My Letter Writing Campaign

Below you will find letters I've sent to the NAACP, Governor Michael Easley, and others. Use these as a sort of template if you wish, to write your own.



NAACP National Headquarters
4805 Mt. Hope Drive
Baltimore, Md. 21215

March 12, 2007

Re: Duke Lacrosse legal matter in Durham

Dear Sirs:
I am writing this letter to voice my concern and dismay at the N.C. chapter of the NAACP. I am sure you are thinking “why not write them directly?” I wanted the national office to understand just what the N.C. chapter is doing to the credibility of your entire organization. Because of the magnitude of the case, every chapter in every state is going to end up paying for the sins of the N.C. chapter and its case monitor, one Irving Joyner. We have seen time and again that the NAACP calls upon ALL citizens to help fight and show light upon a blatant and corrupt prosecution of some obviously innocent African American individual. Now, I submit, it is time to be evenhanded in this pursuit.

Mr. Joyner has gone on record on numerous occasions in support of District Attorney Michael B. Nifong. Even as the case has unraveled and it has become clear that an entire community rallied around a woman who used a lie to stay out of mandatory detox, and a District Attorney who used this same lie to sway minority votes in an election, Mr. Joyner has steadfastly supported Mr. Nifong and this hoax. A man I might add, in his defense to the state bar, has said if a defendant can afford the best lawyers to read reports fine, if not then oh well. Can you truly support this man in good conscience? We obviously know that the majority of African American residents of Durham and elsewhere are not in financial shape to afford the best legal defense. Sadly, the next time you call upon ALL citizens of our local and national communities to support your next case of injustice, there are many who are going to remember the Duke case and how you persisted in your cries of "Wolf" instead of insisting upon scrupulous fairness for all citizens. Further, how is this going to help the next poor innocent soul whom you choose to support? People will remember this case. It will destroy your credibility. Is this really what you want? More importantly, is this what men like Dr. Martin Luther King fought so hard for? I think not. He demanded true justice for all citizens, not justice based on our personal likes or dislikes.

This is a very sad commentary on a man that so many claim to respect and a very sad commentary on a man whose ideas many pledge to build upon. The only conclusion I can come to after examining the whole situation is simply that Mr. Joyner and the N.C. chapter officers caved in, reflexively, to local pressure. I would hate to see more Alan Gells come before the justice system anywhere knowing how your support is, at face value, different based on skin color.

Please, I would respectfully ask, Demand of the State of North Carolina that this injustice end now.
Sincerely





Governor Michael Easley
Office of the Governor
20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-0301

March 13, 2007

Re: Duke lacrosse legal matter

Dear Governor Easley

I am writing as a former resident of North Carolina and a concerned citizen for justice. I am sure you are aware of the situation in Durham. Three young men are charged with crimes by the state that not only did they not commit, but that never happened. All evidence made public to date shows this to the conclusion of any reasonable individual.

I understand that you have many factors to consider. Among these factors are the residents of Durham and how they will react when they find out that a district attorney running his first election campaign, mislead them for personal gain. It is my personal opinion that somebody in power should stand up and say enough is enough. As a lifelong registered democrat, I see it as an opportunity to show the citizens of Durham and beyond that Justice in North Carolina is not done in secret or done for the personal gains of the various officers of the court. I believe that if you or Attorney General Cooper were to make a public showing with a full investigation of the corruption, you would show democrat and republican alike that justice is justice and not politics.

I would like to think that I am a reasonable man. One of the first things to cross my mind upon reading about the case and where it stands today is that any future vacations should avoid the state. I bring this up because in my home state of Florida we see tourism board ads for many states. I just happened to see a tourism ad when reading about the case. If I can make that association, I’m sure many, many others either can or already have. The potential for damage to the democratic party nationally, North Carolina as a state, and the political officials within that state is to my mind almost beyond comprehension. The discussions on the internet about the deep roots of corruption in Durham and beyond are truly very sad.

In conclusion, I believe this is a great opportunity to show the rest of the nation that democrats are only human and more importantly, we as a party are willing to admit mistakes and clean them up. Even if my take on that opportunity is wrong, do 3 innocent young men need to be punished over a crime that never happened? Thank you for taking the time to hear my plea.


Sincerely

Email to Dr Brodhead


Dear Dr. Brodhead

I am writing to you because of the events of last spring. I’m sure you realize I’m talking about what is now referred to as the rape scandal. You have my deepest sympathies, not only for what the apparently false claims did to the school, but because you are being looked at under a microscope. Your every action is sadly being analyzed by everybody from highly qualified academics, to armchair quarterback pseudo-intellectuals. I’m sure this has made for some very short nights for yourself and your faculty and staff.

My “agenda” in this letter is simply this. Duke needs to be out of the press. We, the outside world, see a lack of organization at your school. We see faculty vocal against students and faculty infighting. Please don’t take these words as an insult. They are not meant to be. I am stating only what I see here in Florida as evidenced by the civil suit and the news reports. I understand that you have healing to do and intricate problems to resolve, and appearances can be very deceiving. Every time Collin, Reade, and David are mentioned, Duke University and its lacrosse program follow. Then, along come statements about corrupt prosecution, the protests sponsored and or supported by the 88 vocal professors, and a litany of expressions and comments that are just not needed.

The only way that Duke University is going to get the “rest” that it needs is to push for an end to a scandal that is still ongoing. As long as Collin, Reade and David are still charged with crimes, Duke is still associated with that scandal. To those ends, I would implore you to marshal your resources and take a more vocal and postured stance in support of the 3 students. Show Governor Easley and Attorney General Cooper your support for these men. Once the scandal is out of the news the healing can truly begin. Once the scandal is history, the press won’t have an interest and your university.


Sincerely and respectfully submitted