Executions pushed back in Nebraska, Illinois
By Sarah
Sloan
So far in 1999, 44 people have been executed in the United
States. By the end of the year, that number is expected to
reach 100, which would set a record for any single year since
the Supreme Court allowed the resumption of capital punishment
in 1976.
In Illinois on May 17, the 12th person in 12 years was
released from that state's death row after it was shown he had
been wrongfully convicted.
Ronald Jones, a 49-year-old African American, was convicted
of a 1985 rape and murder. Two years ago, DNA evidence proved
Jones's innocence, forcing the state to throw out his 1989
conviction. Yet he remained in a Chicago prison for 22
additional months while the state considered bringing a second
trial against him.
At his original trial, the prosecutor described Jones as a
"cold, brutal rapist" who "should never see the light of day
again." Since then, Jones has testified that he confessed only
after cops beat him until he couldn't take it anymore.
Across the country, DNA evidence has exonerated over 60
people convicted of criminal offenses.
On Feb. 4, Anthony Porter was released from an Illinois
prison after spending 16 years on death row. Northwestern
University students and their professor had gathered the
evidence that proved his innocence.
A conference at Northwestern University in November featured
28 women and men who were finally released from death row after
proving they had been wrongfully convicted.
Broad spectrum of opponents
Opposition to the death penalty is growing. There have been
literally thousands of demonstrations and vigils against it. In
Texas, the state with the most executions, the families of
death-row prisoners have been extremely active.
But opponents also include several judges and attorneys
general, like Florida Supreme Court justice and former
prosecutor Gerald Kogan. Also voicing opposition are the
International Court of Justice at the Hague, Texas Conference
of Churches, Pope John Paul II, and the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights. The American Bar Association calls
for a moratorium on all executions.
In February, 11 prominent lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender organizations issued a joint statement opposing the
death penalty in response to the Laramie, Wyo., prosecutor's
decision to seek the death penalty for those accused of Matthew
Shepard's murder. Shepard died last October after a brutal gay
bashing.
The signing groups included Gay Men of African Descent, the
Astraea National Lesbian Action Foundation, Lambda Legal
Defense, LLEGO-National Latina/o LBGT Organization, the
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the New York City Gay and
Lesbian Anti-Violence Project, and the Lesbian and Gay
Community Services Center of New York.
In April a public hearing of the Michigan Senate Judiciary
on whether the death penalty should be reinstated heard a
resounding call of "no" as hundreds attended to expose the
racist and class nature of capital punishment. Michigan is one
of 12 states with no death penalty.
In mid-May the Nebraska Legislature voted 27 to 21 to impose
a two-year moratorium on executions. Several other states,
including Pennsylvania and Illinois, are moving towards
moratoriums.
About 3,600 people are waiting to be executed in the United
States. While 13 percent of the population is Black, 42 percent
of these prisoners are Black.
None is rich. In fact, 90 percent of those on death row
could not afford legal representation, according to the Texas
Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty.
A June 1998 study by the Death Penalty Information Center
concluded that "Race is more likely to affect death sentencing
than smoking affects the likelihood of dying from heart
disease." Some 98 percent of decision makers in death penalty
cases are white men.
In Philadelphia, Black defendants are four times more likely
to receive the death penalty than whites. Mumia Abu-Jamal of
Philadelphia is the best-known political prisoner in the United
States today. Abu-Jamal--known for fighting racism and police
brutality--was convicted of the 1981 shooting of a white cop
but new evidence points to a frameup. On April 24, 30,000
people marched through Philadelphia to demand a new trial for
Abu-Jamal. Supporters will return to Philadelphia for another
demonstration on July 4.
Another well-known death-row prisoner is Shaka Sankofa, also
known as Gary Graham. In 1981, while a juvenile, Sankofa was
sentenced to death in Texas. Amid much popular support, he won
a stay of execution on Jan. 11. But on Feb. 25, a plea for a
hearing to show new evidence that supporters say overwhelmingly
proves his innocence was denied. Prosecutors have announced
their intention to seek another execution date this June.
A protest to demand no execution and a new trial is set for
June 12 in Houston, called by the Shaka Sankofa/Gary Graham
Justice Coalition. For more information, call (713)
491-0365.
This article is copyright under a Creative Commons License.
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