In October 2021 and in December 2022, we covered developments in an Alamance County defamation suit against a Black anti-racist activist, Dejuana Bigelow, and the role that Emancipate NC has played in the case over time. Last week, Ms. Bigelow and her attorneys, Erika Wilson and Destiny Planter, closed the case with another, final win.
On the evening of Monday, June 12, Dawn Blagrove will join Ms. Bigelow and others for a forum about moving toward justice in Alamance County. Contact us for more information if you are interested in attending.
After her victory, Ms. Bigelow shared these reflections:
On June 2, 2023, I was found innocent of libel by a jury of my peers. In plain language, I told the truth about Jessica Shoffner and the vilely racist comments she made at a peaceful protest. Through 3 years of bullying, being called dishonest, and having my family and friends be threatened by white supremacists, today I was able to finally put an end to this fight. And, I won. We won. Truth won.
This case merged some of the toughest issues in Alamance County, the county I know and love. As many of you know, Jessica Shoffner, once a nurse at Alamance Regional Medical Center, accused me of defaming her after I reported her for making a concerning statement. I was not the first or last person to report Jessica to our shared employer at the time. I was also not the only person to raise awareness about this on social media. I was one of many.
But, instead of rehashing the trauma and pain of the Shoffner v. Bigelow case, I want to discuss the hope it has created for me, as well as other similarly-situated members of Alamance County. While this is the place I call home, the place I know and love, this is also a place that often uses power to silence the marginalized. That beats down the fire that burns in our chest for equity and fairness. But today, we are reminded that Alamance County does not have to be what it has been.
Alamance County, my home, is a place that is capable of unity. This is a place that has issues we must come together to address. This is a place pierced with and by racial tension. However, successfully defending myself against the civil defamation suit Jessica Shoffner brought against me has emboldened my hope and commitment to bettering our community.
I imagine an Alamance County where individuals are not dragged into three-year long lawsuits simply for standing up for what is right. I imagine an Alamance County where nurses don’t feel comfortable making racialized statements. I imagine an Alamance County where individuals are held accountable. I imagine an Alamance County where people understand that bad choices have bad consequences. I imagine an Alamance County where individuals feel honored to take the witness stand, not afraid they’ll be targeted shortly after. I imagine an Alamance County where I can protect members of the community without being threatened. Most importantly, I imagine a more united Alamance County.
Though Jessica Shoffner was Goliath for three years, on June 2, 2023, I was David. After deliberating for just a few hours, the jury unanimously ruled in my favor. I am elated to put this situation behind me. However, the true work begins now—and I am going to need all of your help. Let’s create a better Alamance County—together.