RALEIGH — The state chapter of the NAACP continues to push for a pardon of innocence for the Wilmington 10, the nine men and one woman wrongly convicted more than 40 years ago in the fire-bombing of a grocery store.

The NAACP and other advocates are pressing Gov. Beverly Perdue to pardon the 10 before she leaves office Jan. 5. Perdue can do nothing or she can issue one of two kinds of pardons: one of innocence and one of forgiveness.

In a news release Saturday, the head of the state NAACP called on Perdue to issue the pardon of innocence. The Rev. William Barber says the NAACP, along with the surviving members of the Wilmington 10 and other supporters, have presented compelling evidence of their innocence to Perdue.