The Wilmington 10 Pardon of Innocence Project Local Advisory Committee, the N.C. State Conference of the NAACP and the New Hanover County Branch of the NAACP will sponsor the Wilmington 10 Pardons of Innocence Faith Rally 7–8:30 p.m. June 26 in St. Stephen A.M.E. Church in downtown Wilmington.

The Rev. William Barber II, president of the N.C. NAACP, will be the keynote speaker. The rally's purpose is to raise petition support for pardons of innocence from Gov. Beverly Purdue to the nine black men and one white woman who were convicted in 1972 and later acquitted of firebombing a Wilmington grocery store during a period of racial unrest in the city.

For a pardon of innocence to be granted, criminal charges must have been dismissed and the petitioners found innocent.

 

The event is free.

Details: 910-762-5502.

- Amanda Greene