Texans march against legal lynchings
Hundreds of people from across Texas marched in the state
capital of Austin Oct. 12 for the third annual March on the
Mansion for a Moratorium. For blocks and blocks around the
governor's mansion there was a sea of people carrying yellow
signs demanding "Moratorium now!" and "Stop ALL
executions!"
Speakers included Clarence Brandley, who was released in
1990 after a decade on Texas death row. Brandley's struggle
against the racist death machine became a mass movement that
forced the courts to recognize his innocence and grant his
freedom. Ross Byrd, son of James Byrd Jr., who was dragged to
death by three white racists in Jasper, also spoke out against
executions.
The families of prisoners Kenneth Foster and Rodney Reed
spoke. Both men are African Americans who have strong cases for
their innocence. Kay Babineaux spoke about another innocent
man, Nanon Williams. Like Shaka Sankofa, Williams was only 17
when he was arrested in Houston and railroaded to death row.
His appeal in a federal court is pending in December.
Most marchers agreed that the racist death penalty is on its
way out, even in Texas, as they chanted, "Texas says death row,
we say hell no!"
--Gloria Rubac
Reprinted from the Oct. 24, 2002, issue of
Workers World newspaper
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