The Wilmington Ten were a group of civil rights activists who were wrongfully convicted in 1972 in Wilmington, North Carolina. The ten individuals, nine African Americans and one white woman, were charged with conspiracy and arson following racial tensions and violence in the city after a white-owned grocery store was firebombed during protests against segregation and economic inequality.

The trial of the Wilmington Ten was widely criticized for being biased and unfair, with allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, perjury, and withholding of evidence. The defendants were sentenced to a combined total of 282 years in prison, sparking outrage and protests from civil rights groups and activists.

In 1980, amidst mounting pressure and evidence of misconduct, newly elected Governor Jim Hunt commuted the sentences of the Wilmington Ten, effectively overturning their convictions. The case of The Wilmington Ten remains a significant chapter in civil rights history, highlighting the persistence of racial injustice and the importance of fighting for equality and justice.