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

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