One week has passed since Craven County deputies under the command of Sheriff Jerry Monette seized — without a warrant — a coffin owned by Bill Harper from a polling site east of New Bern.
It still hasn’t been returned.
As you may have read in previous posts, it is being held as evidence for a pending federal investigation of Harper brought on by the NAACP.
On Monday, Nov. 3, the Rev. William A. Barber II filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice accusing Harper of voter intimidation. Barber, president of the North Carolina chapter of the civil rights organization, also claimed the coffin — which bore an “‘O’ No!” bumper sticker with a picture of Barack Obama with a “non” sign over his face — was a “direct threat” to the now president-elect. The NAACP wants the Secret Service to investigate Harper for the supposed threat.
Barber told Newschannel 12, “We don’t know how many people were turned away…we don’t know how many people chose not to vote.”
Harper fired back saying the coffin was ”not meant to intimidate anybody about death.” Harper, a conservative activist, has been using the casket as a political speech tool since 1992 and said it was meant as a joke. “This is just intimidation by the NAACP,” Harper said. “I don’t take that lightly.”
Harper believes his civil rights are being violated…ironically, by a civil rights group. The Independent Register agrees that both his First and Fourth Amendment rights have been violated in this incident.
If the NAACP is supposed to stand up for the rights of African-Americans done wrong, where were they when Adrian Solomon was arrested at West Craven High School and charged with disorderly conduct for booing?
I’m not sure…but Solomon was supported here, because free speech should be for everyone.
Another question, this one for Sheriff Jerry Monette…make that two:
Why was Harper’s casket seized without a warrant?
Why was it not returned Saturday morning, as promised?
It is not yet known if the Craven County Republican Party is going to stand by Bill Harper during this attempted abortion of justice. If not, rest assured the Independent Register will.
5 Comments
November 16, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Hmmmm, I wonder why the NAACP didn’t pump to help the African American Craven County deputy clerk who was arrested by Jerry monette’s deputies back on April 23, 2008. She didn’t do anything wrong and she still needs help in that matter…?I have not seen where the NAACP did anything to help that young lady. So, what ’s the big deal with Bill??
OR did the NAACP neglect to help in that matter because the situation just so happens to envolve close friends of theirs ,”who are the wrong doers….”? (Jan Cahoon , Tami Cahoon Thomas, and Jerry Monette )… I ‘m just wondering…..if?
December 5, 2008 at 6:01 pm
Maybe the NAACP is a stand-up organization that, while willing to help people it feels is innocent, doesn’t want to get involved when it knows the person is probably guilty as sin, as in Burrus case!
December 19, 2008 at 4:20 am
Hmmm, once again knowthetruth I have to let you have it. The Burrus case is not the only case that failed to gain the support of the local chapter of the NAACP. Besides that’s not what the local chapter told Burrus. Please do your homework before you comment again. Ms. Burrus did not do anything wrong ! This is a witch hunt and you know it. It’s sad that everybody is so afraid of the dem. big wigs in that courthouse !And just to remind you the local chapter didn’t help the old lady from the Courthouse either or the young man from West Craven High School. Maybe you should ask the witches of Craven County Courthouse what Ms. Burrus did. Because I’m sure they’ll come up with a good lie almost a year later.LOL ,Like I have said before she has proof. The witches of Craven County Courthouse had to dig to find something and they have yet to prove any wrong doing on Burrus’ part. Wouldn’t that be why Burrus was able to receive unemployment benefits. The witches of Craven County Courthouse never responded to give their reasons. Why, because they can’t explain why they did what they did without lying again. You seem to know very little. Take off your white sheet so that you can see clearly. And trust me I know Burrus has also put the local chapters president in that book too. I think he has a few pages all to himself ! Maybe after the book comes out he can also explain a few questionable behaviors of his own. What do you think? And to make myself clear I’m not knocking the NAACP in whole just the local chapter’s president ! And as for you knowthetruth I have actually seen the Burrus’ proof. LOL, I can see by your comments that you dont know the truth at all. I guess if you are not politically connected you are wrong or guilty from the start in the eyes of knowthetruth. But trust me it’s okay. You do have a right to your own opinion. No matter how silly it sounds. It’s your lie tell it the way you want to !
December 19, 2008 at 4:54 am
Oh and please understand that just because I decided not mention other names doesn’t mean that there are not others involved in this witch hunt. We have been informed of every person and every lie told about Burrus. That’s the good thing about living in a small town”word travels fast” especially when the Clerk’s office tend to run off at the mouth so much. You know what I mean”one clerk will tell her husband and the husband will tell his co- worker and so on and so on! You have to admit you never heard any of the clerks say a bad word about Burrus until she ratted out that Tami Cahoon person. LOL You really make me laugh! This is fun make another comment, Please !
December 19, 2008 at 3:03 pm
MW , FB , and HH all worked under Tami Cahoon Thomas at one time or another. MW went through hell because of Tami’ s bullying and luckily found another job before Tami’s mess got her fired. And poor FB after being there for so may years was mysteriously fired but then later agreed to sign retirement papers. HH she was the lucky one she was moved to antoher department because she could not handle Tami’s mess.
Now did you know that knowthetruth. Ms. Cahoon Thomas has a track record of being a sorry bullying supervisor. Or did you forget about that. And yes before you even ask I do have more ! LOL