“I have spent thirty-seven years litigating cases as an advocate in the criminal justice system, representing death row inmates and advocating for criminal justice reform, racial justice and the abolition of the death penalty. I am writing to ask you to join me in supporting Satana Deberry for District Attorney in Durham, County.”

“I believe that our criminal justice system is broken; the United States is responsible for nearly 25% of the world’s prisoners and a grossly disproportionate share of our country's inmates are people of color. In Durham, our jail and courtrooms are filled with Black and Brown people. Our prosecutors continue to employ many of the same punitive tactics that have failed for decades including harsh and punitive sentencing, high bonds, cash bail, and maximum charges to induce plea bargains.”

“Satana has had experience inside the criminal justice system as a criminal defense attorney and has had wide exposure to the problems defendants and victims face daily. Equally important, she has dedicated her career to addressing the issues that plague the lives of poor and oppressed people in our county: lack of adequate housing, poverty, abuse and neglect, addictions and mental illness.”

“If elected, I believe Satana will argue for reduced bonds, seek to eliminate cash bail, and reduce or dismiss charges where severe punishment such as incarceration is unwarranted. She will not declare cases death-eligible or automatically seek the highest penalty for a particular crime. She will institute practices within the office of district attorney that are data-driven and reduce racial, class, and gender bias. She will be more transparent in her practices by collecting data about whom we are jailing and prosecuting and the results of those prosecutions.”

Join Ken Rose and PA PAC in voting for Satana Deberry for Durham DA!

Recently, we were asked if it matters that Sheriff candidate Clarence Birkhead disagrees with the Hillsborough town manager about what happened with accreditation of the Hillsborough Police Department back in 2009.  Our answer is that it does matter.  It is an issue in this Durham Sheriff’s election.  One of two candidates will become our future sheriff.  Birkhead is the challenger.  Mike Andrews is the incumbent. Both are good men.  Neither is perfect.  Who among us is? 

But what really matters to PA PAC in this contest is that people do not die in Durham’s jail.  During Andrews’ tenure, six people have died in the jail.  What matters to us is that our law enforcement officers do not hold people whom our courts have released so that ICE agents can pick them up.  Sheriff Andrews cooperates with ICE on detainer requests which have no force in law.  It matters whether our neighbors’ families are split apart.  It matters that Durham families live in fear of our county’s largest law enforcement agency.  In this election, these are the things that really matter.  We wish Clarence Birkhead had not had difficulty with accreditation when he was chief of police in Hillsborough ten years ago.  But what matters in this Durham Sheriff’s election is a lot more important than that. 

Clarence Birkhead offers us a chance to begin again with dignity and safety for the people held in our jail.  He will not honor ICE detainer requests.  He is in touch with the whole Durham community.  His candidacy offers the hope that there can be a new and better relationship between Durham’s people and their law enforcement officials.  If Clarence Birkhead is elected PA PAC will hold him to high standards.  He knows what matters.  On that basis, he has our support.

Early voting starts next Thursday and we need to elect progressive voices for a better Durham.  To make that happen we’re sending our endorsements to 42,000 voters and greeting voters at every early voting site across the city.  To make that happen we need:

20 new donors

20 new volunteers

Help us make Clarence Birkhead and Satana Deberry the next sheriff and DA, send David Price back to Washington and elect Mike Lee, Bettina Umstead, Matt Sears and Natalie Beyer to school board.   Learn more about People’s Alliance PAC-endorsement candidates and donate or volunteer.

On March 29, more than 250 PA members--our friends, family and neighbors--voted to endorse progressive voices for the upcoming May 8 election and the election.  We choose progressive voices to represent us in Washington and Raleigh, the school board and as Sheriff, District Attorney and Clerk of Superior Court.

Yesterday, more than 250 PA members--our friends, family and neighbors--voted to endorse progressive voices for the upcoming May 8 election and the election.  We choose progressive voices to represent us in Washington and Raleigh, the school board and as Sheriff, District Attorney and Clerk of Superior Court.

Endorsements for candidates on the ballot for the May 8 election

United States House of Representatives District 4:  David Price   

Durham County Sheriff:  Clarence Birkhead

Durham County District Attorney:  Satana Deberry

Durham County Board of Education District 1:  Michael Lee

Durham County Board of Education District 2:  Bettina Hope Umstead                

Durham County Board of Education District 3:  Matthew Sears                                                                                                  

Durham County Board of Education District 4:  Natalie Jones Beyer

Each election, PA PAC develops a candidate questionnaire to better understand the candidates' positions on the important issues facing Durham.  The questionnaires and resumes received to date for the upcoming primary election are provided below.