This riveting documentary investigates allegations of systemic racism and child sexual abuse in the New Hanover School District.
This riveting documentary investigates how systemic racism, and child sexual assaults went unreported and covered up for decades in New Hanover County, NC. And how a corrupt power structure, which had dominated this county for years, allowed it. The absolute power of unchecked, local government. A handful of brave citizens decided to confront the one-sided system, in the hope of a 'new tomorrow" - would they fall victim to the same tactics that had controlled the county for decades, or would they succeed? Along the way, there would be suicides, countless sexual abuse scandals, lawsuits, systemic racism, intimidation, threats, targeting, multiple betrayals, cover-ups, lies, collusion, staggering conflicts of interest and multiple lawsuits. The FBI and the SBI (State Bureau of Investigations) would be called in to investigate. Their advocacy methods were shocking, but soon began to pay off. One by one, high-ranking administrators, faculty, lawyers, and associated board members were forced to resign or retire. Many did so in the middle of scandalous headlines relating to intimidation and child sexual assaults - but none were fired. Because that would entail a public explanation. The SBI report was long anticipated by the public who were told it would be released for "full transparency" at the end of the investigation. It was the glimmer of hope this community needed. Perhaps there would be justice for the suffering and traumas their children and families had endured. The shocking turn of events at the reports end would be devastating, but underscored the need for elected officials to be fighting for their community, and not for their ambitions or influential members of the community. Help us bring this cautionary tale into the light and hold those who betrayed their positions in the community, responsible.—Kerry David
Allegations of systemic racism and child sexual abuse in New Hanover School District are investigated in this riveting documentary.
Amidst FBI and SBI investigations, a small but courageous group of citizens take on a corrupt power structure who continued to deny justice for the victims and survivors of this decades long abuse. Their advocacy toppled many of those responsible for instilling terror within the community, and enforcing silence with their deliberate culture of fear.
Despite facing retaliatory practices and intimidation, these brave individuals have held strong in their unflinching demands for transparency from the powers that be. That those in official positions, elected or otherwise, who were legally obligated to report the abuse - but who did not - would be held accountable. The number of adults who looked the other way or denied the multiple allegations number in the hundreds.
Astoundingly, news agencies, journalists and media outlets all tried to break this story wide open. School board Chairs come and go, none have had the moral and ethical backbone strong enough to give this community what it is owed. Instead, hiding behind lawyers and "closed door meetings". Parents are met with hostility and disdain time and time again as they achingly share their personal stories in the open forum of the monthly school board hearings. Nothing moves the needle as the board has admittedly stated they have a policy not to respond.
We investigate, but go beyond the "what" and the "when", to determine how this happened and who was responsible. How many adults colluded in the traumatizing of children within their school district, by enabling or covering-up the horror.
Our film's summation offers up specific solutions moving forward - for any community affected by trauma on this scale - on how to prevent it from happening again.
Open Secret: Corruption and collusion in a cover up culture.
