Fifth annual North Carolina Vigil for Freedom and Racial Justice commences December 10

RALEIGH (December 9, 2024) – The Decarcerate Now NC coalition announced the launch of the fifth annual North Carolina Vigil for Freedom and Racial Justice, an initiative dedicated to advocating for justice, fairness, and second chances for individuals incarcerated in the state’s prisons, particularly focusing on people of color and those facing poverty.

Press and community members are invited to join the Decarcerate Now NC Coalition on December 10 at 11 a.m., at 298 E. Jones Street (the corner of Person Street and E. Jones Street) in downtown Raleigh to launch this year’s vigil and take a stand in solidarity with the approximately 30,000 mostly Black and Brown people currently incarcerated in state prisons across North Carolina.

The Decarcerate Now NC coalition will deliver a letter to Governor Roy Cooper, calling for decisive actions to decarcerate North Carolina and cease the use of imprisonment as a catch-all response to societal harms, consistent with the recommendations of his own Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice (TREC).

“As we mark the fifth annual Vigil for Freedom and Racial Justice, we stand united in our call to end mass incarceration and dismantle a system that disproportionately impacts Black communities,” said Kristie Puckett, Senior Project Manager at Forward Justice. “This vigil is not only a moment of remembrance but also a powerful declaration of hope and action. We urge Governor Cooper to honor the recommendations of the Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice by taking bold steps to decarcerate North Carolina. Justice delayed is justice denied.”

The vigil will feature a series of events to raise awareness about the issues surrounding mass incarceration.

December 10, 11a.m. – Vigil launch day
December 11, 12p.m. – Community Conversations – Clemency and Compassionate Release
December 18, 12p.m. – Community Conversations – Second Chances in the Wake of Disaster
December 20, 11a.m. – Freedom Friday
December 31, 11a.m. – 2024 Vigil comes to a close
January 8, 12p.m. – Community Conversations – Looking Ahead for Decarceration in North Carolina

The Vigil for Freedom and Racial Justice lifts up the voices and experiences of those currently incarcerated, focusing on the individuals’ names, faces, families, and the impact of the carceral system on communities. The coalition continues to call for the immediate release of those who are ill, elderly, in prison for technical parole violations, and those incarcerated as children, as well as commuting all death sentences, all of which are affected by racial bias.

This year’s vigil is dedicated to the memory of Willie “Pop” Hardy and Phyllis “Grandma” Hardy, passed away just weeks apart this year. They were longtime leaders of the decarceration movement, and the vigil is an opportunity to honor their legacy and their unwavering commitment to freedom and justice.

Members of the community are invited to join the vigil by participating in various demonstrations at the Executive Mansion starting December 10 and continuing every day until December 31. The coalition encourages widespread participation in these events to amplify the call for freedom and fairness.

About Decarcerate Now! NC

Decarcerate Now! NC is a broad coalition of North Carolinians calling for justice, fairness, and second chances for people incarcerated in our state prisons, especially Black people and other people of color.