NAACP lauds move to replace Nifong
mpotter#heraldsun.com : The Herald-Sun, bdopart#heraldsun.com, Jan 19, 2007 : 12:15 am ET
DURHAM -- Leaders of the state NAACP praised Attorney General Roy Cooper's decision to take over prosecution of the Duke lacrosse case and admonished defense attorneys for statements that could poison a jury pool.
At a downtown Durham news conference Thursday afternoon, the Rev. William Barber, N.C. NAACP president, said his organization is "mindful of the long history of sexual violence against women." The Duke case could potentially have a chilling effect on women, particularly African Americans, filing sexual violence complaints, he said.
Of paramount importance "is that we find out what the truth is and face it once all the facts are in," Barber said, and avoid an outcome "based on biased and political or public pressure from anyone."
The news conference marked the first time the organization has spoken out since District Attorney Mike Nifong removed himself from the case. Barber read from a statement outlining three main concerns the group has regarding the handling of the case, calling for "a thorough and fair examination of the evidence."
He also asked that defense attorneys "refrain from efforts to influence Durham citizens regarding the evidence which might be introduced at a trial." To that end, he urged the State Bar to use its power to limit "the publication of evidence" that could possibly influence a future jury.
Although Barber has not been in direct contact with Cooper, he said he had spoken with Cooper's staff regarding his concerns about the case and would be sending a note to Cooper to follow up.
Barber expressed satisfaction with a statement made by Cooper this weekend, in which Cooper pledged to "accept these cases with our eyes wide open to the evidence, but with blinders on to all other distractions."
Those distractions, according to NAACP counsel Al McSurely, came about when defense attorneys, acting in response to statements made by Nifong, began trying the case in the media, poisoning any potential pool of Durham jurors with biased information, he said.
Despite being the author of a list of 82 "Crimes and Torts committed by Duke Lacrosse Team Players" on the state NAACP's news Web site, McSurely said he and the organization he represents have always advocated for the fair treatment of "both sides. "
Barber verbally maintained the organization's commitment to monitoring the case. He said the goal of the organization's efforts was to ensure "allegations of criminal conduct be conducted in a fair, meticulous, comprehensive, aggressive and thorough manner."
"The NAACP was there when African American men were falsely accused of sexual violence," he said. "We've also been there when black women and white women made allegations that were dismissed."
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-810614.cfm
Brodhead not interested in Harvard post
Jan 18, 2007 : 11:44 pm ET Herald-Sun
DURHAM -- Duke President Richard Brodhead's name has cropped up in connection with Harvard's vacant president's job, but a Duke spokesman says Brodhead isn't interested.
"He's very happy at Duke and basically has no interest in the Harvard job," John Burness, Duke's senior vice president for public and government relations, said Thursday.
http://www.heraldsun.com/durham/4-810601.cfm
So, Rev, what are you going to do about rap music?