Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is poised to issue a formal apology on Wednesday to two men wrongfully arrested in 1989 during the investigation into the killing of Carol Stuart, a case that exacerbated racial tensions in the city.
Carol Stuart was murdered by her husband, Charles Stuart, who was also shot and hospitalized. Charles deceived investigators by falsely attributing the crime to a Black man, triggering widespread racial profiling, particularly in the Mission Hill neighborhood where the incident occurred.
The situation took a tragic turn when Charles Stuart later took his own life after his brother confessed to being an accomplice in the scheme. The false accusations and subsequent police investigation fueled intense racial tensions in Boston.
In a significant move towards reconciliation, Mayor Wu will extend an apology to Alan Swanson and Willie Bennett during a news conference at Boston City Hall on Wednesday morning. Alan Swanson is expected to attend the conference, joined by Willie Bennett’s family and Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox.
Acknowledging this painful chapter in the city’s history, Mayor Wu’s office stated on Tuesday, “This dark time in the City’s history exacerbated distrust between Boston’s Black community and the Boston Police Department.” The apology is viewed as an effort to contribute to the healing of those still affected by this trauma and to promote unity within the city.
Reflecting on the impact of the arrests at the time, Darnell L. Williams, the former CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, shared his sentiments with NBC10 Boston. He described the profound impact of the false accusations, stating, “Your stomach sank because what was stated in the media and the onslaught was just something you will never, ever forget.” Williams, who was a young man in Boston during that period, emphasized the need for compensation in addition to an apology, considering the magnitude of the ordeal endured by those wrongfully accused.
