Boycott
ficmpmgiXr
attendees, performers and celebrities the
festival attracts will join the boycott.
"We're obviously concerned and will
monitor that." said Geiger.
He said there has already been some
signs of the boycott locally. He said two
small groups have canceled their hotel
stay, one of which was connected with the
furniture market. He said Winston-Salem
usually has about 6,000 hotel rooms
checked out for the market and this year it
was about 5,200.
Geiger said cycling and Frisbee events
happening this year are considering not
returning to Winston-Salem in 2017
because of HB 2. He's had emails from
individuals canceling their travel plans to
Winston-Salem.
Geiger said Visit Winston-Salem is
working to quantify the overall impact of
the boycott, which is challenging since
some may quietly boycott or the city may
be affected by a cancelation elsewhere,
like hotel reservations that were canceled
by those planning to attend the
Springsteen concert.
"How many were thinking about com
ing to somewhere in North Carolina, to
Winston-Salem, and chose not to come
that we don't even know about?" said
Geiger.
Mayor Allen Joines said he, too, has
concerns on the impact the boycott will
have on the city. The city has started $17
million in upgrades to the Benton
Convention Center in hopes more organi
zations will choose to hold events there.
He also said it could affect the city's abili
ty to get businesses since many have
denounced the law and are considering it
when planning where to locate and
expand.
Joines said he hopes the law is
repealed or amended soon; but that the city
will not be punished for the actions of the
General Assembly.
"Winston-Salem is a very diverse city
that embraces diversity," said Joines.
"Don't judge us on a statewide bill that
was passed."
HB 2 was passed in late March during
a special one-day session of the General
Assembly and prevents local ordinances
from going further than state law on dis
crimination, ensuring there are no local or
state protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) individuals. It
also eliminates suing for employment dis
crimination under state law and says that
individuals must use the restroom that
matches the gender on their birth certifi
cate at public facilities, which many con
sider discriminatory against transgender
individuals whose gender may not match
their birth certificate..
Co-director of the Wrongful Convictions Clinic
(WCC) at Duke Law School Jim Coleman describes
the work WCC has done on Smith's case since 2003.
Coleman said they will not give up until Smith is
free.
I :
Photos by Tevin Stinson
Kalvin Michael Smith's father Augustus Dark speaks to the audience following the viewing of "Ordinary
Injustice." The film is directed by Keith T. Barber.
Film director Keith T.
Barber discusses his film
"Ordinary Injustice
Barber said, he hopes
the film inspires audi
ences to care.
"We never, ever give
up. That's something
we just don't do,"
-Jim Coleman, WCC at Duke Law School
Documentary
from page AI
the scene of the crime, he
was charged with the
crime.
The film shows that the
Winston-Salem Police
Department first suspected
that Kenneth Lamourex, a
white man, committed the
crime, before shifting their
focus to Smith. Although
he had a history of violence
and was known to stalk
Marker and other women
in the past, Lamourex was
taken off the suspect's list
following questioning after
he moved to Charlotte.
Through powerful
footage of one-on-one
interviews with those
closely involved with the
case, including Smith,
Marker and Smith's father,
Augustus Dark, director
Keith T. Barber paints a
picture of injustice that will
leave a lasting image.
The short film also
includes the first on-cam
era interview with Ellen
Lamourex, the ex-wife of
Kenneth Lamourex, who
questions the WSPD's han
dling of the case as well.
According to Lamourex,
her ex-husband had been
admitted into the psychi
attic ward of the Forsyth
Hospital, which is across
the street from the Silk
Plant Forest store, less than
24 hours before the crime
was committed.
Although Kenneth
Lamourex has since died,
in the film Ellen Lamourex
said that for all those
involved with the incident,
the truth needs to come out.
Barber said by making
the film, he hopes" to
encourage the public to
care about the injustice that
plagues people like Smith
and Darryl Hunt, who
served 19 years in prison
for a murder he did not
commit.
"I hope to inspire audi
ences to care," said Barber.
"With this documentary, I
wanted to give a human
face to wrongful convic
tions."
Following the viewing,
Barber and others who are
featured in the film
answered questions about
the case and the ongoing
fight to urge N.C. Attorney
General Roy Cooper to free
Smith. In recent months,
students from Salem
College, Wake Forest
University and Winston
Salem State University
have joined the list of local
and state organizations
calling for the immediate
release of Smith-.
Co-director of the
Wrongful Convictions
Clinic (WCC) at Duke Law
School, Jim Coleman said
they will not give up until
Smith walks free. The
WCC studies the causes of
wrongful convictions and
works with clients to have
cases overturned. WCC has
been working on Smith's
case since 2003.
"We never, ever give
up. That's something we
just don't do," said
Coleman. "We will contin
ue to urge Cooper and oth
ers to do the right thing."
Smith's father,
Augustus Dark, answered a
nujnber of questions as
well. When asked how he
remains so strong, Dark
said his son's strength and
courage is what makes him
continue to stand strong.
While a number of those in
attendance Said they were
moved by the film in its
present form, Barber said
the film is not done and can
only end one way.
"The film will end with
Kalvin walking free," he
said. "I couldn't imagine
ending the film any other
way."
Flack
from page Al
found the WSSU Center of
Excellence for the
Elimination of Health
Disparities.
The center is designed
to educate community
stakeholders on the dispari
ties in minority communi
ties and help develop
strategies to reduce and
eliminate those disparities.
The program has served as
a model for similar pro
grams throughout the
nation.
Flack said it is impor
'j? V .. ' ' . 1
tant that the people in
Forsyth County understand
that minority health dispar
ities is a real issue.
"People have to know
how significant it is," she
said. "I felt it was impor
tant that the university did
its duty to involve the com
munity."
During a reception held
at the Donald Reaves
Center last Thursday, a
number of Fleck's col
leagues, former students
and members of the com
munity thanked her for her
hard work and dedication
in the form of kind words
and gifts.
% ?
Mayor Allen Joines
read a proclamation mark
ing the celebration and
thanking Flack for her
many contributions to
WSSU and the City of
Winston-Salem.
Chancellor Elwood
Robinson said the imprint
Flack has left on the uni
versity is something they
will always cherish.
"We need more vision
aries like Sylvia Flack,"
said Robinson. "As we
move toward the future,
she has already given us a
glimpse at what being a
visionary is all about."
' ??
free Mother's Day flowers!
Saturdays 6 a.m. -1 p.m.
Winston-Salem Fairgrounds
Enter off 27th Street
mmL
THIS WEEKEND BT
THE FBIBDBOUNDS
FARMERS MARKET
Flower vendors at the market
on May 7 will give a free flower
to the first 100 mothers who ,
mention our flower give-away.
Don't miss our Very Berry baking
contest June 4!
Entry form link on our new
Facebook page:
WS Fairgrounds Farmers market
Habitat
for Humanity
o( Forsyte County
Want to be a Homeowner
or know someone who does?
Come to an orientation
session to ieam more
about the Habitat program!
Monday, May 9
Noon and 6 p.m.
L1023 W. 14th Street
Winston-Salem
Space is limited.
No children, ptoase.
Veterans are encouraged to apply.
_ #