NAACP Statement on the Quitman 10
ATLANTA, Ga. — After four years, three trials, two mistrials, Lula Smart has been exonerated on all counts. Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp’s voter fraud cases against Smart and other citizens known as the Quitman 10 has failed. Prosecutors announced a dismissal of all charges in September against the remaining defendants after Lula Smart was acquitted by a Brooks County Jury of 19 charges of voter fraud.
The issue of voter fraud was front and center during the past election cycle as the Georgia NAACP stood with civil rights and faith leaders from across Georgia in solidarity with the New Georgia Project. The New Georgia Project and the Georgia NAACP delivered more than 51,000 unprocessed voter registration applications to Secretary of State’s Office. After multiple arrests, protests, sit-ins, and a civil case; Secretary Kemp still has not addressed questions raised regarding the lack of processing of more than 51,000 voter registration applications.
“The witch hunt is over and the Quitman 10 story reaffirms that Davids can still have victories over Goliath,” said Francys Johnson, Georgia NAACP President and Civil Rights Attorney from Statesboro, Georgia responding to the recent news. “This is a total victory against the forces of retrogression that tried to intimidate and suppress democracy in South Georgia” said Johnson.
