Black community shakes up Duke University

By Jesse Muhammad
Staff Writer | Last updated: May 16, 2006 - 2:13:00 PM

Black students rally around Duke rape victim (FCN, 04-18-2006)

With Black women at the front, Attorney Malik Zulu Shabazz led a march from the entrance of Duke University to the house on Buchanan Street where the alleged rape of a Black woman attending North Carolina Central University occurred. Photo: Jesse Muhammad

DURHAM, N.C. (FinalCall.com) - The present alleged rape case involving members of the Lacrosse team of Duke University has caused a major divide along racial lines in the city of Durham.

As a result of the media maligning the character of the rape victim, New Black Panther Party (NBPP) National Chairman Malik Zulu Shabazz rallied his organization, local leaders and residents to take a stand against the injustice surrounding this heated case, and organized a press conference, demonstration and town hall meeting on May 1. As an attorney, he held concerns about the effective prosecution of the case and announced his decision to conduct a private investigation.

“The history of Duke University is rooted in racism. Racism existed long before we (NBPP) got here. The two defendants must be brought to justice and we will accept nothing else!” demanded Atty. Shabazz during the press conference held at the Duke campus entrance on Chapel Drive. “We are here to say to our Sister, you need not fear testifying. You have strong support and backing.”

He then strongly addressed how the victim has been made out to be the criminal in the media. “The burden of this case has been put on the victim and they have made the criminals look like the victims. Her past is on trial and that is unjust. But we cannot stand by and do nothing. We (NBPP) are in this for the long run.”

The atmosphere surrounding the case intensified with the victim receiving death threats and the NBPP offered personal security to the rape victim and her family.

Sasha, a student at North Carolina Central University, delivered a strong message on behalf of her fellow classmates.

Adding to this fervor, a few days before the demonstration, Duke University President Richard Brodhead sent out an email “warning” students, staff and faculty of the arrival of the group he and others deemed “an extremist group who carry guns that will not be allowed to disrupt the campus.”

Despite such attempts by him and the media to drum up fear and tension with this image, residents showered the NBPP with love and support for standing up with courage.

In his press statement, Atty. Shabazz presented eight demands formulated by members of the Black community of Durham, which included that the defendants in the rape case, Collin Finnerty and Reade Seligmann, be tried and convicted, an immediate end to all attacks on the victim, an end to irresponsible media reporting, and that the crime scene on Buchanan St. be converted into a Rape Crisis Center.

The press conference gathering included Nation of Islam Durham Representative Minister David Muhammad, School Board Member Jackie Wagstaff, activist Victoria Peterson, Dr. Bruce Bridges, Minnie Brown, the Concerned Citizens of Durham, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) student leaders, Hillside High School students and Duke University students.

“We are outraged by the rape of our Sister,” Min. David stressed. “They don’t expect Black men to stand up for their women, but we are here.”

Victoria Peterson presented statistics that show over 80 rape cases that have occurred in that part of town, with five of them taking place on the campus of Duke. “You talk about the Panthers being dangerous, but this university is a danger to the people of Durham,” she contended.

“We must put a stop to all rapes and sexual assaults on all women. We are tired of this and want it to end now,” pled Sasha of NCCU.

Her sentiments were echoed by Hillside High school student Tazjia Harris, who yelled, “This case will be the example of how to put an end to this. No woman deserves to be raped!”

The day of the demonstration marked the first day of final exams for the students—the reason given by Duke Police Chief Robert Dean and Aaron Graves, vice president for campus safety and security, for preventing the demonstrators from entering the campus to march. University officials said previously they wanted to allow students to study for exams without “disruption.”

Unshaken by the opposition, the residents chanted, “Black power!” and “Shame on Duke” along with the Panthers as they marched two miles to the house on Buchanan. With a police escort, the line of marchers swelled as onlookers fell into step with what has been called the largest march ever held in that area.

Once at the scene of the alleged crime, Atty. Shabazz and local leaders addressed the crowd before concluding the demonstration with a unity prayer for the victim and her family. The gathering at the house drew nearly 30 White students, bearing the Duke logos on their clothing, who watched from a distance.

“I don’t totally agree with the Black Panthers, but this crime was awful and it has hurt the image of this university,” stated a White Duke University student to the media.

The respect and protection of the Black woman was the core of the keynote address delivered by Atty. Shabazz to the crowd that filled St. Joseph’s AME Church to capacity for a town hall meeting addressing the concerns of the Black community.

The overwhelming turnout of the Black community was the fruit of the hard labor of NBPP Field Marshall Najee Muhammad, who met with local leaders and organizations. The fertile ground of support was further tilled by one of the lead supporters, Dr. Bruce Bridges, owner of The Know Bookstore, who was instrumental in spreading the word about the demonstration. After holding a press conference on Apr. 30, Atty. Shabazz hosted a community forum at the bookstore to develop demands to be made as it related to the case.

Despite opposition from the Duke University administration and local media attacks on the NBPP, the family of the rape victim welcomed him with open arms for a private meeting at their home. Atty. Shabazz then spoke with the District Attorney Mike Nifong to discuss developments of the case, followed by several radio interviews.

“We need to atone for hurting our women. We need to uplift them because where the woman is decaying, the civilization is decaying,” he told the audience at the town hall meeting. “Stand up and let them know Black people have a vested interest in this case,” he implored.

A group of over 20 students from NCCU that participated in the day’s events remarked, “This was a powerful demonstration by the Black Panthers.”

Local leaders and the NBPP are gearing up to install economic sanctions against businesses owned and operated by Duke University, as well as mobilizing a national march this fall in Durham that will thematically focus on the “Support, Respect and Protection of Black Women.” NBPP leadership will court monitor and organize throughout the trial to ensure justice is done in this case.

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