WHEREAS, in 1898, Wilmington, North Carolina was known for being the South’s most progressive Black-majority city, but after the local elections, a group of white vigilantes were not pleased with the newly elected biracial local government and joined forces with area militias to rain terror on the city; and
WHEREAS, the democratically elected biracial Wilmington City Council was overthrown by a white supremacist coup, it is known as America’s only Successful Coup d’état, resulting in the destruction of the local black-owned newspaper, The Daily Record; and
WHEREAS, the coup resulted in somewhere between 60 and 250 Black citizens murdered, and many to flee from Wilmington, North Carolina without food or shelter in the fall weather; many of these survivors left this area and never returned to their homes; and
WHEREAS, on the same day, more than 100 Black government officials that were elected were forced to resign and were replaced by white supremacist leaders; months later, political upheaval resulted across the state, legal restrictions were placed on the right of black votes, beginning the “Jim Crow” era; and
WHEREAS, the 1898 Massacre and Coup d’état Committee is an important part of the Wilmington community and strives to commemorate the historic tragedy and impact on the Wilmington community and people of the great state of North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, this recognition hopes to facilitate the improvement of community dialogue to help foster reconciliation and healing;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim November 10, 2021, as “1898 MASSACRE AND COUP D’ETAT DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.