GREENSBORO, N.C.—
It turns a racially charged statement printed in Yes! Weekly last month was never actually said. Editor Brian Clarey admitted Wednesday the weekly newspaper misquoted Forsyth District Attorney Tom Keith in an Aug. 26 story about Keith's opposition to the Racial Justice Act.In an article titled "Forsyth DA: Racial Justice Act inherently flawed," reporter Keith Barber quoted the district attorney as saying, in reference to the likelihood of African-Americans to commit violent crimes, "That's just instincts."
Keith actually said, "That's just statistics."
In several posts on the Yes! Weekly blog, the newspaper admitted the error and published two audio recordings of the interview between Barber and Keith.
The quote we reported:
"If you're African American, you're six, seven or eight times more likely to have a violent history. I didn't go out there and put a gun in your hand and say, 'You commit eight crimes and I'm a white man and I'll commit one.' That's just instincts, that's how it is."
The actual quote:
"If you're African American, you're six, seven or eight times or some figure more likely to have a violent history. I didn't go out there and put a gun in your hand and say, 'You commit eight crimes and I'm a white man and I'll commit one.' That's just statistics. That's how it is."
The newspaper posted an audio clip from the interview that contains the quote in question. It appears at about 5:15:
Part 2 of the interview:
In a media conference Wednesday afternoon, Clarey said, "We have no agenda in our news section other than the facts and the truth, and in this regard, in this instance, we have failed."
"I'm sorry, Tom Keith," said Clarey. "You deserve better than this, and we regret the error."
The "error" led directly to calls for Keith's resignation, and on Tuesday a group of about 30 clergy and citizens held a rally near Wait Chapel on the Wake Forest University campus demanding the district attorney step down.
"I'm embarrassed for them, that they made the mistake," said Keith on Wednesday. "And I'm embarrassed for whoever came to wherever and wanted me to resign because of this."
Keith said he will not resign.
"I'm quite surprised by all the brouhaha, because I'm used to a lot worse misquotes and cutting and snipping from the media over 20 years than I am in one word," he said.
The Yes! Weekly article centered on Keith's opposition to the recently passed Racial Justice Act, which allows inmates to present statistical evidence showing racial disparities in how the death penalty has been used. In the article, Keith lashes out at supporters of the new law who say that blacks are overrepresented on death row. He referred to a 2005 study from the U.S. Department of Justice.
Keith said, other than the fact the statement was taken out of context, he enjoyed the article and hopes the incident will open up more discussions on race relations.
"This experience demonstrates once again how emotionally charged this issue of race relations continues to be," he said.
Members of the group that called for Keith's resignation declined comment Wednesday.
