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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 09-20-2022; 4-b - Resolution Apologizing for Past Racial Terror Lynching 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 20, 2022 Action Agenda Item No. 4-b SUBJECT: Resolution Apologizing for Past Racial Terror Lynching DEPARTMENT: Asset Management Services ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Resolution Renee Price, BOCC Chair, 919-245- 2130 Commissioner Anna Richards, 919-245- 2130 PURPOSE: To consider the approval of a resolution: 1) acknowledging criminal acts of racial terror lynching that occurred across the United States in the aftermath of the Civil War and from Reconstruction through the middle of the twentieth century, and specifically acts that occurred in Orange County; 2) apologizing to all victims of racial terror lynching in Orange County perpetrated or condoned by past Orange County elected officials; and 3) expressing deepest sympathies to the families and descendants for all women and men who were murdered by racial terror lynching, and for the denial of their dignity and basic human rights. BACKGROUND: Racial terror lynching was known widely to occur across the United States in the aftermath of the Civil War and from Reconstruction through the middle of the twentieth century. These criminal acts were committed against numerous named and unnamed individuals, and claimed the lives of more than 120 Black people in North Carolina. Four such criminal acts specifically known to have taken place in Orange County occurred against Daniel Morrow, Jefferson Morrow, Cyrus Guy, Wright Woods and Manly McCauley. BOCC Chair Renee Price and Commissioner Anna Richards drafted the proposed Board resolution. The resolution acknowledges the criminal acts of racial terror lynching that occurred in Orange County; apologizes to all victims of racial terror lynching in Orange County perpetrated or condoned by past Orange County elected officials; and expresses deepest sympathies to the families and descendants for all women and men who were murdered by racial terror lynching. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the resolution. 2 SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: FOSTER A COMMUNITY CULTURE THAT REJECTS OPPRESSION AND INEQUITY The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race or color; religious or philosophical beliefs; sex, gender or sexual orientation; national origin or ethnic background; age; military service; disability; and familial, residential or economic status. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: There are no Orange County Environmental Responsibility Goal impacts associated with this item. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the Chair to sign the resolution: 1) acknowledging criminal acts of racial terror lynching that occurred across the United States in the aftermath of the Civil War and from Reconstruction through the middle of the twentieth century, and specifically acts that occurred in Orange County; 2) apologizing to all victims of racial terror lynching in Orange County perpetrated or condoned by past Orange County elected officials; and 3) expressing deepest sympathies to the families and descendants for all women and men who were murdered by racial terror lynching, and for the denial of their dignity and basic human rights. RES-2022-051 3 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS RESOLUTION APOLOGIZING FOR PAST RACIAL TERROR LYNCHING WHEREAS, racial terror lynching was known widely to occur across the United States in the aftermath of the Civil War and from Reconstruction through the middle of the twentieth century; and WHEREAS, lynching became a practice predominantly inflicted upon Black or African American men, women and children by white individuals, vigilante mobs and law enforcement officers — to instill fear and to thwart the social, economic and political advancement of Black people; and WHEREAS,on August 7, 1869,Daniel Morrow and Jefferson Morrow,African American farmworkers near Hillsborough, were accused of barn burning and insulting women, and lynched by a mob that left a note identifying themselves as the Ku Klux Klan; and WHEREAS, on September 12, 1869, Wright Woods, alleged to have made certain remarks to a white girl, was abducted by four white men, killed and found in Little River with a note attached to his foot that read, "if the law will not protect virtue, the rope will"; and WHEREAS, on December 2, 1869, Cyrus Guy, allegedly having made a snide remark to a white woman, was taken by a mob and left hanging from a tree at the intersection of Faucette Mill Road and Lebanon Road as a sign for other "mulattos" in the area to know their place; and WHEREAS, on or about October 30,1898, Manly McCauley, an 18-year-old Black man, was seized by a mob of white men, accused of eloping with a married white woman, and lynched from a dogwood tree near current day Hatch Road and Old Greensboro Road, and the four men tried for the lynching were acquitted; and WHEREAS, in denial of their constitution rights to a fair trial, and without the opportunity to present their defense, the afore-mentioned men were brutally executed; and WHEREAS no evidence exists to indicate that elected officials of Orange County — i.e., sheriff, commissioners, or judges — did anything to prevent these lynchings, or to prosecute those who performed, aided or abetted these actions, or were otherwise complicity in this racial terror; and WHEREAS, in contravention of their responsibilities to protect and serve all the people of Orange County, the aforementioned public servants violated their oaths of office; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners does hereby acknowledge that criminal acts of racial terror lynching were committed against numerous named and unnamed individuals, including Daniel Morrow, Jefferson Morrow, Cyrus Guy, Wright Woods and Manly McCauley; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners now apologies to all victims of racial terror lynching in Orange County perpetrated or condoned by past Orange County elected officials; and BE IT MOREOVER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of County Commissioners herewith expresses our deepest sympathies to the families and descendants for all women and men who were murdered by racial terror lynching, and for the denial of their dignity and basic human rights. This the 201h day of September, 2022. Renee A. Price, Chair Orange County Board of Commissioners