Safe and Just Alternatives

Hearing testimony for  HB1504  March 6th, 2013,                                                 ending the Death Penalty in WA state

Testimony was given by (left to right) former CA prosecutor Darryl Stallworth, former Seattle police Chief Norm Stamper, head of Safe and Just Alternatives campaign Mishi Faruqee, Victims' family member Judy Karr, former WSP Superintendent Dick Morgan, Representative Reuven Carlyle.

Watch the hearing at this link:

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/03/07/poll-should-washington-state-repeal-the-death-penalty/

Testimony submitted from Victoria Thorpe (about 87 min into the hearing)

"I am compelled to come before your audience today because of the experiences that have become an integral part of my personal history and have determined who I am.  I have a sister living on death row in California, (she has struggled to survive for nearly 18 years).

The nightmare that changed both our lives forever has evolved into many privileged experiences that beg to be shared.

It does not flow easily, this attempt to share horror side-by-side with the deepest love and hopefulness; it has painfully evolved over two decades to this present point, where I dare take off my mask and expose my heart and soul to strangers. I come to beg for compassion. I represent the silent victims of the Death Penalty—families and loved ones of human beings sentenced to be executed.

I love my sister dearly, she adds a great deal to my life.
I drive the 1,069 mile trip to Central California about four times each year, I’d go farther if I had to, I’d go more often if it were possible. In a prison I enjoy her company while locked in a tiny room for a few hours. We have both learned to savor life more; I love to watch her describe the new tiny wild flowers that sometimes creep into the Death Row yard, or even better, hear her re-tell her favorite stories of her children, or our childhood, in her animated ways. She misses the wind through her hair on a motorcycle ride. And she is constantly at work on her inner growth. My sister is one of the most honest and loyal persons I know.

I have been forced to imagine what it would be like to witness her execution—we have had to have that conversation—her deep concern is that I not be subjected to watch such an act of brutality carried out. Mine is that I will not be allowed to hold her hand as she has the life extinguished from her, as I would, or any of you would, wish to do for your loved one dying of cancer or such.

Even with the severely limited access to each other, our relationship is always growing, she is my best friend. Among the layers of unimaginable scars this sentence has built upon each of us, the cruelty of seeing her strapped down, rendering her completely helpless, while an audience, much like you all assembled here, watch her being murdered, would just about steal all my hope for human kind.

The system labels someone as a monster or evil in order to ease the guilt of killing a helpless person. But even if I were to concede to this label over any human—how would it be logical? When you attempt to overcome evil (a bad deed) with evil you simply multiply the evil.

In my opinion, in order to really change our current culture of violence, there must be work done to bring our country into a place of balance between protecting the collective and protecting individuals’ well-being. The Death Penalty serves neither the collective, nor the individual’s right to life. It violates them both.

You must stop the killing. You are good people who love their families—please imagine one of them in place of the eight men we house on Washington’s Death Row. Please see their loved ones’ broken hearts. Please allow your compassion to rule alongside your wisdom."