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<br />J8 <br /> <br />SEPTEMBER 27, 1983 <br /> <br />TUESDAY <br /> <br />purposeful device to discriminate against blacks and one which, long in existence, has <br /> <br />the inevitable effect of diluting and minimizing the importance of votes cast by black <br /> <br />citizens as well as denying them the opportunity to meaningfully select candidates of <br /> <br />their choice to City Council and denying them the opportunity to fully participate in <br /> <br />local politics because, it was alleged, their votes are negated when included with all <br /> <br />the votes cast in local elections. Mr. Harris contended, further, that (under the Voting <br /> <br />Rights Act) intent of discrimination is not a factor but, rather, (that) the City of <br /> <br />Martinsville is not in compliance with the law as it relates to equal opportunity in the <br /> <br />electoral process; furthermore, Mr. Harris alleged, the fact that the City has never been <br /> <br />sued by the black community is no guarantee that racial discrimination does not exist. To <br /> <br />change the local electoral process (i.e., by adopting a "ward" or single-member precinct <br /> <br />system), Mr. Harris contended that, in the absence of voluntarily adopting a "ward" <br /> <br />system, the only alternative is court action, in which case his organization will assist <br /> <br />the petitioner(s) ".....with the best attorneys in the country, if they go that route." <br /> <br />Mr. Harris also cited certain Virginia cities against which court action has been <br /> <br />instituted to require or attempt to require "ward" electoral systems, one of which has <br /> <br />been settled out of court and two other cases are yet unresolved. Meanwhile, in con- <br /> <br />trast to a statement made by Mr. Joseph W. Pritchett to the effect that the petition by <br /> <br />the Voters League (for a "ward" system) in no way is intended to create a "white-black" <br /> <br />racial issue and (that) it is his wish and hope that it not become such an issue, mem- <br /> <br />bers of Council interpreted Mr. Harris' comments and presentation as being directed <br /> <br />solely to such an issue and, consequently, excluded or eliminated any chance for any <br /> <br />compromise which might otherwise have been considered, including the following suggestion <br /> <br />made by Mr. Pritchett: <br /> <br />After listening to the comments that have been made here tonight, <br />and after having talked with people from different sections of the <br />city, we suggest that the Mayor appoint a committee of nine mem- <br />bers, including himself, from different sections of the city to <br />