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Council expresses regret over '79 shootings

Wednesday, June 17, 2009
(Updated Thursday, June 18 - 7:29 am)
By Amanda Lehmert
Staff Writer

GREENSBORO — It was a much debated, carefully worded statement.

Thirty years after a Greensboro shooting — and four years after the issue first came before the City Council — the council said Tuesday night that it regretted the 1979 killings at Morningside Homes and pledged to help the city heal.

The council voted 5 to 4 to approve a statement of regret about the incident — one of the recommendations the city Humans Relations Commission made after studying the shootings and the 2006 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report about it.

Council members Mike Barber, Zack Matheny, Mary Rakestraw and Trudy Wade voted no.

Five people were killed and 10 were injured in November 1979 during a confrontation between Ku Klux Klan members and neo-Nazis and Communist Workers Party members.

Previous councils had voted to oppose the Truth and Reconciliation Commission process and not consider its recommendations.

On Tuesday, residents and human relations representatives urged the council members to address the issue.

“Acknowledge it and tell the world this won’t happen in Greensboro ever again,” said Randall Keeney, a minister.

The city attorney added language to the statement of regret to ensure that the council did not unknowingly create any legal liability for the city.

Others asked the city to stop dwelling on the shootings, which some said did not represent the current state of race relations in Greensboro.

“I will tell you what my generation is talking about,” Matheny said. “Look at our successes. Let us move on.”

In other action, the council voted to have the city staff explore options for trash disposal in the city.

The issue was raised after Councilman Mike Barber asked that the city consider dumping up to 50,000 tons of residential trash at the White Street Landfill, which was closed to household refuse in 2006.

Council members did not take Barber’s recommendation to consider expanding the use of the White Street Landfill. Last week, council members learned that the city could save $2.9 million a year by using the landfill instead of a transfer station that sends off the city’s trash.

Barber suggested that savings from using the landfill could go toward city libraries or a planned day center for homeless residents.

Residents near the landfill have been on the defensive in the past few weeks, protesting Barber’s recommendations.

Council members debated the issue at two meetings Tuesday. Some members were clear that they did not want to expand the landfill under any circumstances. But others, including Mayor Yvonne Johnson, argued that the city should explore the city’s trash options, including alternative technologies.

“That way we can get all the facts on the table and make the best decision,” Councilman Robbie Perkins said.

Other council members agreed with Perkins. They approved suggestions by Wade, who wanted the city to ask the state Department of Environment and Natural Resources to review potential health risks of the city landfill and another, abandoned landfill on Nealtown Road.

Contact Amanda Lehmert at 373-7075 or amanda.lehmert@news-record.com
 

Accompanying Photos

File photo (News & Record)

Photo Caption: Each of the people killed in the Nov. 3, 1979, shootings are represented by a white rose and a photograph during a Truth and Reconciliation hearing in 2005.

Additional Photos

News and notes from the meeting

  • The city will not cut any additional funds from the library system. County commissioners contributed $350,000 less than expected to the city libraries when they passed the 2009-2010 budget. The city will reduce the money that it contributes to a worker’s compensation insurance fund to make up for the loss.
  • Council members did not approve the 2009-2010 city budget Tuesday night as originally planned, due to last minute discussions about water rates and other issues. They plan to have another budget workshop on June 22 and pass the budget June 23. They must adopt a new budget by June 30.
  • A $20 million bond referendum will be on the November ballot to fund renovations of the Natural Science Center, the City Council agreed Tuesday night.

Comments

This article has been closed to new comments. Comments are generally closed after 14 days. However, comments may be closed earlier at the discretion of the News & Record.

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greywolf

June 17, 2009 - 11:15 am EDT

A quote from Amanda's article: "Others asked the city to stop dwelling on the shootings, which some said did not represent the current state of race relations in Greensboro."

Well, I guess the hateful rhetoric that has found its way into this thread is sufficient evidence that this perspecgive is a misconception!

gso me

June 17, 2009 - 11:18 am EDT

Claro!

Cheers, greywolf.

Beachwalk

June 17, 2009 - 11:33 am EDT

Let's see; an African American Mayor, an African American Chairman of the County Commissioners, a majority of Greensboro voters voted for an African American President. Greensboro closed a perfectly good landfill for no other reason than to appease a small group of African Americans.
What city of Greensboro are you talking about? I know you can't be talking about Greensboro, NC.

Refusing to see the changes in race relations leads one to believe you are one of the ones who want to continue to stir up racial tensions in Greensboro.

greywolf

June 17, 2009 - 12:20 pm EDT

Beachwalk, you are being redundant. See my response to your similar post above... I guess if you only know one tune, it is all you can sing.

Look beyond the election patterns facilitated by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965... The same kind of Greensboro (yes, Greensboro, North Carolina) racists who opposed that legislation 45 years ago and cheered as Klansmen gunned down labor activists 30 years ago oppose reconciliation today.

Beachwalk

June 17, 2009 - 12:37 pm EDT

I am being redundant ONLY because you are. You keep saying (maybe in different ways) that race relations have not changed in 50 years. And I will redundantly say in different ways YOU ARE WRONG.
And once again I will say the Klansmen did not just "gun down" anybody in 1979. They were attacked and they shoot in self-defense. A court of law seems to agree with me. You only have a report that was put together by a group of people with an agenda.

Lakeshia

June 17, 2009 - 11:55 am EDT

I visited the web site of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission and I also watched, via the internet, some of yesterday's GSO City Council meeting - as I viewed these two separate entities the one thing which immediately jumped out at me was our growing public health problem of obesity - at least three members of each group appear to be seriously affected thus putting their future health and well being at risk. Being overweight may well indicate a lack of discipline and personal pride as well as an inability or unwillingness to take responsibility for one's own health and well being - it would be refreshing to see each of these prominent and public spirited women step up and provide a meaningful and inspirational example of leadership by tackling this serious public health concern head on -

greywolf

June 17, 2009 - 12:19 pm EDT

...and wouldn't it be nice to have a universal health care system that would keep all our of citizens healthy!

Beachwalk

June 17, 2009 - 12:40 pm EDT

Government run healthcare does not work. Just look at the healthcare veterens receives. A true example of government run healthcare.

bigwill

June 17, 2009 - 12:53 pm EDT

Yeah, trust me it sucks. Oh yeah by the way, if you knew anything at all about the universal health care, then you would not want it. The government would make it illegal for you to have private insurance if you didn't want the universal. Also, it would only cover certain aspects of medical treatment. You might read up on that a little bit more before trying to go that route, but I see you just believe everything you hear anyways.

gso me

June 17, 2009 - 1:18 pm EDT

Or, maybe you believe everything you read. Do some reading on the Scandinavian model. It's quite nice, and they live very well.

It is true that our government does not take proper care of vets, for sure. I am not saying they do. That is not what universal healthcare would look like, but a nice point you raise that our vets are getting crappy treatment.

Look at you almost having a heart. We should all work together to demand a system that works well for the vets and all other citizens.

bigwill

June 17, 2009 - 1:41 pm EDT

It would be worth reading if we were using the Scandinavian model, but since we are using the US model that would be pointless. I guess i do have to believe everything I read when its factual statements. Quit being such a tard on here, gso me.

gso me

June 17, 2009 - 2:17 pm EDT

A tard? Really. Okay, so you can't be using a U.S. model of universal healthcare because it simply does not yet exist, right. There are proposals that have been put forth, but we all know any proposal put forward will be changed, as do the authors of such proposals. That said, I was simply recommending a model of universal healthcare that does work in response to your assertion that if we knew anything at all about universal healthcare we wouldn't want it. I do know something, and I do want it.

Not "a tard" but rather someone who believes differently than you and has a little experience of my own to go on.

Thanks though, for answering my question posted elsewhere in this thread as to what name you could call me next, since I haven't fit into any of the other categories. Good on you.

Beachwalk

June 17, 2009 - 2:52 pm EDT

gso me, you want us to use your example of the Scandinavian "universal healthcare system", when I haven't a single politician say anything about patterning the U.S. system after them. But you refuse to acknowledge Veteran's healthcare system as being an example of what is being done right now with government involvement into the healthcare industry. And I'm sure you won't acknowledge Medicare, which is quickly going broke, as yet another example of government run healthcare.
I have another name you can use; Obamanite.

gso me

June 17, 2009 - 3:11 pm EDT

What don't you understand about finding a model that works and using it as an example of how it can and could work, and would if there weren't so many like you and dear ol' bigwill out there.

I did acknowledge that veterans healthcare benefits are not what they should be and that is an issue we should be working on. Unfortunately, they are a marginalized group that our government, historically, has not cared much about once they return from whatever messes they have been gotten into.

And yes, medicare has issues too. A complete and utter overhaul of the healthcare system is exactly what we need. That is what I am saying, and I am proposing that a model that could be studied, by you, anyone else who doesn't think that universal healthcare can work, and most importantly our legislators, is the Scandinavian model.

I will try to be more clear, and leave no room for reading between the lines in my future posts. Hopefully this helps. For the record,

I find it more productive to try and find suggestions for what might work (a.k.a. possible solutions) than to assume we, in the U.S., have come up with all viable options. Seems simple to me. Believe there's a problem, try to be part of the solution.

bigwill

June 17, 2009 - 3:39 pm EDT

Again, gso me, the US is not using the Scandinavian model for their system or otherwise it would be worth reading. I have researched the proposed system they are wanting to use and its another band aid fix to an open wound. Like you said, there needs to be a solution and not quick fixes. Thanks for your example of a solution, but its irrelevant to our universal healthcare proposal. Please know your facts before you try to step to my level.
Thanks.

Oh by the way, gso me, could you please explain to everyone today on how anyone would benefit from this statement of regret (AKA apology)?

gso me

June 17, 2009 - 4:08 pm EDT

You say you need no more healing, and that's great for you. The statement by the City Council, representing the City of Greensboro, will likely be able to help those who do still need healing move forward and closer toward a sense of closure on the issue. Acknowledgment by the city is important. Does it solve everything and heal all wounds? No. Does it at least show a willingness on the part of the City to stop denying that the events of 11/3/79 have had a lasting and divisive affect on this community? Yes. That can promote healing.

gso me

June 17, 2009 - 3:56 pm EDT

When making blanket statements about universal healthcare and how it doesn't work and anyone who knows anything about it wouldn't want it, try to be more specific. If you are talking about the proposed version that is being put forward by the U.S., say that. If you are speaking more generally about universal healthcare, then don't say it doesn't work. It can. And, like I said, most people know that any version put forward is going to change, and why not be the folks writing to our representatives asking them to have a look at models we know have and continue to work. I did, and then I mentioned that model here and recommended that you have a look.

Take care bigwill.

bigwill

June 17, 2009 - 4:39 pm EDT

First off, when did I ever say I didn't need any healing. Anyone that has to keep an issue alive that happened 30 years ago doesn't need the city council to "heal", they need more like a psychiatrist. How can bringing up a negative issue that happened in the past help move forward? Who in the City today was denying what happened? I think your in denial of what the actual point is here. The point is that this was a waste of a use of the council's time that could have been used for more important issues. I guess now they have to apologize on other past issues so they don't show favortism. Good for you for writing to your politician, I just hope you take the time to follow-up with them to make sure they actually read the letter. The system will still be flawed as Obama himself has even admitted that even with the help of the government health system, there will still be alot of people that can't afford health insurance. So again, just a quick fix to a problem and not a solution for all. Here is a solution for you, how about the Fair Tax Law. This has been proven to lower costs of everything, including healthcare.

Beachwalk

June 17, 2009 - 5:53 pm EDT

I too am trying to be part of the solution. I know socialized medicine does not and has never worked. There are plenty of examples. Tell me what gives you so much confidence that government can run healthcare with the record they now have? And I don't really know anything about the Scandnavian healthcare system. I might if anyone in Washington was even considering it. What do you not understand. NO ONE THAT I KNOW OF IN WASHINGTON IS LOOKING AT THE SCANDINAVIAN MODEL. They are only looking at SOCIALIZED MEDICINE models. And those models do not and have not worked. And I have my doubts as to whether the liberals in Washington are really concern with healthcare. It seems to me they are more interested in another power grab and another government take over.

Panacea

June 17, 2009 - 11:21 pm EDT

The government is not proposing socialized medicine. Even the single payer model is not socialized medicine.

For us to have socialized medicine, the government would have to nationalize all aspects of health care: they would have not only to pay, but to provide the hospitals and health care staff (ie, they would be government employees).

That's what Canada and the UK has. No one is talking about doing that here. At best, the government paying for health care has been discussed. That's not going to happen.

We're going to have a public option to cover those without insurance. Those of us with coverage at work will not lose it, though we may end up paying income tax for it if we make more than $200K per year.

And socialized medicine actually works quite well. I have friends in Canada, and they are fine with their system.

greywolf

June 20, 2009 - 1:37 pm EDT

Panacea, don't confuse them with the facts. Beachwalk and bigwill have already made up their minds... without the benefit of any fact whatsoever!

gso me

June 17, 2009 - 3:21 pm EDT

And P.S. I did and do gladly support President Obama, but I felt strongly about all the things we've discussed here today long before I knew his name. So, thanks for the new name, but he has nothing to do with me believing the things I do and feeling strongly about them. He only gives me hope that we might not be too terribly far from achieving some of the goals that I am happy to see for our government and the U.S.

Beachwalk

June 17, 2009 - 5:56 pm EDT

It is even being reported today that some Blue Dog Democrats are getting very concern with the administration's unreleting power grabs and government take overs. If you want to live in a socialist national why don't you move to one?

bigwill

June 17, 2009 - 5:17 pm EDT

About your wonderful Scandanavian Universal Health system, I did a little research on it and one of the very first things that pops up is an article about how it is struggling now. This was copied from part of the reading. It seems they are having the same problems now that we are trying to get rid off. So although a good start it would definitely have to be revised or else we are right back where we started.

However, Scandinavian countries are facing a rise in health care expenditures. Authorities are confronting the question of how to continue providing universal access while containing costs.

gso me

June 17, 2009 - 5:51 pm EDT

Good work. I got you to look into it. Struggling, yes there are some issues. All systems do at some point struggle and have issues. Falling apart or in the shambles as ours is, NOPE! Is there a perfect system of anything, anywhere? Not that I'm aware of. There are, in fact, as you have now learned, some that are much better than ours and which have worked well for many, many years.

You say it would be a good start but need to be revised. That's what I've been saying about any proposal. Glad you can agree that it would be a good start though. We have finally found some common ground. That, too, is a good start.

johnnybegood

June 17, 2009 - 1:27 pm EDT

COFFEE ANYONE? For those of us that have written on this piece all morning long,,,we should meet for coffee to just sit back relax, chat about anything and everything. This is a cool idea because in the end we have enjoyed this exchange completely today...so now its time to make peace and get to know each other in a laid back manner with a cool flow, and talk about this weak city council!

obiwon

June 17, 2009 - 4:29 pm EDT

Sorry. Council had nothing to apologize for. Nuts from the east and nuts from the west unfortunately met in Greensboro for their disturbance. Those that can't move forward are those that continually hold news conferences crying about 30 years ago. Poor Comrade Nelson Johnson of the Communist Workers Party.

gboro84

June 17, 2009 - 5:14 pm EDT

Why in the world should any city councilman or employee have to apologize for something that somebody did decades ago? This is ridiculous. Why should any current police officer be held accountable for the shortcomings of his department from years ago? More mindless BS from the usual suspects. Get a clue people, Greensboro has moved on. It's the original perpetrators that keep bringing it back up. Call it what you will but what happened that day was what both sides wanted. Sure they called it a peaceful rally, that's why everyone brought guns. Ok. Again, Greensboro has moved on except for a few dozen people determined to let this even make their whole lives.

overtaxed

June 17, 2009 - 7:50 pm EDT

IMO the City Council, Mayor, and the Cheif of Police of Greensboro should also express regret for this fact courtesy of Wikipedia.org:

Crime
In a pattern usually seen within urban areas within the Southern United States, Greensboro tends to have crime levels considerably higher than the national average. For the year of 2006, the city experienced 6,931 overall crimes committed per 100,000 residents; the national average was 4479.3 per 100,000 residents.[22] For that year Greensboro ranked above the national average on every category of violent crime as well as all forms of property crime.[23] For the year of 2008, Greensboro ranked above the national average for all forms of violent crime and property crime. The city also ranked higher on crimes than the North Carolina state averages.[24] There was a total of 15,901 crimes committed for the year of 2008, this is a decrease when compared to the previous year of 2007, that year Greensboro experienced 16,676 total crimes citywide.[25]

According to the Congressional Quarterly Press '2008 City Crime Rankings: Crime in Metropolitan America, Greensboro, North Carolina ranks as the 57th most dangerous city larger than 75,000 inhabitants. The city crime rankings released by CQ Press assign Greensboro the highest crime rate among North Carolina cities.[26]

J Peterman Reality Tour

June 17, 2009 - 10:43 pm EDT

Thank you black Greensboro . . . couldn't do it without your help.

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