I should qualify or explain the title of this post. I have very good and dear friends in the Lone Star State. My experiences there have been nothing but wonderful. I, in fact, love Texas. However, the pace and frequency of executions leads me to believe that the state itself..is a bloodthirsty beast.
A few examples may help the reader to understand my point.
Carla Faye Tucker no doubt committed a henious double homicide in Houston while intoxicated on many substances. However, this woman underwent a religous conversion that many saw as remarkable. Religous leaders called for her commutation. She was strapped to a guerney and died 2-3-1998.
A religous conversion didnt matter in the Bible thumping fire and brimstone state. Those in charge meant to show us that even if you change you cant erase the past. Carla Faye could have shown others the way out of prison and to law abiding lives but the state had to be fed.
Tim Adams was recently put to death by Texas. In an event attended soley by his family who wept while the drugs slowly killed him.
The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death penalty said this:
Last night, February 22, 2011, the State of Texas executed Timothy Adams, despite the pleas of his family, nearly 100 faith leaders representing diverse traditions, and three of the jurors who originally sentenced him to death. As his attorneys note, “The execution of Mr. Adams has inflicted needless pain on the Adams family, without any benefit to the State of Texas. No family should be made to suffer such an ordeal as we collectively have imposed upon them tonight.”
He killed a 19 month old in an act that was completely out of character for Tim. His one bad act, while atrocious, was offset by his otherwise good life. Texas wanted blood and even the feelings of those most affected by this child's death ddidnt matter. Texas had to be fed.
Cameron Willingham was not a wonderful person. There are reports that he was abusive towards his wife. He cussed here as his last words. This however does not mean he committed three counts of capital murder. As with most sad stories in Texas there is a lawyer who didnt do his job. Instead of getting an expert he lit his office carpet on fire to simualte the trailer fire.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5cFKpjRnXE He then convinced himself that Cameron was guilty. Gerald Hurst, a national expert disagrees. Now as Rick Perry backpeddles and stacks the commission with his cronies who are to investigate the fire does the truth come out. Seven years too late for Cameron. Texas salivated at the thought of taking Cameron Willingham's life. He was a son of a bitch and they couldnt wait to strap him down and kill him. Texas had to be fed and fed on the innocent.
Carlos Deluna was also innocent of capital murder. Another man said he committed the crimes. It didnt matter to the State of Texas. In a heartbreaking interview for a documentary filmaker the chaplin at Ellils recalled that Carlos asked if he could call him Dad in his final hours. They prayed and Carlos was led into the execution chamber. Texas enjoys feeding on the innocent.
My good friend Kerry Max Cook also was almost executed by the state of Texas. He was tried three times and each time it was sent back. The state used lies, junk science and snitches to pin a henious crime on Kerry. He entered a no contest plea prior to the fourth trial. the same day the prosecutor produced a DNA sample showing the semen inside the victim was her boyfriend, not Kerry. The prosecutor is now a judge. Please read his heart wrenching memoir on his life on death rowhttp://www.chasingjustice.com/
Most famously, Randall Dale Adams was convicted for shooting a police officer in Dallas. The police attempted to force a confession from him. When that didnt work they used the testimony of a drifter named David Harris. Apparently there was a reason why David Harris knew so much about the crime. He was executed in 2004 for a different offense. Randall is another victim that almost was devoured by the beast.
There are more as the state continues to line up the condemned and devour them in a small room in Huntsville Texas. A line must be drawn in the sand and take on the system in Texas. Not only the innocents but the guilty as well. Both have value and lives worth saving.
No comments:
Post a Comment