82-year-old civil rights case revived in Alabama

Members of the Alabama National Guard escort the Scottsboro Boys into the Morgan County Courthouse in this 1933 photo. / Ho,AP Photo/The Decatur Daily

MONTGOMERY, Ala. In 1931, Alabama wanted to execute the black Scottsboro Boys because two white women claimed they were gang-raped. Now, state officials are trying to exonerate them in a famous case from the segregated South that some consider the beginning of the modern civil rights movement.

Two Democratic and two Republican legislators unveiled proposals Monday for the legislative session starting Tuesday. A resolution labels the Scottsboro Boys as "victims of a series of gross injustice" and declares them exonerated. A companion bill gives the state parole board the power to issue posthumous pardons.

Republican Sen. Arthur Orr of Decatur said Alabama can't change history, "but that does not that mean we should not take steps today to address things that we can here in the 21st century that might not have been as they should have been."

Gov. Robert Bentley's press secretary, Jennifer Ardis, said he supports the effort to pardon the Scottsboro Boys and believes "it's time to right this wrong."

Sheila Washington, founder of the Scottsboro Boys Museum and Cultural Center in Scottsboro, started organizing the effort after the museum opened in 2010.

The museum chronicles how race and sex intersected in the segregated South on March 25, 1931, when a sheriff's posse stopped a train at Paint Rock. Nine black youths, ages 12 to 19, were hoboing on the train and thought they were being arrested for fighting with whites on the train. Instead, they were accused of gang-raping two white women who were also riding the freight train.

The nine, from Georgia and Tennessee, went on trial in Scottsboro and were convicted by an all-white jury. All but the youngest received a death sentence but later won new trials. One of the women recanted her story. Five of the Scottsboro Boys eventually had the rape charges dropped, while four were convicted during their retrials.

In 1976, the only known living Scottsboro Boy, Clarence Norris, obtained a pardon from then-Gov. George C. Wallace and the state parole board. At the time, there was talk of trying to do something for Andy and Roy Wright, Haywood Patterson, Olen Montgomery, Charlie Weems, Ozie Powell, William Roberson and Eugene Williams. But nothing happened, and then little was said after Norris died in 1989.

Washington called the new legislative effort "a triumph for me."

"It's long overdue. It's almost 83 years old, but the case will never die as long as there is a courtroom to present justice in," she said.

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[rjack61]

democracy8, no need to be snippy with me. Again, its a waste of money anyway you look at. My opinion. You don't have to agree.

[rjack61]

Is there a financial benefit to the relatives of those that were falsely accused? If not, what does this really do for those men? I mean, really, people don't we have enough to deal with in this country? And, Alabama, I'm sure your state's resources would be better spent on issues and services that benefit the living. Just saying.

[democracy8]

It's a simple concept, known as "doing the right thing." Perhaps you should familiarize yourself with it.

[buckn]

I'd have to see the evidence on both sides before I could POSSIBLY make a judgement on this. The story seems to want to exonerate the men because they infer that they were found guilty because of their race. But, could it be that they were actually guilty? All I'm saying is that, to find them innocent because of their race is just as much an injustice as finding them guilty because of their race.
True, the women recanted their story, leading to the carges being dropped on five of the men, but four were still found guilty. Why? Before the race card is played, be sure that it should.

[VO142857]

They did NOT receive a fair trial. Their original conviction MUST be overturned regardless of their guilt or innocence. After that we have 2 options -- double jeopardy or statute of limitations. Both of them make retrial illegal.

[signseeker1717]

"The story seems to want to exonerate the men because they infer that they were found guilty because of their race."

It's not the "story" that wants to exonerate them, it's a bipartisan group who wants long-delayed justice. They wouldn't do this at all (in Alabama, of all places), AND follow suit from George WALLACE if there was ANY doubt that this was NOT appropriate.

Do you honestly think that in 1931 Alabama race wasn't THE factor in these accusations being made in the first place?

And if people who are EXPERTS on this case know what happened, why should YOU need "evidence"?

[flexsf]

Why do corporations reward these states with their presence? I was offered a position in Atlanta, and promptly rejected it. It told my human resource manager that I'll never contribute my time, or talent in a society that fosters racism, sexism and homophobia in their laws. These places deserve to wither on the vine.

[luadda22]

Atlanta???? WOW!! 54% of the population of Atlanta is black, the Mayor is black, 12 of the 16 members of the City Council are black, the Police Chief is black, 57% of the police force is black.... want me to continue?

I think we see who the real racist is here. What a fool.

[mrleme]

Wow, doesn't sound like you're open to others living freely even if it seems to impose on you. Shut down everything you don't agree with?