Backlash After Well Respected Lawyer Defends Black Man

By: Jenny Nguyen

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   It has been recently announced that Atticus Finch, a well respected lawyer in Maycomb County, will be defending a black defendant named Tom Robinson, who has been accused of rape. The alleged victim is Bob Ewell’s daughter. The town response to this incident has been negative. When asked about this case, Mrs. Henry Lafayette Dubose, a Maycomb County resident, responded that, “Atticus Finch is no better than the ******* and the trash that he works for!” Other negative responses come from his family as well, Finch’s sister, Alexandra, believes that Finch will be the “ruination of the [Finch] family.” Many people in Maycomb County are convinced that Tom Robinson is guilty, and that Finch is a “******-lover.”

   Robinson’s wife has now been trying to support their three children since the conviction, but many sources have claimed that it has been hard because of this. Many people have come to support her. In a local church, they have asked attendees to donate in order to help Helen get through this. This church even closed their doors and kept attendees there, and only would open them if everyone donated enough money. This church also supports Finch for defending Tom Robinson in this case. “This church has no better friend than Mr. Finch,” said Reverend Sykes, a preacher at the church. We have asked Helen about the incident, but she has no comment.