Blog
Crisis at Vance County Jail: Unsafe Conditions, Staffing Shortages, and State Intervention
The Vance County Jail is under urgent scrutiny after the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) flagged dangerous conditions inside the facility — including malfunctioning fire alarms, broken cell locks, rampant contraband, and severe...
Support Meaningful Opportunities for Rehabilitation
Commentary by Phillip Vance Smith, II North Carolina lawmakers sponsored the Prison Resources Repurposing Act (PRRA) for the third time as NC Senate Bill 681 on March 25. As an incarcerated man who has been serving life without parole (LWOP) for murder since 2002,...
Off-Probation Celebration Party for La’Dainian Fuller
Join us on Saturday, June 28 in Gastonia, NC to celebrate a hard-won milestone: La’Dainian Fuller is finally off probation. At just 15 years old, La’Dainian witnessed a police officer kick and abuse his twin brother during an aggressive stop over street closures for a...
NAACP Freedom Fund Awards Gala
Join us for an unforgettable evening as the NAACP Gastonia Branch 5394-B hosts its Freedom Fund Awards Gala on Saturday, June 21, 2025 — featuring keynote speaker Dawn Blagrove of Emancipate NC, alongside special guest Dr....
“They Deserve Hope Too”: Children Sentenced to Die in Prison Are Still Waiting for Mercy
Summary of Phillip Vance Smith II's article, "In North Carolina, Juvenile Lifers See a Pathway to Freedom." Some were barely teenagers when they were sentenced to spend the rest of their lives behind bars. Many endured poverty, trauma, and abuse before ever entering a...
Emancipate NC Sues UNC-Chapel Hill Over Crackdown on Protesters
A few weeks ago, Emancipate NC, alongside ACLU of North Carolina and Muslim Advocates, filed a lawsuit against UNC-Chapel Hill for violating the constitutional rights of student protesters during the 2023–2024 campus demonstrations in...
Charting Our Course Through a Crisis
Mark your calendars! The 19th Annual NC Black Summit takes place April 17–18 at the Raleigh Marriott Crabtree — and this year’s gathering is more important than ever. In the wake of a high-stakes election cycle, this Summit offers space to regroup, recommit, and...
Breaking the Chains
Team Emancipate invites you to participate in the “Breaking the Chains” webinar hosted by Meredith College. This dynamic panel discussion will delve into the devastating impact of overcriminalization and harsh sentencing laws on vulnerable communities, while...
Dillon’s Monthly Wellness Check-in
At Emancipate NC, we know that advocacy requires endurance — and endurance requires care. That’s why we’re creating intentional space for reflection, connection, and healing. Starting this Sunday, join us for our first monthly Wellness Check-In! 🧘♂️ What: A virtual...
Back to Black Conference
Last week, Emancipate NC’s Dedan Waciuri traveled to Miami, FL to attend the Back to Black conference — a powerful gathering of organizers, thinkers, and grassroots leaders committed to advancing Black political power across the South. The...
More on Griffin’s Racist Past (and Present)
This week, the captive North Carolina Court of Appeals issued a cowardly, unsigned per curiam opinion — a move designed to hand a critical North Carolina Supreme Court election to a corrupt candidate. Why? Because Republicans know they can’t win...
End Solitary in Durham
Our friend at Duke Divinity School, Meredith Manchester, has launched a petition calling on Durham residents to demand an end to solitary confinement at the Durham County jail. Sheriff Clarence Birkhead — who brands himself as a progressive — insists that “solitary...
Don’t Forget to Report the Police
Thanks to Attorneys Jaelyn Miller, Ian Mance, and Dillon Sharpe — along with Intern Jared Nava — Team Emancipate secured the dismissal of all charges this week for a client in Pitt County. This victory began with a report submitted through our Report the Police...
Emancipate NC Settles Alamance Protest Case
In 2019, members of the group Never Again Action held a traditional Jewish mourning ceremony outside the Alamance County Detention Center. The vigil was organized to honor the memory of immigrants who died in ICE custody during the first Trump administration. Without...
Register Today: In Our Court
Join us on Saturday, April 12, at NCCU Law School in Durham for a day-long conference dedicated to exploring the pivotal role of North Carolina’s judiciary in the fight for justice. The event will feature interactive sessions, panel discussions, and art installations...