Final answer:
The Wilmington Ten were a group of mostly students convicted of arson and violence during racial tensions in 1971, but the convictions were controversial and surrounded by allegations of unfair legal proceedings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Wilmington Ten were a group convicted of arson and attempting to fire on police during racial violence in 1971 in Wilmington, North Carolina. This group, consisting mostly of students, was charged and convicted in a highly controversial trial that was later revealed to have been marred by prosecutorial misconduct, including the suppression of crucial evidence that could have aided the defense. The case was emblematic of racial tensions and the struggle for civil rights during the era.