The Truth and Reconciliation Review Committee is recommending that the Greensboro City Council issue the following “statement of regret” in response to the 1979 Klan-Nazi killings:
The city council of Greensboro, North Carolina is strongly committed to human rights and deeply regrets the events of November 3, 1979 that resulted in the loss of five lives and divided a community. We appreciate the work done by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Citizens Review Committee and the Human Relations Commission, as well as the great effort of many individuals and organizations to promote healing among the residents of our community by replacing divisiveness with harmonious relationship. We, the city council of Greensboro, North Carolina value the rich diversity of our neighborhoods, celebrate both our similarities and differences as human beings, and pledge its support to the extent of its ability and authority to ensure that nothing like the events of November 3, 1979 ever happen again.
The Truth and Reconciliation Review Committee is a subcommittee of the Greensboro Human Relations Committee. City council will hear a presentation on the recommended resolution tomorrow.
An attachment for council members states that “during the spring of 2008, the Greensboro City Council raised a question about whether the human relations commission was assigned to the 2006 Truth and Reconciliation Report. It is apparent that there are concerned citizens who feel that a response by city government is long overdue.”
As reported here, the Truth and Reconciliation Report was assigned to the human relations commission, but the effort was temporarily shelved in late 2007 when the human relations commission launched a collaboration with the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro and the UNCG Center for Youth, Family and Community Partnerships called Impact Greensboro.
The Truth and Reconciliation Review Committee also recommends “assist[ing] in the city’s healing process” by
• “Instituting a practice of transparency” through community-wide forums that “include residents from all income levels;
• Posing documents about 1979 killings and the truth process and on the city’s website;
• Ensuring equal police protection across all geographic areas of the city;
• Providing accurate information on controversial subjects such as immigration, race and sexual orientation; and
• Assisting residents “who are under-privileged, under-served and under-represented” with housing, employment and job training, and providing them with a means to be heard by council.
