Social justice Coverage

Durham group asking for more funding, increased access for HEART in light of in-custody deaths

A Durham group advocating for community-led safety is asking for more money from the city to help a newly-formed group in light of recent tragedies.

Sarah Krueger, WRAL Durham reporter

Triangle group gathers to be voice of the voiceless amid protests in Iran

Mahsa Amini died while in police custody for wearing a scarf improperly. A woman from the Triangle is bringing awareness to what happened.

Julian Grace, WRAL anchor/reporter

Video of Raleigh police kneeling on model's neck goes viral

Raleigh police were caught on camera kneeling on one man's neck and yanking the hair of a manager during an arrest at a local Wingstop. Authorities say the manager was interfering with their duties, but she claims the officers wrongfully assaulted her. She shares her story, through tears, with WRAL's Amanda Lamb.

Video shows Raleigh police officers kneel on man's neck, yank on woman's hair during Wingstop arrests

Several videos circulating on social media show Raleigh police officers aggressively arresting a Wingstop employee and a customer on New Hope Church Road on Friday night. Social justice activists and the employee who was arrested claim that Raleigh police officers escalated the situation and used unnecessary force.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter; Maggie Brown, WRAL multiplatform producer

12-year-old Black athlete nearly disqualified from swim meet for swimsuit

During a Sunday swim meet at a YMCA in Wisconsin, controversy arose after one 12-year-old athlete wore a Black Lives Matter swimsuit. IN LIGHT OF AMIR LOCKE'S DEATH... LEIDY.. WHO IS 12-YEARS-OLD... WORE A SWIMSUIT DISPLAYING THE WORDS "BLACK LIVES MATTER."

Activists call for change after officials arrest suspect in 5-year-old's murder four years later

Members of the New Hanover Chapter of the National Black Leadership Caucus have spent the years following Paitin Fields' death calling for justice.

Even after body camera footage released, activists and police disagree on killing of Daniel Turcios

Social justice advocates say that the shooting death of Daniel Turcios was entirely preventable, while a spokesperson for the officers involved said that they acted appropriately for the situation. Lee Turner, an attorney representing some of the officers involved, said that Turcios was attempting to harm officers, while Kerwin Pittman, an activist with Emancipate NC, says that Turcios was disoriented after the crash and Taser.

Funding justice: how local community leaders tap into resources to fuel their work

Through United Way's Anti-Racism Community Fund, local leaders of color are building resources and environments that fuel community-driven change.

Abbey Slattery, WRAL Digital Solutions

NC Poor People's Campaign holds discussion on systemic racism

A conversation on systemic racism took place in Raleigh Saturday. NC Poor People's Campaign held the discussion at the Pullen Memorial Church.

Raleigh businesses still recovering a year after boarding up for protests

Bill King with the Downtown Raleigh Alliance says there remains a perception that downtown is largely boarded up, but he says 96% of these plywood boards are down.

Aaron Thomas, WRAL reporter

On the Record May 22, 2021: A year of action since the death of George Floyd

On the Record explores what has and has not changed in the year since George Floyd's death in police custody and previews the WRAL Documentary 'The Skin We're In.'

Fuquay-Varina family still has questions after teen was cuffed in search for stolen dirt bike

Ty Ziglar said she is not satisfied withe response -- from police and the Fuquay-Varina mayor -- after her son was handcuffed and made to wait in a police car as officers investigated a stolen dirt bike.

Excerpts: Body cam video shows Fuquay-Varina teen's interaction with police

Body cam footage was released on March 6 from an exchange where a Fuquay-Varina teenage boy was detained by police in January after an officer investigated the theft of a dirt bike.

Food Lion donates $500,000 to support equality and social justice initiatives

Food Lion announced Monday that it has selected several longstanding community partners to receive additional funding to support their work to address racial equality and justice.

Amanda Lamb: Mothers unite

My longtime friend of 20-plus years had a disturbing experience last week that needs to be shared. As a mother, as her friend, I am outraged by it. As a human being, I'm so terribly sad.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

On the Record, Aug. 8: Black journalists' perspective

WRAL-TV anchors Gerald Owens, Ken Smith and Lena Tillett and producer Miriam Melvin discuss covering and experiencing the news from the perspective of a Black journalist.

Five ways to manage conflicts caused by social distancing

As the United States continues to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a variety of opinions have formed over what is and isn't safe. Different stances have caused issues between families, friends and even communities.

Durham nonprofit sparks conversations of social justice, antiracism for kids, parents, teachers

Long before the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis this spring triggered widespread protests and discussions about systemic racism, Ronda Taylor Bullock has been working to educate young children, families and educators about race.

Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, Go Ask Mom editor

Amanda Lamb: In conversation

Let's model what it means to listen, to learn, to engage. Our children are watching us.

Amanda Lamb, WRAL reporter

Durham organization working to affect social change, secure voting rights

Forward Justice is a law, policy and strategy center located in Durham that is dedicated to advancing racial, social and economic justice. By partnering with human rights organizations at the forefront of social movements in the south, it is working to catalyze success for movements, secure voting rights and advance social change.

Latisha Catchatoorian, WRAL Digital Solutions

Durham pastor speaks about the church amid the US racial crisis

Dr. Harold Dorrell Briscoe Jr. is a pastor at Six:Eight Church in Durham and the author of a new book called "There's a Storm Comin': How the American Church Can Lead Through Times of Racial Crisis."

Cary CrossFit gym drops affiliation

A Cary gym is among those cutting ties with the CrossFit affiliation. This comes after the CEO came under fire for comments he made during the weekend surrounding George Floyd's death.

Racist tweets from CrossFit CEO prompt Cary gym to drop affiliation

The owner of Cary CrossFit says he is dumping his CrossFit affiliation after the CEO's alleged insensitive racial remarks on a Zoom call and racists tweets.

Leslie Moreno, WRAL multimedia journalist

In Raleigh, teachers run, march to teach lesson about social justice

Teachers, students and their parents gathered in downtown Raleigh Saturday to raise their voices to promote racial equality. A march from Chavis Park to the State Capitol was the culmination of a relay coordinated by local track and cross country coaches to mark the civil rights marches of the late 1960s.

Adam Owen, WRAL anchor/reporter

Diverse group gathers in Chapel Hill for social justice rally

The Chapel Hill-Carrboro NAACP Youth Council and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Youth Advocates are co-sponsors of a social justice rally, a peaceful protest to honor the lives lost to police violence.