The Student Newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Volume XVI, Number 32
Charlotte, North Carolina
Monday, December 1, 1980
UNCC Students Protest Klan Verdict
By David E. Griffith
Carolina Journal Campus Affair* Editor
Approximately 100 students at
tended a rally to protest the Novem
ber 17 verdict in the Greensboro
Klan-Nazi trial Tuesday in front of
the Belk tower.
The rally, sponsored by Student
Body Government and the Black Stu
dent Union lasted from 1 to 2 p.m.
and featured a series of speakers.
Chairman of the Student Legislature
Barry Brown moderated the rally, an
nouncing each speaker.
Earlier Tuesday the student leg
islature passed a resolution calling for
further investigation of the
Greensboro case. Linda Russell,
Nursing Representative and author
of a resolution read to the crowd of
students and area media represen
tatives.
Mike Kemp, President of the Black
Student Union, was the first speaker.
“On November 17 justice was dealt a
death blow. On that fateful day a
Student Reaction To
Justice Rally Varied
By Teresa Skipper
Carolina Journal News Editor
About 100 attended
the rally at 1 p.m. Tues
day November 25
protesting the acquittal
of six men charged with
killing five communists
in Greensboro a year
ago.
The majority of the
students at the rally
were disturbed about
the verdict and at times
became very vocal in
support of the speakers.
Linda Russell read a
resolution she presented
student legislature and
passed Tuesday. The
resolution called for an
investigation by federal
government “in the pur
suit of criminal civil
rights charges.” The
resolution was to be pre
sented to everybody
from Jimmy Carter to
precedent was set. On that day all
right wing terrorist groups were giv
en a green light, or more exactly a
license to kill anyone, and I repeat
anyone, who holds a view different
than their own.”
Kemp said the Greensboro verdict
was one in a long series of events in
dicating that our society will not
tolerate a challenge to its authority.
“The winds of racism and repression
are being whipped throughout our
society. Our President elect is calling
for state’s rights and our Senate and
House of Representatives are being
prepared for the reappeal of every
humanitarian act passed within the
last 20 years, from busing legislation,
to federal food stamp programs, to
the reappeal of civil rights legislation.
“On our own campus the spectre of
racism and sexism is rearing its ugly
head and tensions here between dif
ferent cultural groups have been es
calating. We as students must ex
press our outrage and discontent with
Ron Olsen. A petition
also calling for an in
vestigation was passed
among the students.
Sarah Traywick, 21,
English major, said,
“Our legal system needs
a serious review. Espe
cially when an all white
jury acquits Nazis and
the KKK upon such
scanty evidence.”
(Continued On Page 2)
the current trends,” Kemp said.
“We have two choices,” Kemp said,
“either we will unite with other
freedom loving individuals who also
recognize the writing on the wall and
stand ready and willing to protect our
own freedom, or we can say nothing,
do nothing, and be swept away by a
tidal wave of prejudice and repression
that is overtaking our country. The
die is cast; the duty is ours. We must
not shirk it.”
Student Body President Ron Olsen
said he did not support the views of
the Communist Workers Party, but
he “was shocked and horrified” to
find that all six defendants had been
acquitted on all charges.
Olsen spoke about the U.S. judicial
Photo By Rick Monroe
Only about 150 students attended the Rally for Justice sponsored by the Excutive Committee of
the Student Association and the Black Student Union.
system saying “for every ounce ot
justice, I can give you a pound of in
justice.” He expanded on this point
speaking of North Carolina’s record
in such matters saying, “What does
that say about our society. We must
show the rest of the country that
North Carolina is not full of Nazis,
Communists and Ku Klux Klanners.
“In the last decade our society has
(Continued On Page 3)
Disagree?—
Let us know how you feel about the
Greensboro verdict and the student pro
test. Write: Letters To the Students, The
Carolina Journal, Cone Center, Campus.
All letters must bear the signature and
telephone number of the author.
Legislature Asks Feds To Investigate
By Cary Jimenez
Carolina Journal Staff Writer.
A resolution which called for fur
ther investigation by the Federal
Government into the deaths of five
Communist Worker’s Party members
killed in an anti-Klan rally in
Greensboro last November, was pass
ed by the North Carolina Student
Legilsature Sunday, November 23.
Legislators felt that the six Ku
Klux Klan members should not have
been acquitted because there was im
portant evidence, such as “eye-
witness accounts, videotape evidence
and ballistic reports” to link them to
the victims’ deaths. There has also
been much discrepancy as to which
side fired first.
Legislators contended that not only
is “shooting someone a violent
action,” but that the communist’s
civil rights were abridged and their
right of speech was violated.
The opposition was not so much in
regard to the investigation, but
rather to the language used in the pro
posal. After an amendment was pass
ed, the resolution then read, “five peo
ple . . .were killed,” rather than,
“were gunned down,” which sounded
more brutal.
The Legislature also called for a
resolution to abolish Article VI, sec
tion 8 of the constitution of the state
of North Carolina which states, “any
elected official who denies the ex
istence of God may not hold that of
fice for which he was elected.”
The Legislators felt that it is wrong
to reject a man of the grounds of ath
eism if he is competent and capable of
holding office. One member stated,
“there is no proof that belief in God
increased job effectiveness.”
Although those opposed stated
that no one has ever been discrimi
nated against because of his religious
beliefs, the Legislature passed the
resolution.
Another resolution, which was
postponed until January, concerned
the high gasoline and fuel tax which
farmers and commercial fishermen
have been paying. They are paying a
tax which was intended to go for
highway road construction. They
were calling for the return of a small
amount of money or relief to the
average farmer and fisherman.
In other action, Debbie Bryant, in
ternship program coordinator, in
formed the members that the Youth
Involvement Office has available 125
graduate and undergraduate intern
ships for the summer. Also, the In
stitute of Government Internship
Programs, directed by Dr. Hayman,
will be offering 25 internship slots for
undergraduates only.
These are competitve programs in
which the applicants and their appli
cations will be carefully screened by
counselors.
“We encourage you to apply be
cause it gives you an inside look at
how an agency is run, as well as give
you the opportunity to see if you
want to be involved with the govern
ment,” Bryant said.
The deadline for both programs is
February 13