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9 <br /> WHEREAS, the death penalty has no proven public safety value and public support for executions <br /> has reached historic lows (https://news.gallup.com/poll/513806/new-low-say-death-penalty-fairly- <br /> applied.aspx); and <br /> WHEREAS, millions of North Carolina taxpayers'dollars spent on the death penalty every decade <br /> could be used for crime prevention and programs to offer assistance to murder victims'families; <br /> NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners calls <br /> on the Governor of North Carolina to use his broad clemency power to commute North Carolina's <br /> 136 death sentences to prison terms, therefore insuring that these outdated and unfair sentences <br /> are never carried out. <br /> BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution shall be forwarded by Clerk to the <br /> Board of Commissioners to the Governor of the State of North Carolina. <br /> This the 1 st day of October, 2024. <br /> Jamezetta Bedford, Chair <br /> Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> A motion was made by Vice-Chair Greene, seconded by Commissioner Richards, to <br /> approve the attached Resolution Calling on Governor Roy Cooper to Commute All North Carolina <br /> Death Sentences to Prison Terms; and if approved, authorize the Chair to sign the resolution and <br /> direct the Clerk to the Board of Commissioners to forward the signed resolution to the Governor <br /> of the State of North Carolina. <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> Sally Freeman thanked Vice-Chair Greene and Commissioner Richards for bringing this <br /> resolution forward and the Board for approving it. She said this Friday, walkers participating in the <br /> 136 mile walk across the state will be in Hillsborough at Mt. Bright Baptist Church. She said there <br /> will be a community potluck and program and the Orange County Remembrance Coalition will be <br /> sharing information about historic racial terror lynchings that have happened in Orange County. <br /> She said they will be viewing the film Racist Roots which draws the connection between racial <br /> terror lynching and the death penalty in North Carolina. She introduced NCCADP Executive <br /> Director Noelle Nickle, and Nick Courmon. <br /> Nick Courmon said he currently serves at the NCCADP Community Engagement <br /> Coordinator and also does some spoken word and education as well. He thanked the Board for <br /> adopting this resolution. He said from a moral, equity, and historical perspective, this is the right <br /> decision to make. He said the modern death penalty is rooted in the past of racism and white <br /> supremacy. He said Orange County no stranger to racial terror and named several victims of <br /> racial terror here. He said many state leaders have been silent or lukewarm about the harm that <br /> death penalties have, and it is imperative for all citizens to be trailblazers for truth and set <br /> examples for others to follow. He said it is his hope and prayer that other governing bodies will <br /> follow this resolution adopted by the Board tonight. <br /> Noelle Nickle said she is the Executive Director for NCCADP. She said this 21-partner <br /> coalition is committed to ending the death penalty and creating a new vision of justice rooted in <br /> restorative justice, racial justice, and centering the voices of people most impacted. She said right <br /> this moment, someone is being executed in Texas. She said he is the 6th person to be executed <br /> in the last 10 days. She said this is why they are calling on Governor Cooper to take action so <br />