In 2020, Roy Cooper, then North Carolina's Democratic governor and now a candidate for the U.S. Senate, named an individual with a history of gang affiliation and a past conviction for conspiracy to commit murder to a task force focused on Racial Equity in Criminal Justice.
Following the death of George Floyd in 2020, Cooper established the task force through an executive order. A recent investigative report highlighted the composition of this panel.
Cooper designated Josh Stein, who was then the state attorney general and is now the current governor, to lead the initiative. The task force was composed of various state officials and community advocates, including Kerwin Pittman. Public records indicate Pittman was convicted in 2007 for conspiracy to commit murder and subsequently served 14 years in prison for the offense.
During a separate murder trial for another Bloods gang member, Michael Contrez Jones, prosecutors identified Pittman as a "ranking member of the Bloods." Reports also link Pittman to a 2006 drive-by shooting that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Jamel Amiens Jeffreys.
Appointee's Defense and Background
Pittman has publicly defended his participation on the task force, asserting that his past actions stemmed from poor judgment during his teenage years.
"I was asked to contribute to conversations about criminal justice reform because of both my lived experience and the work I was doing in communities," Pittman stated. "I have never hidden my past. The gang involvement and criminal conduct you reference occurred when I was a teenager and young man at or before the age of 19. I am now 39 years old. I made decisions as a young person that had serious consequences, including spending more than a decade incarcerated."
At the time the task force was formed, Pittman's professional profile, as seen on his LinkedIn, listed him as working for Emancipate NC. This organization has frequently advocated for the abolition of police forces. In a 2023 blog post, Emancipate NC asserted that "maintaining white supremacy has always been the goal of policing."
Cooper's Senate Campaign and Response
Cooper is currently campaigning for the Senate seat against Michael Whatley, the former Chairman of the Republican National Committee. When approached for comment regarding the disclosures about Pittman's appointment, Cooper chose to reference his opponent's track record.