Wilmington Ten (Source: Facebook)WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Now that the elections have wrapped up, a local group is making a final push to take care of pending business.
The group supporting the Wilmington Ten Pardons of Innocence is asking everyone to sign a petition of pardon on Facebook.
The Wilmington Ten was made up of nine black men and one white woman. They were each wrongly convicted of arson and conspiracy. They were all sentenced to a total of 282 years in prison in 1972.
More than 40 years later, group members want their innocence. The group is hoping the state will declare each Wilmington Ten member innocent of the offenses for which they were wrongfully prosecuted and convicted.
The issue has been in front of Governor Bev Perdue since May. She is expected to make a decision before she steps down from her seat.
Organizers of the group say the next few weeks are critical in proving their innocence. According to a spokesperson for the group, the state NAACP is expected to hold a news conference next week to make a final push for signatures and support.
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