RALEIGHMore legislators want to apologize for the state’s role in perpetuating slavery.
Lawmakers are now being asked to consider not one, but two, resolutions apologizing for the state’s role in slavery. Two state House members, Rep. Larry Womble and Rep. Earline Parmon, Democrats from Winston- Salem, filed a resolution Wednesday apologizing for slavery and its lasting effects.
A leading state senator, Democrat Tony Rand of Fayetteville, introduced a resolution Tuesday expressing similar sentiments.
Another House member, Republican Ruth Samuelson of Charlotte, had a resolution ready to file that would have the legislature atone for slavery and discriminatory Jim Crow laws. She decided not to file her resolution, saying she did not want to compete with Womble.
“The idea is to get it done,” she said. “The idea isn’t to compete over who gets it done.”
State Republican Party Chairwoman Linda Daves issued a statement supporting a state apology.
Womble has a history of introducing bills addressing slavery and discrimination. Last year, he sponsored a bill that would have had companies doing business in the state examine their records for evidence that they participate or profited from slavery. That bill didn’t go anywhere. The slavery apology has considerably more support among lawmakers.
“It’s the right thing to do,” Womble said. “I decided to make sure that North Carolina did the right thing by apologizing for this terrible chapter in our state history.”