Ala. Legislature votes to pardon Scottsboro Boys

[Eugene]

Source: The Montgomery Advertiser/USA Today

Brian Lyman, The Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser 1:50p.m. EDT April 4, 2013

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A bill is headed to Alabama's governor Thursday that would pardon the Scottsboro Boys, nine black teenagers falsely accused of raping two white women in 1931.

The legislation, presented to the Alabama House on the 45th anniversary of the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., passed 103-0 amid applause in the chamber. The legislation goes to Gov. Robert Bentley, who has indicated support for the measure.

The state Senate already had passed the measure unanimously.

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The bill would allow the state Board of Pardons and Paroles to pardon the accused posthumously, establishing a pardons process for deceased individuals convicted of Class A or B felonies that took place before 1932 and whose pardon would "remedy social injustice based on racial discrimination."

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Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/04/alabama-legislature-pardon-scottsboro-boys/2053043/

[Hulk]

1. It's still Alabama

I get it. Nice symbolism. Fact is, they went to prison and were innocent. They are dead. What do THEY get out of it? Nothing. Meanwhile, Alabama gets to pretend that it gives a rat's ass. I just have a really hard time accepting this token social justice crap from these racist holes.

[lastlib]

3. When they promise to NEVER let it happen again, I might be somewhat impressed..........

[iandhr]

4. Under the right circumstances...

... symbolism can be important.

[hatrack]

2. Wow, and it only took 82 years . . .

At this rate, they'll be up to allowing black voters to go to the polls by . . . 2047.

[mountain grammy]

5. The fact that the bill was supported unanimously in both chambers

is remarkable to me. Some of the garbage flowing out of Republican controlled state legislatures makes this seem like a breath of fresh air. An admission of blantant racism and a gross miscarriage of justice. Forward, Alabama.