Black Lives Matter.
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

NC Council of Churches

Strength in Unity, Peace through Justice

  • Voices
  • About
    • Overview
    • Staff
    • Members
    • Covenant Partners
    • Issue Statements
    • Governing Board
  • Programs
    • Ecumenical Immigration Alliance
      • Ideas for Action
      • Sign Our Statement
      • The NC Sanctuary Coalition
      • Immigration Bible Study
      • Contact
    • NC Interfaith Power & Light
      • NCIPL Overview
      • Faith in Action NCIPL
      • NCIPL Articles
      • NCIPL Resources
      • Upcoming Events for NCIPL
      • Contact NCIPL
    • Partners in Health & Wholeness
      • PHW Staff
      • Mini-Grants
      • PHW Collaborative Pledge
      • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
      • PHW Articles
      • FAQs
  • Priorities
    • Racial Justice
    • The Overdose Crisis: The Faith Community Responds
    • Gun Violence Prevention
    • Public Education
    • NC Sanctuary Coalition
    • Farmworkers
    • Legislative Advocacy
    • Christian Unity
    • Peace
    • NC No Torture
  • COVID-19 Resources
  • Events
  • Resources
    • Publications & Reports
    • Raleigh Report
    • Lectionary
    • Sermons
  • Donate
  • Council Store
  • Show Search

Search NC Council of Churches

Hide Search

Civil Rights Panel Gets an Earful on Wake Schools

Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director · May 5, 2011 · Leave a Comment

By Thomas Goldsmith, The News & Observer

RALEIGH — All the conflict raging about the Wake schools for the past year and a half came spilling out Wednesday night when a panel of federal civil rights investigators heard testimony – often heated – in an East Raleigh church.

The hearing concerned a complaint against Wake Public Schools, filed with the federal education department by the state NAACP. An estimated 200 people nearly filled the fellowship hall at Martin Street Baptist Church, with speakers making emphatic points on both sides of the issues.

Fired-up, Wake County parent Darryl Fulton brought his four children to the microphone to argue that the innocent love that all children feel for people of all backgrounds was being jeopardized by racism in the schools system.

“They are being introduced to blatant white supremacy in the Wake County school system,” Fulton said.

The complaint accuses the Wake school board of discriminating against minority children by discarding a diversity-based student assignment policy and by using long-term suspension and other disciplinary methods disproportionately against minority students.

A finding that Wake schools have violated civil rights law, which the system hotly denies, could result in the loss of millions of dollars annually in federal support.

Howard Kallem, chief attorney for the Office for Civil Rights, called up about 30 speakers, most of whom spoke against the Republican dominated board which swept into power during fall elections in 2009.

“Thank you for the diverse panel tonight,” retired Wake schools teacher Doris Burke told the five-member group of investigators. “We will not and shall not go back to the back of the bus and that seems like what they are trying to do with our children.”

‘None of this is new’

Speaking against the NAACP complaint, Cary resident Joe Ciulla told the panel that many of the issues before them long predated the tenure of the present board. Ciulla said the new board won its right to run the system based on votes from parents frustrated about frequent reassignment of their own children and their perceptions that the busing-based diversity policy wasn’t working for low-income children.

“None of this is new,” Ciulla said. “A majority of the people who voted in that election wanted to send their children closer to home.”

School board supporter Jennifer Mansfield questioned the timing of the complaint filed by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“We already had racially identifiable schools, and nobody complained about them,” Mansfield said. “It’s not as though the new school board came in and automatically did these things.”

The Rev. William E. Barber, state NAACP president, argued that decisions already made by the current board showed a clear movement toward schools with high levels of racial isolation. He used the new Walnut Creek Elementary School as an example.

Board members have made plans to offer extra support and programs to high-poverty schools including Walnut Creek.

David LaMatte, representing the N.C. Council of Churches, told investigators that the current board was misguided in its move toward neighborhood schools, which he said were destined to lead to resegregation.

“We know what will happen,” LaMatte said. “We know that separate will never be equal.”

The federal investigators have said they will hold a second community meeting in another section of Wake County, but time and location have not been announced.

thomas.goldsmith@newsobserver.com or 919-829-8929

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/05/05/1176189/passion-spills-at-schools-hearing.html#ixzz1LUdlbeBx

Filed Under: In the Media Tagged With: Civil Discourse, Equality & Reconciliation, Public Education, Religion & Society

Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

About Aleta Payne, Former Deputy Executive Director

Aleta Payne first joined the Council staff in the spring of 2001 as the Communications Associate. She continues to oversee that work along with development, represents the Council in several partnership efforts, and serves in other administrative roles, as well. Aleta is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a degree in government and foreign affairs and spent much of her early career as a journalist. She has three young adult sons who continue to come home to Cary for dinner, or at least groceries, and two young adult terrier-mix dogs who keep the nest from feeling too empty.

Reader Interactions

More Like This

Raleigh Report: Sidetrack for photo voter ID
Raleigh Report: Flawed deal to resurrect Silent Sam
Path to Fairer Maps, Better Government

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous comments or comments that target individuals will not be posted (please include your first and last name). All comments must be on topic and respectful. Comments will not be posted until they have been reviewed by a moderator. Comments do not reflect the positions of the NC Council of Churches.

Footer

Contact

NC Council of Churches
27 Horne St.
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 828-6501
info@ncchurches.org

Facebook

Partners in Health and Wholeness

Featured

Civil Rights Panel Gets an Earful on Wake Schools

Latest Tweets

ICYMI: Check out our spotlight piece on Olive Branch Ministry, Hickory, to learn more about their faith-based harm reduction work serving the foothills and piedmont of North Carolina. ncchurches.org/2021/…

About 15 hours ago

This Earth Month, we're calling on our network to advocate with compassion for a just & sustainable future. To support you in this hard & holy work, @NCIPL complied a toolkit with policy positions, calls to action, & how we engage in faith-based advocacy. ncchurches.org/advoc…

Yesterday

Make sure to register for our upcoming Legislative Seminar. Our opening worship service and award ceremony will honor Michael S. Regan, Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, with the Faith Active in Public Life award. ncchurches.ourpowerb… pic.twitter.com/rG7U…

About 2 days ago

Faith Climate Action Week is coming up! This year's theme is Sacred Ground: Cultivating Connections Between our Faith, our Food, and the Climate. Follow the link to find events >> faithclimateactionwe…

About 4 days ago

2021 is the year for drawing districts in each state after the completion of the US Census. Check out the @LWV's blog on encouraging people to speak up about the drawing of fair maps. Read now >> lwv.org/blog/redistr… pic.twitter.com/4KMR…

Last week

Follow @ncchurches

Latest Tweets

Now that all North Carolinians age 16+ are eligible to receive a #COVID19 vaccine, use the @ncdhhs resource hub to find a local provider near you to get your shot! #MySpotMyShotNC #NC covid19.ncdhhs.gov/v… #MindfulTogether

Yesterday

Join us next Thurs., April 22 for our Sacred Conversations event on caring for creation. We'll be discussing environmental caretaking, collective action, and our Sustainability Pledge. Register online at ncchurches.ourpowerb… @NCIPL #MindfulTogether #EarthDay pic.twitter.com/GTpI…

About 2 days ago

Read our spotlight piece on Olive Branch Ministry to learn more about their faith-based harm reduction work serving the foothills and piedmont of North Carolina. ncchurches.org/2021/… @olivebranchgals #MindfulTogether pic.twitter.com/xj2U…

About 3 days ago

Our work has led us to recognize the impact our environment has on our health and ability to flourish. Click below to read more about our commitment to being stewards of God’s good Creation through our Sustainability Pledge. ncchurches.org/phw-s… @NCIPL #MindfulTogether

About 4 days ago

Awesome opportunity from our partners at @emergingissues! #MindfulTogether twitter.com/emerging…

About 5 days ago

Follow @healthandfaith

Latest Tweets

RT @healthandfaith Join us next Thurs., April 22 for our Sacred Conversations event on caring for creation. We'll be discussing environmental caretaking, collective action, and our Sustainability Pledge. Register online at ncchurches.ourpowerb… @NCIPL #MindfulTogether #EarthDay pic.twitter.com/GTpI…

Yesterday

RT @GretaThunberg Wealthiest 1% produce double the combined CO2 emissions of poorest 50%. "We have got to cut over-consumption and the best place to start is over-consumption among the polluting elites who contribute by far more than their share of carbon emissions." bbc.com/news/science…

About 3 days ago

RT @PriceofOil We’re proud to support this crucial new report from @greenpeaceusa, @Mvmnt4BlkLives, & @GCCLP. Every stage of oil, gas, & coal production contributes to racial injustice. We can tackle climate change & racism together by phasing out fossil fuels. Read: bit.ly/FFracismblog pic.twitter.com/xRn1…

About 3 days ago

RT @StopCorpAbuse Every stage of oil, gas, and coal production contributes to racial injustice. We deserve a world beyond fossil fuels. Take action to #EndFossilFuelRacism: bit.ly/FFracismblog pic.twitter.com/oSwE…

About 3 days ago

RT @ClimatePower Your daily reminder: pic.twitter.com/DEvP…

About 3 days ago

Follow @ncipl

Latest Tweets

Copyright © 2021 NC Council of Churches · All Rights Reserved · Website by Tomatillo Design · Hosted by WP Engine