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Anger, Shock, Hopelessness, Fear Expressed; Some Distrust Justice Some Greensboro residents stood silently in protest in the cold afternoon wind. Others were angry, and said so. Reaction to Monday's verdict freeing six Ku Klux Klansmen and Nazis from charges of murder and rioting came in many forms. At news conferences in the city, people called for further investigations and some spoke openly of distrust of the judicial system. One of the few to applaud the jury's decision was Nazi leader Harold Covington who said in Raleigh he wanted to create a state for racists in the Carolinas. But Covington was the exception. At Morningside Homes, the public housing development in southeast Greensboro where the shootings of five Communist Workers Party demonstrators occurred a year ago, the shock expressed elsewhere in the city just touched the surface of bitter feelings there. Many who two weeks ago recalled feelings of anger and frustration on the one- year anniversary of the shooting spoke up once again. This time the protective edge that once prevailed was not the norm. "We're fired up and can't take it no more," began Keith Wright. "No justice has been done. We've got no kind of system of justice. We've got to (protect) ourselves." iix killers are back out on the street. They (Klansmen and Nazis) killed five peo- ile and got away scot-free," said Nelson Villiamson, throwing his hands up in anguish. "I thought this was the United States. This might as well be a Communist country." Williamson was one of the witnesses during the trial. Five Morningside residents stood two blocks from the corner where the shooting took place. Two weeks ago, none in the group believed the six defendants would receive stiff sentences, but none believed all would be acquitted of every charge. "There is no justice in North Carolina, especially Greensboro," said S.L. Galloway. "If we don't stand up for ourselves nobody will." In mock fright to possible conflicts in the aftermath of the verdict Williamson said, "I'm scared. You think I ain't? I am so scared I don't know what to do." If there was any feeling equal to the bitterness expressed by this group, it was one of hopelessness. "I had a feeling they were going to be freed," said a woman unloading children's books from the rear of a car, "but I still think they should have been punished." "They (the jury) just gave them (Klansmen) a license to kill," said a second woman. "They probably had a Klan member on the jury." A Greensboro disc jockey, who makes his home a few blocks away, said he would have been pleased with a conviction on any charge, except one calling for the death penalty. "I think a guilty verdict would have made the Klan open up more. I think if they go on then maybe they will leave us alone. If the jury had sent them to death row, no telling what might have happened. Just think what would happen if whites start rioting." Not far from Morningside students' at N.C. A&;T State University said the verdict was an outrage. Student Government Association Pres dent Pamela McCorkle said "a Klan men! ity" is spreading throughout the city. Th problem won't be solved "until the peo admit there is a problem." She spoke to about 150 people, most o them news reporters, gathered in the 8 dent union. Deborah Davis, a sophomore social s vice major, said, "It was really unjust anc think it was evident that having an all white jury helped. The Klan can get aw with murder and take more lives." "It was totally wrong, there should ha been more additions to death row," s Maurice Edwards, a senior biology maj "If the white community had been volved, the verdict would have been diff ent," he said. "I feel like somene did something wron somewhere," a bewildered Ronnie Coope a sophomore, said. "Over 600 pieces of e dence and not one piece stuck. How can feel, but angry? The mayor is skeptical a when he is, I know something is wrong. W want to get the facts fast." In downtown Greensboro, others called for more information. The National Anti- Klan Network, one of several groups represented at a Klan protest march last winter, asked the federal government to intervene in the case. Leah Wise spoke for the group at midday from the steps of the federal courthouse on West Market Street. She listed four proposals to further investigate the shootings. She called upon the U.S. Department ol Justice to bring civil rights charges against (See Anger: B-2, Col. 2) Five Morningside residents stood two blocks from the corner where the shooting took place. Two weeks ago, none in the group believed the six defendants would receive stiff sentences, but none believed all would be acquitted of every charge. _ J
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Full text | Anger, Shock, Hopelessness, Fear Expressed; Some Distrust Justice Some Greensboro residents stood silently in protest in the cold afternoon wind. Others were angry, and said so. Reaction to Monday's verdict freeing six Ku Klux Klansmen and Nazis from charges of murder and rioting came in many forms. At news conferences in the city, people called for further investigations and some spoke openly of distrust of the judicial system. One of the few to applaud the jury's decision was Nazi leader Harold Covington who said in Raleigh he wanted to create a state for racists in the Carolinas. But Covington was the exception. At Morningside Homes, the public housing development in southeast Greensboro where the shootings of five Communist Workers Party demonstrators occurred a year ago, the shock expressed elsewhere in the city just touched the surface of bitter feelings there. Many who two weeks ago recalled feelings of anger and frustration on the one- year anniversary of the shooting spoke up once again. This time the protective edge that once prevailed was not the norm. "We're fired up and can't take it no more," began Keith Wright. "No justice has been done. We've got no kind of system of justice. We've got to (protect) ourselves." iix killers are back out on the street. They (Klansmen and Nazis) killed five peo- ile and got away scot-free," said Nelson Villiamson, throwing his hands up in anguish. "I thought this was the United States. This might as well be a Communist country." Williamson was one of the witnesses during the trial. Five Morningside residents stood two blocks from the corner where the shooting took place. Two weeks ago, none in the group believed the six defendants would receive stiff sentences, but none believed all would be acquitted of every charge. "There is no justice in North Carolina, especially Greensboro," said S.L. Galloway. "If we don't stand up for ourselves nobody will." In mock fright to possible conflicts in the aftermath of the verdict Williamson said, "I'm scared. You think I ain't? I am so scared I don't know what to do." If there was any feeling equal to the bitterness expressed by this group, it was one of hopelessness. "I had a feeling they were going to be freed," said a woman unloading children's books from the rear of a car, "but I still think they should have been punished." "They (the jury) just gave them (Klansmen) a license to kill," said a second woman. "They probably had a Klan member on the jury." A Greensboro disc jockey, who makes his home a few blocks away, said he would have been pleased with a conviction on any charge, except one calling for the death penalty. "I think a guilty verdict would have made the Klan open up more. I think if they go on then maybe they will leave us alone. If the jury had sent them to death row, no telling what might have happened. Just think what would happen if whites start rioting." Not far from Morningside students' at N.C. A&;T State University said the verdict was an outrage. Student Government Association Pres dent Pamela McCorkle said "a Klan men! ity" is spreading throughout the city. Th problem won't be solved "until the peo admit there is a problem." She spoke to about 150 people, most o them news reporters, gathered in the 8 dent union. Deborah Davis, a sophomore social s vice major, said, "It was really unjust anc think it was evident that having an all white jury helped. The Klan can get aw with murder and take more lives." "It was totally wrong, there should ha been more additions to death row," s Maurice Edwards, a senior biology maj "If the white community had been volved, the verdict would have been diff ent," he said. "I feel like somene did something wron somewhere," a bewildered Ronnie Coope a sophomore, said. "Over 600 pieces of e dence and not one piece stuck. How can feel, but angry? The mayor is skeptical a when he is, I know something is wrong. W want to get the facts fast." In downtown Greensboro, others called for more information. The National Anti- Klan Network, one of several groups represented at a Klan protest march last winter, asked the federal government to intervene in the case. Leah Wise spoke for the group at midday from the steps of the federal courthouse on West Market Street. She listed four proposals to further investigate the shootings. She called upon the U.S. Department ol Justice to bring civil rights charges against (See Anger: B-2, Col. 2) Five Morningside residents stood two blocks from the corner where the shooting took place. Two weeks ago, none in the group believed the six defendants would receive stiff sentences, but none believed all would be acquitted of every charge. _ J |