilmington Ten, including four who had already died, were pardoned by Governor
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State of North Carolina v. Benjamin Franklin Chavis, Marvin Patrick, Connie Tyndall, et. al
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273:, the Soviets cited the Wilmington Ten as an example of American political imprisonment.
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573:"Four decades later, Ben Chavis and the Wilmington Ten seek a declaration of innocence"
214:
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881:
The Wilmington Ten: Violence, Injustice, and the Rise of Black Politics in the 1970s
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452:
Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!: A Fictional Account of the Wilmington Ten Incident of 1971
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The Wilmington Ten: Violence, Injustice, and the Rise of Black Politics in the 1970s
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In 1976 and 1977, three key prosecution witnesses recanted their testimony. In 1977
923:
Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit!: A Fictional Account of the Wilmington Ten Incident of 1971
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262:
131:
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published articles in the late 1970s on the trial and its aftermath. When then
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825:"Here Now: Effort aims to shed light on racial turmoil of Wilmington 10 case"
792:"Families of Deceased Wilmington 10 Members Want Compensation From the State"
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525:"This Month in North Carolina History | February 1971 – The Wilmington Ten"
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241:
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were nine young men and a woman who were wrongfully convicted in 1971 in
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supported the pardon, as well as arguing for compensation to be paid
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Triumphant Warrior: Memoir of a Soul Survivor of the Wilmington Ten
360:
and their survivors for their years in jail. On December 22, 2012
353:
38:
20:
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Franker, Susan; Smith, Vern E.; Lee, Elliott D. (July 31, 1978).
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In 2009, Francine DeCoursey was developing the documentary film
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to discuss black history, as well as to organize the boycott.
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of Wilmington high schools. The city chose to close the black
25:
Jerry Jacobs, one of the Wilmington Ten, in prison, June 1976.
994:, Hampton, Va.: U.B. & U.S. Communications Systems, 1993.
429:
and CashWorks HD Productions produced the documentary film
340:
was established to work to improve conditions in the city.
690:"Gov. Perdue Issues Pardon of Innocence for Wilmington 10"
421:
The Wilmington Ten: Justice Denied … Justice Interrupted …
142:
flames between February 5 and the end of the month.
166:connection with the firebombing of Mike's Grocery.
790:
624:
413:student Lauryn Colatuno made the documentary film
987:, Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, 2003.
61:reduced the sentences of the ten defendants. In
16:Group of wrongfully convicted American prisoners
656:"North Carolina Governor Pardons Wilmington 10"
197:William "Joe" Wright, Jr. (age 19) – 29 years
8:
1050:Recipients of American gubernatorial pardons
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338:Wilmington Ten Foundation for Social Justice
985:James B. Hunt: A North Carolina Progressive
535:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
179:Marvin "Chilly" Patrick (age 19) – 29 years
81:In the 1960s and 1970s, black residents of
758:"Other North Carolina Cases: Jerry Jacobs"
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564:
562:
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469:
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314:637 F.2d 213 (4th Cir. 1980), the federal
158:The North Carolina governor called up the
970:(also known as "The Wilmington Ten Case")
427:National Newspaper Publishers Association
96:Tension increased further after the 1969
992:The True Story Behind the Wilmington Ten
431:Pardons of Innocence: The Wilmington Ten
878:Janken, Kenneth Robert (October 2015).
817:
815:
694:North Carolina – Office of the Governor
463:
411:University of North Carolina Wilmington
91:assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
789:Mooneyham, Scott (February 13, 2014).
756:Possley, Maurice (November 17, 2017).
331:to confront the witnesses against them
233:Several national magazines, including
194:Willie Earl Vereen (age 18) – 29 years
130:In response to tensions, members of a
721:"Pardons Sought in NC Race-Riot Case"
626:"The Case Against the Wilmington Ten"
496:Massachusetts Institute of Technology
287:Universal Declaration of Human Rights
191:James "Bun" McKoy (age 19) – 29 years
7:
372:North Carolina Industrial Commission
980:, University Press of America, 2000
926:. Charlotte, NC: Conquering Books.
688:Mackey, Chris (December 31, 2012).
173:Benjamin Chavis (age 24) – 34 years
890:University of North Carolina Press
822:Cantwell, Si (February 22, 2009).
719:Dalesio, Emery P. (May 17, 2012).
541:. February 2, 2006. Archived from
415:The Wilmington Ten: A Story Retold
312:Chavis v. State of North Carolina,
307:reduced the sentences of the Ten.
176:Connie Tindall (age 21) – 31 years
14:
856:Michaels, Cash (March 31, 2015).
764:National Registry of Exonerations
185:Reginald Epps (age 18) – 28 years
146:Arson at Mike's Grocery and trial
145:
63:Chavis v. State of North Carolina
1019:"The Story of The Wilmington 10"
623:King, Wayne (December 3, 1978).
601:Gerard, Philip (March 2, 2021).
571:Siceloff, Bruce (May 18, 2012).
370:The claims were approved by the
188:Jerry Jacobs (age 19) – 29 years
169:The "Ten" and their sentences:
102:Williston Industrial High School
1045:Quantified groups of defendants
1035:American civil rights activists
376:North Carolina Attorney General
200:Ann Shepard (age 35) – 15 years
182:Wayne Moore (age 19) – 29 years
603:"The 1970s: The Wilmington 10"
404:Wilmington 10 -- U.S.A. 10,000
87:American Civil Rights Movement
1:
1021:, Triumphant Warriors website
390:Representation in other media
160:North Carolina National Guard
125:Gregory Congregational Church
121:Commission for Racial Justice
316:4th Circuit Court of Appeals
1008:, Warrior Press, March 2014
920:Thomas, Larry Reni (2006).
886:Chapel Hill, North Carolina
667:Human Rights Defense Center
632:The New York Times Magazine
254:The New York Times Magazine
1066:
669:. January 2013. p. 45
539:Louis Round Wilson Library
83:Wilmington, North Carolina
35:Wilmington, North Carolina
530:North Carolina Collection
498:Experimental Study Group.
478:"US Political Prisoners?"
383:As of February 2014,
374:and signed off on by the
1001:, New York: Crown, 2004.
966:Transcripts in the case
999:Blood Done Sign My Name
113:United Church of Christ
1040:1971 in North Carolina
798:The Charlotte Observer
578:The Charlotte Observer
229:International response
115:sent then-23-year-old
26:
282:Amnesty International
55:Amnesty International
24:
585:on January 15, 2013.
444:Dr. Kenneth Janken,
269:in 1978 for holding
205:Trial and sentencing
990:Larry Reni Thomas,
545:on February 5, 2006
450:Larry Reni Thomas,
336:A group called the
271:political prisoners
884:(ebook ed.).
700:on January 2, 2013
362:The New York Times
352:for a pardon. The
134:chapter and other
98:racial integration
27:
899:978-1-4696-2484-6
662:Prison Legal News
136:white supremacist
111:In February, the
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983:Wayne Grimsley,
975:John L. Godwin,
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696:. Archived from
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947:November 21,
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861:. Retrieved
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804:November 21,
802:. Retrieved
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770:November 21,
768:. Retrieved
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740:Corrections1
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734:– via
730:December 31,
728:. Retrieved
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704:December 31,
702:. Retrieved
698:the original
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671:. Retrieved
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639:November 21,
637:. Retrieved
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608:February 14,
606:. Retrieved
583:the original
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543:the original
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494:– via
490:December 14,
488:. Retrieved
486:. p. 23
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263:Jimmy Carter
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132:Ku Klux Klan
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1029:Categories
841:August 15,
458:References
379:Roy Cooper
358:to the men
350:Bev Perdue
323:disclosure
295:60 Minutes
77:Background
71:Bev Perdue
43:conspiracy
831:Star-News
409:In 2003,
260:President
942:64672101
905:March 8,
777:granted.
673:June 13,
549:March 5,
483:Newsweek
305:Jim Hunt
242:Newsweek
211:minibike
59:Jim Hunt
736:Lexipol
277:Appeals
152:snipers
67:retried
940:
930:
896:
344:Pardon
329:right
437:Books
395:Films
354:NAACP
321:Brady
248:Sepia
39:arson
37:, of
949:2020
938:OCLC
928:ISBN
907:2017
894:ISBN
865:2015
843:2012
806:2020
772:2020
762:The
732:2012
706:2012
675:2018
641:2020
610:2023
551:2005
492:2007
251:and
236:Time
41:and
29:The
738:'s
310:In
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