New North Carolina torture report launched

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On Thursday, September 27, the North Carolina Commission of Inquiry on Torture launched its report on the state’s role in the post-9/11 U.S. torture program.  The report is entitled “Torture Flights:  North Carolina’s Role in the CIA Rendition and Torture Program.”  The Commission held a press conference outside the North Carolina Capitol Building in downtown Raleigh, attended by about 50.

Press conference in Raleigh to launch report. From left to right, Executive Director Catherine Read; NCCIT Co-Chair Frank Goldsmith; Commissioners Prof. Jim Coleman, Rev. Ben Boswell, and Patty McGaffan; Rev. Jennifer Copeland, NC Council of Churches; Karen Anderson, ACLU of NC; Commissioners Robin Kirk and Larry Wilkerson; Steve Kleinman.
At press conference, banners and replica belltower bearing plaques with names of  49 people to whom North Carolina owes acknowledgement, apology, and redress for facilitating their torture. Left to right, Lyle Adley-Warrick, Joe Burton, Joan Walsh, Rhoda Silver (hat), Jane Hunt, Peggy Misch, Andrea Mensch.

The North Carolina Council of Churches held a prayer vigil on Sept. 27 at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh to mark the NCCIT report release and acknowledge the survivors and victims of U.S. torture.  About 35 participants were welcomed by Rev. Nancy Petty of Pullen.  At the heart of the ceremony were 49 candles, each bearing the name of one of the 49 known victims and survivors rendered to torture for the CIA by Johnston County-based Aero Contractors.

Catherine Read, NCCIT Executive Director, and Rev. Para Drake, Coordinator of the Council’s “NC No Torture” Project, light candles.  Roger Ehrlich rings the bell once for each of the 49 human beings.
At the Pullen vigil, Rabbi Eric Solomon of Raleigh’s Beth Meyer Synagogue and Rev. Ben Boswell, NCCIT Commissioner and Senior Minister of Myers Park Baptist Church in Charlotte, offered scriptural reflections and benedictions from their respective faith traditions.

At the same time as the Raleigh vigil, the Council of Churches also organized a vigil in Greensboro.  Forty-nine candles were lit there, too, despite threatening weather.

Rev. Rob Jackson, Community in Christ, Presbyterian, talks with a participant in the Greensboro vigil.

On Monday, October 1, the North Carolina Council of Churches and NC Stop Torture Now held a prayer vigil outside the Johnston County Courthouse ahead of the Johnston County Commissioners’ monthly meeting.  Speakers were Rev. Jennifer Copeland and Rev. Para Drake, NC Council of Churches; Imam Qasim Siddiqui, Selma Mosque; Rev. Clay Parker, Edgerton United Methodist Church, Selma; and Rev. Kathie McCutcheon, Interfaith Minister.  About 20 people attended.

At the Johnston County Courthouse, Allyson Caison lights one candle for each of the 49 known survivors and victims rendered to torture by Aero Contractors.  From the left, Chuck Fager, Rev. Copeland, Christina Cowger, Lyle Adley-Warrick, Chris Pernell, Allison Elsee (standing).  See below for other attendees.
Rev. Jim Melnyk, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (Smithfield), and Rev. Para Drake light candles. Between them are Rev. Clay Parker, Prof. Michael Struett (NCCIT Board),  Rev. Kathie McCutcheon, Interfaith Minister, and Catherine Read, NCCIT Executive Director.  Left, Julia Elsee (seated), Walt Caison, Allyson Caison, Imam Siddiqui; right, Mike Watt, Peggy Misch (NCCIT Board).

The NCCIT report was presented to the Johnston County Commissioners at their 6:00 pm meeting on October 1.  NCCIT Commissioner Patty McGaffagan, a psychologist and 40-year resident of Johnston County, gave remarks and presented the report.  She opened by noting her community connections to some of the commissioners and presented the report’s main takeaways, noting that the Johnston County Commissioners were pictured and discussed in the report.

NCCIT Commissioner Patty McGaffagan presents “Torture Flights” to the Johnston County Commissioners on Oct. 1, 2018. Left to right on the dais: County Manager Rick Hester, Larry Wood, Board Chair Jeff Carver, Allen Mims, Cookie Pope, Lee Jackson, and Chad Stewart. Not visible behind Patty: Ted Godwin.

Each of the Johnston County Commissioners, County Manager Rick Hester, and County Attorney Jennifer Slusser received a copy of the report.  Patty McGaffagan made three requests of the Commissioners:

  • Acknowledge that Johnston County Airport was connected to  illegal and immoral activity of conspiracy to kidnap and render to torture;
  • Adopt policies for lease-holders at the airport that require them to pledge to obey the law;
  • Ask Sheriff Steve Bizzell and District Attorney Susan Doyle to launch an investigation of Aero Contractors’ participation in conspiracies to kidnap and torture.
NCCIT Commissioner Patty McGaffagan hands Lee Jackson, Johnston County Commissioner, his copy of “Torture Flights.”

Rev. Copeland of the NC Council of Churches also addressed the Commissioners.  She discussed the importance and the difficulty of acknowledging wrongdoing and apologizing, and invited them to agree that torture is wrong.  No Commissioner would do so.

Rev. Jennifer Copeland speaks to the Johnston County Commissioners about the power of confession and repentance.