City Offers Official Statement of Regret regarding November 3, 1979

by the Beloved Community Center

Jun. 18, 2009

On Tuesday, June 16, 2009, the Greensboro City Council offered an official statement of regret regarding the events of November 3, 1979 (the 1979 Klan and Nazi killings).  This was a significant step towards truth for Greensboro, NC.  The Beloved Community Center and the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project (GTCRP) celebrate the city council’s statement and understand it to be an historic moment.  The Statement of Regret reads, 

“Without acknowledging or creating any city employee, or Public Official liability, 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 efforts of many individuals and the organizations to promote healing among the residents of our community by replacing divisiveness with harmonious relationships.  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 our support to help the community heal.” 

The Statement of Regret comes as part of a report created by the Greensboro Human Relation Commission that was offered and received by city council that night.  The Human Relation Commission used the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s scholarly report, alone with other related documents, to propose recommendations to the city council on how it can help a community heal and deal with the realities of the 1979 Klan and Nazi killings.  The Local Task Force of the GTCRP will continue build authentic community by lifting up the recommendations of the Greensboro TRC, and seeking meaningful relationships that promote healing.  Special thanks to the City Council of Greensboro and the Human Relation Commission for their bold step in this process.
 may read more about the Greensboro Truth and Community Reconciliation Project, the Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a statement issued by Rev. Nelson Johnson of the Beloved Community Center, and other articles below.  Please continue to check the Beloved Community Center website for future updates. 

Article:  Council expresses regret over '79 shooting News and Record Staff Writer Amanda Lehmert  http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/06/16/article/council_expresses_regret_over_79_shootings

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Article:  City's Regret over Klan-Nazi shootings may soften tone of race debate News and Record Staff Writer Gerald Witt  http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/06/17/article/city_s_regret_over_klan_nazi_shootings_may_soften_tone_of_race_debate

Thursday, June 18 2009

Greensboro Truth and Reconciliation Project    http://www.gtcrp.org/

Greensboro Truth & Reconciliation Commission  http://www.greensborotrc.org/

Statement by Rev. Nelson Johnson, 1979 Survivor, Executive Director of the Beloved Community Center  http://www.belovedcommunitycenter.org/newsview/8544cb30eea89181aaf01710f1f32f64

Please stay connected because the 30th Anniversary of November 3rd is approaching.  More information reagarding any commemorative events will follow soon.

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