Dear Supporter,
Last night, the North Carolina Senate voted to repeal our state's Racial Justice Act, an important civil rights law that seeks to address racial bias in North Carolina's capital punishment system. The bill, SB 9, now heads to the desk of Gov. Beverly Perdue. Please call or write to Gov. Perdue and urge her to save the Racial Justice Act by vetoing SB 9.
Passed in 2009, the Racial Justice Act allows death row inmates the opportunity to appeal their capital punishment and instead receive life in prison if they can prove that race played a factor in their sentence. A recent study by Michigan State University revealed substantial patterns of racial bias in North Carolina's current capital punishment system. Over the last decade, for example, qualified African American jurors were struck at twice the rate of white jurors, according to the study.
North Carolina's District Attorneys have opposed the Racial Justice Act because - by their own admission - it would allow evidence to be presented that could overturn many death sentences in the state.
If you oppose racial discrimination in our criminal justice system, please contact Gov. Perdue using the information below and urge her to veto SB 9:
The Office of Gov. Beverly Perdue: Phone: (800) 662-7952 or (919) 733-2391
Fax: (919) 733-2120
governor.office@nc.gov
Thank you for your continued support of civil liberties for ALL North Carolinians!
Sincerely,
Sarah Preston
Policy Director
ACLU of North Carolina. *** | 
