BEN CHAVIS AND THE WILMINGTON TEN

WHEREAS, AFT supports peaceful school desegregation; and

WHEREAS, Rev. Ben Chavis was working against the violence which accompanied the Wilmington, N.C. school desegregation and was subsequently charged with the burning of a grocery store; and

WHEREAS, all witnesses against Rev. Ben Chavis have recanted their testimony; and

WHEREAS, the prosecution has admitted and it has been shown that the prosecution has made promises for and given gifts to insure the false testimony against Rev. Ben Chavis and the rest of the "Wilmington Ten" and that the U.S. Justice Department helped pay for this false testimony:

RESOLVED, that AFT support the Wilmington Ten demand for an immediate release; and

RESOLVED, that AFT call on President Carter and Attorney General Bell to take action to get a pardon of innocence.