Biography
Roderick Lionell Kirby was an 18-year-old Wilmington, North Carolina civil-rights activist arrested after an October 1, 1971 confrontation with police. He was accused of striking Officer W. R. Pearson while officers questioned two youths outside a school event. Kirby was acquitted of resisting an officer but convicted of assaulting a public officer after a December 1971 trial. The North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld the conviction in 1972. Contemporary movement reporting says he received a prison sentence, but the appellate record does not state its length or establish custody dates.
The December 25, 1971 party newspaper reports that Kirby received a 12-month jail sentence after the October 1 confrontation and was then out on appeal bond. This is the reported sentence and bail status, rather than proof that he completed 12 months in custody.
Original document 1248, PDF page 3; Original document 1248, PDF page 13.
