NAACP against death-penalty bill change


May. 28 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. — The National Association for the Advancement of 
Colored People (NAACP) is taking a stand against changes by the state 
Senate to a bill designed to prevent racial bias in the death penalty.

Death-penalty amendment draws criticism

The Racial Justice Act would allow a death row inmate to appeal his 
conviction if race played a role during trial. Two weeks ago, the 
bill cleared the chamber but with an amendment that would restart 
executions by allowing doctors and nurses to be present. The change 
would remove a legal obstacle that has halted executions for two years.
The NAACP and other religious groups oppose this addition to the bill.
“I am opposed to the racial justice act," said Senate Minority Leader 
Phil Berger said.
Berger, who added the amendment to the bill, said he did so because 
the act places "another potential hurdle from carrying out death 
sentences and gives defendants a second bite at the apple.”
Rev. William Barber, with the state chapter of the NAACP, disagrees 
with Berger.  He and others began pushing for the Racial Justice Act 
after three African-American inmates, who sat on death row for a 
combined total of 40 years, were exonerated.
They say the intention of the act is to give defendants in capital 
murder cases the right to challenge their prosecution on racial bias 
grounds. However, Barber says state legislators have now changed the 
original purpose of the bill.
"Ultra conservatives and others used it as a pretext for restarting 
the death penalty, rather than staying focused on the real issue, 
which is racial justice," Barber said.
Supporters of the death penalty say, even with the changes, the bill 
will create another loophole for defendants to slow cases.
"It's intended to halt the system. It will make capital punishment 
unenforceable,” said Wayne Uber, a death penalty supporter.
Uber, a Chapel Hill resident, has personal reasons for supporting the 
death penalty. His twin brother Jeffrey was murdered in Florida.
"I do something everyday to honor my brother's memory,” he said.
Uber said he believes cases with racial bias should be appealed. But 
he also thinks current legal wrangling on the issue hurts victims' 
families.
"The main thing behind a lot of that frustration is just fear,” Uber 
said.
Barber said he plans to keep fighting for the bill to be passed 
without the amendment, and insists race is a factor.
"In North Carolina and throughout the south, we have killed innocent 
black men and have placed black men on death row because of their 
race, or because of the race of the victim,” Barber said.
The bill will go before another committee of state legislators 
Wednesday.

Reporter: Dan Bowens

Copyright 2009 by Capitol Broadcasting Company

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