Blog
Victory for Equal Protection in Tyrrell County
In a ground-breaking win for Equal Protection, a U.S. district judge, James Denver III, ruled that Black residents of Tyrrell County may proceed with their lawsuit to remove the Confederate monument in front of their courthouse. The County tried to dismiss the...
Community Gathers for Cannabis Reform Conversation
On May 19, 2025, the Child and Family Action Coalition hosted a powerful community forum focused on Cannabis Reform — highlighting how current cannabis laws are harming Black and Brown families across North Carolina. The conversation, led...
Sheriff Birkhead Dodges Accountability at Town Hall in Bahama
This week, Emancipate NC traveled to the Bahama Ruritan Club to attend a town hall held by Durham County Sheriff Clarence Birkhead. Despite repeated requests from community leaders to hold public dialogue in central Durham, the Sheriff chose instead to speak in Bahama...
Don’t Ask Me Shit: Why Black People Shouldn’t Talk to the Police
The police are not broken. They’re doing exactly what they were designed to do: protect property, enforce white supremacy, and crush resistance. For Black people, especially those who understand our struggle through a revolutionary lens, talking to the police is not...
Cannabis Reform Issue Forum
Join the Child & Family Action Coalition for our next community meeting on Monday, May 19, as we dive into the urgent issue of how cannabis laws are weaponized to surveil families and justify family separation. We’ll share updates on the coalition’s work to...
With, Without, and Against the State
“We keep us safe” is a familiar refrain in progressive spaces — and one we hold close at Emancipate NC. Like so many of our partners across North Carolina and beyond, we fight every day — with everything we’ve got — to ensure safety and justice for our communities....
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...