Unveiling Injustice: The Fight for Due Process and Integrity in Durham’s City Council

City Council Member DeDreana Freeman, Mayoral Candidate for Durham, North Carolina

News has been circulating in regards to Durham, North Carolina City Council Work Sessions. Mayoral Candidate and current City Council Member DeDreana Freeman is found at the center.

On March 23, 2023, during a Durham City Council work session, fellow Council Member Dr. Monique Holsey-Hyman was censured due to accusations that she had requested city staff to help with her campaign during work hours. During the work session, another Council Member called to censure Dr. Holsey-Hyman amidst the accusations. Per Spectacular Magazine’s Phyllis Coley’s article article “Council member DeDream Freeman Breaks Silence On “Physical Violence” Accusation,” we now know that Dr. Holsey-Hyman was denied the opportunity to address allegations before she was censured. The accusation escalated when a local developer threw an allegation of extortion at Dr. Holsey-Hyman.

This led to an investigation conducted by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). The developer that accused Dr. Holsey-Hyman of extortion chose to not cooperate with investigators after being contacted several times, as stated by Spectacular Magazine’s Phyllis Coley, “SBI Results Of Investigation Into Allegations Against Council Member Monique Holsey-Hyman.” SBI found no evidence of extortion.

Council Member Freeman found that the push to censure Dr. Holsey-Hyman was unjust by not giving her the opportunity to address the accusations made towards her. The depiction of the sequence of events after that, was grossly inaccurate as Spectacular Magazine Phyllis Coley’s shined light on the truth. Freeman was presented the opportunity to say what happened as she has spoken passionately and stood up for due process and the right to defend oneself. As in Coley’s article, Freeman highlights how a trope can be used to discredit one’s words, “Since this has happened, it’s been extremely disappointing and disturbing to see and hear the racial and social tropes and respectability politics being used against me to deflect from the truth. They have used these tropes to portray me as the ‘angry black woman’.These heinous efforts continue today.”

Coley's article highlights how a whisper, a rumor can spiral into a racist and sexist attack on a woman who was standing up for her fellow woman for the due process that we all have a right to.

This is something that we at PNC are familiar with, as we continue to fight for the voiceless in Rural America, where such unjust actions have become the norm that often result in a population being overlooked.

Chairwomen of Prosperity North Carolina, Kristen Picot, “As a woman in leadership, it is empowering to see other women in the face of adversity, attacks and accusations, stand up for what is right. We need to continue to support each other and follow the example that Council Member DeDreana Freeman and Spectacular Magazine’s Phyllis Coley have shown.”

Vice Chairman of Prosperity North Carolina, Nicholas Gallardo, comments on this situation, “As a former Mayoral Candidate myself, who has been on the receiving end of falsehoods and accusations meant to derail my campaign, it can be difficult at times to be patient and let due process be carried out. However, it is during those moments when a true leader prevails.”

We at PNC continue to support those who take a stand for what is just and for what is right.

#ProsperityForAll