MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Only one of the nine Scottsboro Boys was pardoned of his rape convictions before the men died. Now a push is on by the Scottsboro Boys Museum and others to make sure that happens for the other eight.
The nine black teenagers from Tennessee and Georgia were convicted of raping two white women, but one of the women later recanted the story.
Gov. Robert Bentley says he would like to see a pardon, but state law doesn’t allow him to issue them. The state parole board says its rules don’t allow posthumous pardons. Two legislators are working on resolutions saying the state considers the names of the Scottsboro Boys cleared. But the next legislative session isn’t until February.
Museum founder Shelia Washington says it’s important to clear their names even though 81 years have passed since their arrests.
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