• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Southern Coalition for Social Justice

Southern Coalition for Social Justice

Partnering with communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities in the south to defend and advance their political, social and economic rights through the combination of legal advocacy, research, organizing and communications.

  • Home
  • About
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Employment Opportunities
  • News
  • Programs
    • Voting Rights
      • News
      • Featured Cases
      • Resources
    • Justice System Reform
      • News
      • Featured Cases
      • Resources
    • Youth Justice Project
      • News
      • Resources
  • Resources
    • Make a Voting Plan: North Carolina
    • Make a Voting Plan: National
    • #MyVoteMyVoice
    • Early Voting Advocacy 2020
    • Videos
    • Reports
    • Infographics
    • SCSJ-led Projects
  • SCSJ Monthly Digest
  • Contact
  • Donate

Search Southern Coalition for Social Justice

Durham FADE challenges discriminatory police practices

September 27, 2013 by stacy

Durham has been portrayed as one of the most tolerant cities in America, one of the best places to retire, and home to a rich, diverse community. Many Durham residents, however, see a different reality than that on the travel brochures. The “real” Durham, they say, is also characterized by a systemic sickness within its criminal justice system.  Durham PD Racial Profiling data between the years 2000 and 2011 reveals that over the last decade, a black motorist in Durham County was 162% more likely to be searched pursuant to a traffic stop for a seat belt violation than a white motorist stopped for the very same offense.  Likewise, a stop of a black motorist for speeding was 109% more likely to result in a vehicular search than a stop of a white motorist for the same offense.
These numbers give Durham the sad distinction of producing the most racialized stop-and-search disparities in all of North Carolina’s 100 counties.  In the last year alone, 82.5% of searches conducted pursuant to motor vehicle stops were of African-Americans, a number more than twice the African-American representation in the city population (41%).  And the problem is getting worse: In each of the past five years, a greater percentage of searches were conducted on African-American motorists than the year before.  The community has had enough, has organized a plan, and wants the police department to acknowledge their past mistakes and foster a Durham that is together, not split into two worlds.
SCSJ is a proud member of Durham FADE (Fostering Alternative Drug Enforcement), a community led coalition dedicated to exploring the impact of the War on Drugs in Durham and focusing on the injustices that occur in the Durham Police Department that disproportionately affect communities of color. FADE members are dedicated to preserving and sustaining the town they call home while also fighting the rooted racial inequities that exist. On September 16th, the FADE coalition marched through Durham demanding police accountability and changes within the department. Community members spoke up and against the racial profiling they have experienced, their neighbors have experienced and their community is experiencing.

FADE coalition members march through downtown Durham on 9/16/13.
FADE coalition members march through downtown Durham on 9/16/13.
Examples include the story of Jose Ocampo, a Honduran father, who was fatally shot by Durham police this summer. The incident was publicly portrayed as necessary use of police force before an official investigation was ever conducted, despite significantly differing accounts from witnesses to the shooting.  Stephanie Nickerson, a young African American navy veteran, was brutally beaten by a Durham police officer during a noise complaint. Several months later the officer resigned, but no public apology or admission of wrongdoing ever came. A litany of other stories were also told, all with the same theme: people of color are targeted as criminals, routinely subjected to excessive force, and often ignored as victims.FADE logo
FADE was also in attendance at the September 19th work session of the Durham City Council.  SCSJ attorney and Soros Justice Fellow Ian A. Mance distributed the SCSJ Fact Sheet on Durham Stop-and-Search Data to the mayor and council detailing a litany of gross racial disparities within the city’s criminal justice system.  FADE members Ernest Smith, Tia Hall, and Meghan McDowell spoke before a standing room only crowd and demanded the council take action to address the deteriorating state of community-police relations.Other members were not granted the opportunity to speak at the public hearing made videos of their planned testimony, including Mario Pavon, Pastor Cleve May, and Minister Reynolds Chapman.
In response, Mayor Bill Bell directed the city manager to order a hearing before the city’s Human Relations Commission to examine the issues raised by coalition members.  That meeting is currently scheduled for Tuesday, October 1st at 7:00pm, and will be held at Durham City Hall.  FADE members and SCSJ will be in attendance.
By Madeline Anderson, SCSJ Communications Intern
 
 
 
 
 
 

Category iconCriminal Justice,  Recent News Tag iconCivic Engagement,  Durham,  FADE,  Ian Mance,  Police,  Rebecca Fontaine

Next Article: SCSJ Welcomes DOJ intervention to Stop NC Voter Suppression Law
Previous Article: A Criminal Justice Reform Partner in the Senate?

Footer

Contact

1415 West Highway 54, Suite 101
Durham, NC 27707
info@southerncoalition.org
office: 919-323-3380
fax: 919-323-3942
Map

Key Links

About
Donate
Most Recent 990
Staff
Board

The Latest

On Monday, NC voters will take on politicians trying to silence them at the polls. Follow NC’s voter ID trial (Holmes v. Moore) beginning April 12: youtu.be/GMf_Oe_-kIE #ncvoterIDtrial #holmes pic.twitter.com/UHIN…

About an hour ago

We know NC deserves better than a voter ID law that: ❌ targets Black & Brown voters ❌ puts a poll tax on voting ❌ looks a lot like the last unconstitutional voter ID law. That’s why we’re taking the #ncga to court this week. #ncvoterIDtrial pic.twitter.com/K1N3…

About 4 hours ago

There’s no voter ID law that doesn’t hurt eligible voters — and NC’s latest discriminatory scheme is no exception. Follow the action as NC voters fight back — watch the Holmes v. Moore trial beginning April 12: youtu.be/GMf_Oe_-kIE #ncvoterIDtrial #ncpol pic.twitter.com/sYdz…

About 8 hours ago

Long before Georgia’s voter suppression law made national headlines, we took North Carolina’s latest Jim Crow-style attack on the freedom to vote to court. The trial begins Monday at 10 — watch it here: youtu.be/GMf_Oe_-kIE #ncvoterIDtrial #holmes pic.twitter.com/ZqGi…

Yesterday

'States have the right to run elections as they see fit. However, states have a responsibility to ensure everyone is treated equally under the law.' | Winthrop professor debunks basis for restrictive voting laws wcnc.com/mobile/arti… via @wcnc

Yesterday

Follow @scsj
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Copyright © 2021 Southern Coalition for Social Justice · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design