PSmo by Tevin Stinxxi
State Senator Rev. Dr. Paul Lowe Jr. discusses how
Dairy I Hunt impacted his life during the prayer vigil
on Sunday, March 13
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Darryl Hunt is with Larry Little at a community day held by the Darryl Hunt Project for Freedom and
Justice in 2008.
(Right) Peoples-Joyner speaks during a vigil held for Darryl Hunt at Emmanuel Baptist Churchon
Sunday, March 13.
Hunt 1
frontpage Al
"We all know that Mr. Hunt was a for- 5
giving man," he said. "His life became a j
symbol of determination and endurance
for justice."
Hunt's funeral service has been set for j
1 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at Emmanuel j
Baptist Church, 1075 Shalimar Dr. ,
In 1984, Hunt was wrongfully convict
ed of the rape and murder of Deborah
Sykes, a white copy editor at the Sentinel,
a newspaper in the city.
Less than a month after his arrest, The
Chronicle raised questions about the initial
investigation, which stated officers were
looking for two African-American males,
neither of which matched Hunt's descrip
tion. The Sept. 20, 1984, edition of the
paper also notes accounts from friends of
Hunt who stated they were with him dur
ing the time of the murder.
After serving nearly 20 years in prison ,
or the crime, Hunt was released in 2004.
t was then he dedicated his life to educat
ng the public about flaws in the criminal
ustice system and providing resources and
mpport for those trying to rebuild their
ives.
Through The Darryl Hunt Project for
freedom and Justice, and by speaking to
aw students across the state, that's exactly
what he did.
In 2008, Hunt told a group of law stu
lents at Wake Forest University that inno
:ence projects are a lifeline.
"If you can imagine yourself some
where and you know that you don't belong
here, then you can feel the pain that so
many people feel that are innocent and cry
ing out for help."
Hunt also spoke out against the execu
tion of Troy Davis in 2011. Davis was con
victed of killing an off duty Savannah,
Georgia, police officer, but many ques
tioned the evidence in the case. Most of the
witnesses that helped convict Davis
recanted their stories. Hunt attended the
hearing to show his support.
Just last month, Hunt spoke during a
rally held for Kalvin Michael Smith, the
Winston-Salem man who is currently serv
ing a 29-year sentence for the assault of Jill
Marker at the Silk Plan Forest store in
1977.
Hunt told students from Wake Forest
University, Winston-Salem State
University and Salem College to demand
that justice be served.
"Justice has to come down," said Hunt.
"We have to demand justice because what
happened to Kalvin can happen to anyone
of you."
During the vigil, dozens of members of
the community talked about how Hunt's
legacy and fight for racial and social unity
impacted their lives. Former member of
the project Timothy Smith said he grew up
with Hunt and his friend had one of the
best hearts that you could ever see in a per
son.
Former executive director of the Darryl
Hunt Project Pam Peoples-Joyner said
Hunt encouraged her to be a voice for the
voiceless. She also mentioned she is confi
dent that his work will continue through
the hundreds of people he has touched
over the years.
Peoples-Joyner fought to hold back
tears as she recalled the good times she
shared with Hunt working with the project.
"I'm a better person because of Darryl
Hunt," she said. "I made a promise to him
that I will continue to fight for second
chances and for those who are often over
looked in the community.
The president of the Ministers'
Conference of Winston-Salem and
Vicinity, Bishop Todd Fulton, said when
he first got the news of Hunt's death, he
had a lot of questions for God. Fulton said
he then realized that Hunt is now free.
"I realize now that Darryl is no longer
bound by the chains of injustice," he con
tinued. "Yes, we will mourn and grieve,
but ultimately we know he is free."
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