APPEALS COURT RULES
AGAINST NAACP IN
GASTON CONFEDERATE
STATUE CASE
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
A three-judge state appellate panel has ruled against the Gaston County NAACP in its case to have the statue of a Confederate soldier holding a rifle in front of the Gaston County Courthouse removed because it was offensive to Black people.
The North Carolina Court of Appeals rejected the civil rights organization’s 2020 lawsuit against the towering 1912 monument's display in Gastonia, saying that it did not deprive African-Americans of their civil rights per the state’s Open Courts Clause and Equal Protection Clause. The judicial panel maintained that the rebel soldier holding the rifle on top of a 30-foot obelisk did not prevent people from accessing the Gaston County Courthouse.
“The Gaston County branch of the NAACP and others who sued needed to prove an “actual denial of access to functioning courts,” not “subjective beliefs or feelings that might discourage some hypothetical person’s entry,” wrote Appellate Judge Donna Stroud in the unanimous three-judge opinion.
The ruling now codifies government’s right to maintain Confederate monuments on public property in North Carolina.
The 2020 lawsuit was brought by the Gaston County NAACP, the National Association for Black Veterans, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and three taxpaying residents in Gaston County after the police murder of George Floyd in May of that year.
Gaston County officials countered in superior court that the NC General Assembly’s 2015 Monument Protection Act outlawed the removal of historic statues on public property. But in 2024, a Superior Court judge ruled that the law did not completely prevent the removal or relocation of historic monuments, and that the Gaston County Confederate Soldier statue could qualify. That judge also ruled against the Gaston County NAACP lawsuit then, saying that there was no evidence that anyone’s civil rights were being violated with the statue.
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MIDTERM PRIMARIES
SET STAGE FOR
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS
By Cash Michaels
Contributing writer
Now that last week’s 2026 midterm primaries are virtually over and Democrats and Republicans have chosen their standard-bearers of the important November 3rd midterm general elections, a few issues remain.
In the race for Senate District 26, challenger Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page has shocked North Carolina’s political class by adding to his lead over powerful Republican Senate Pro Term Phil Berger with provisional votes, leading now by at least 23 votes at press time. Berger is expected to ask for a recount.
Fourth District Congresswoman Valerie Foushee was finally able to claim victory in her nail-biter of a race, 49 to 48% against progressive challenger Nida Allam, who was endorsed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, when Allam finally conceded the race.
Foushee, who represents parts of Wake and Durham counties, will now face Republican Mahesh “Max” Ganorkar and Libertarian Guy Meilleur in November to win reelection.
Rep. Alma Adams, who has served the 12th Congressional District since 2014, won her primary against challenger Monica May Williamson in commanding fashion with 79% of the vote. Rep. Adams will face the winner of the Republican primary Jack Codiga, in November.
It was absolutely not a good primary election for three Black Democratic House lawmakers who were booted from their seats by the party faithful.
Charlotte Representatives Carla Cunningham and Nasif Majeed, and Rocky Mount’s Shelly Willingham were all kicked to the curb by voters, primarily because they voted with Republicans and against their party.
Rep. Cunningham, who also delivered a diatribe against immigrants on the House floor that turned many against her, including Gov. Josh Stein, was defeated by Baptist Minister Rodney Sadler by a whopping 70%. Rev. Sadler was endorsed by both Gov. Stein and the local Charlotte Black police caucus.
Rep. Majeed was ousted by challenger Veleria Levy, who took an impressive 69% of the vote in the Northwest Charlotte race, and Rep. Willingham was defeated by Patricia Smith by 56%.
In another state House race of importance to North Carolina’x African-American community, Rep. Rodney Pierce reclaimed his House seat against Michael Wray for a second time after losing it to Wray in 2022.
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