A Conversation about the Death Penalty

September 19, 2012, at the Universalist Unitarian Church in Spokane, WA, Three community members and a Gonzaga Professor as moderator, presented their expert information in regards to the Death Penalty and its workings, from their unique perspectives. Dr. Raymond Reyes moderated the panel as they shared the realities of the Death Penalty "system" with the audience. Reverend Dr. Todd Eklof brought the moral values and ethical questions into account. Beull Holister is a victim's family member who shared the truth on the closure aspect of murders. And Victoria Thorpe provided the realities of living with a wrongful conviction. Each member was well educated in their areas and all were ready with statistics and facts for the audience questions. It was a good evening of friendly conversation about Capital Punishment. The panel and audience ended agreeing the United States needs to be educated in the truth on this subject along with tackling the obstacle of fear and replacing it with compassion and understanding.
Thank you to everyone who participated!!

Missconduct on the part of government employees at the heart of this Death Penalty case-

Charge dismissed against Ohioan once on death row

The Associated Press

Published: Thursday, Sep. 6, 2012 - 12:06 pm

CLEVELAND -- An Ohio man who spent more than 21 years on death row is free after a judge dismissed the murder charge against him in a 1988 stabbing death.

A Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County judge on Thursday dismissed the aggravated murder count against 62-year-old Michael Keenan after determining evidence that could have exonerated him was withheld from his trial attorneys.

A co-defendant was freed in 2010 by a judge citing the same reason.

Keenan was convicted twice of killing Tony Klann in a Cleveland park. Keenan's attorney says a priest who befriended the co-defendant helped uncover evidence favorable to both men.

A federal judge in April had ruled that Keenan must be retried or the verdict set side.

Congratulations Mr. Keenan!

more info at Death Penalty Info Center: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/innocence-ohio-judge-dismisses-all-charges-and-frees-inmate-death-row

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/06/4794126/charge-dismissed-against-ohioan.html#storylink=cpy

Honor Life: Abolish the Death Penalty

July 21st, 2012

The event was fantastic! People of compassion and the desire to gain understanding gathered for the rooftop garden party with live music, food and refreshments.  150 eager listeners heard Jason's personal story, were introduced to Kerry Dalton's case, and heard about two more families in our community who have loved ones on Death Row. You can read more at this link to SpokaneFAVS (a division of the Faith and Values news network).  

The article written by Tracy Simmons 

http://spokanefavs.com/culture/social-issues/group-fights-to-abolish-death-penalty

 Jason Baldwin working to change a broken system.

Jason and Holly Ballard. She is a champion for the cause! They just finished working on a new movie about the West Memphis Three, Devil's Knot, and are busy campaigning to end the death penalty.

Jason and Holly pose with some of those who made this event come together.

Victoria with Jason after she shared Kerry's story and introduced CAGES.

Our thanks and love to Jason and Holly!!!

Bryan Stevenson: amazing human rights activist

Please watch this wonderful video of Bryan Stevenson sharing his wisdom and hope as eloquent as could be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2tOp7OxyQ8

Jason Baldwin is going to Spokane!

The West Memphis Three have been free for 10 months, and already Mr. Baldwin is working to help correct the flaws within the system that were responsible for his wrongful conviction, Mr. Echols' and Mr. Misskelley's. And not just to rectify what happened to them, but to educate the general public on the urgency of their attention to the depth of reform needed.

Jason Baldwin will be in Spokane, Washington as the special guest speaker at an event named:

Honor Life: Abolish the Death Penalty.
He will tell his powerful story of three innocent men (teens when convicted) who lost 18 years of their lives serving life sentences and Mr. Echols on Death Row, because of issues within the system such as prosecution immunity, hearsay laws, the rulings by the presiding judge, snitch testimony, coersion by law enforcement, and vilification of defendants.

Honor Life: Abolish the Death Penalty

July 21st, Saturday, 2012.

4:00Pm-6:30pm

Saranac Building, 25 W Main St, Spokane, WA

What: A rooftop garden party to celebrate freedom and life while hearing the facts, repercussions, and experiences, in order to grow in understanding of the failure that is the Death Penalty in the United States.

4:00 live music by the Terrible Button, refreshments, info, mingle

4:30 Introduce Mr. Baldwin

4:40 Mr. Baldwin tells his personal story

5:00 open for Q&A

5:45 more music, refreshments, info available, mingle.

Open to the public, free admission. Sponsored by PJALS.ORG

The Documented Truth About Kerry Lyn Dalton's Trial

Some of you have watched the Deadly Women episode aired last Winter, claiming to tell the story of a murder involving Kerry Dalton, Sheryl Baker, Mark Tompkins and "George."

Now you can read the documented truth in the newly published book, CAGES. For details, along with excerpts, follow this link https://victoriaannthorpe.com/

Sister Helen Prejean, Author of Dead Man Walking, writes, "...Cages is a must read that exposes the complexities and faults within the system, while going deeply into the moral issue of capital punishment..." 

Compare the astonishing differences between the episode's version and this documented, accurate retelling of the facts.

Death Row at Central CA Women's Facility

The "cage" has been extended since this photo to include five more cells.
CCWF is currently housing 3,071 women (153% ), along with
it's neighbor facility,VSPW, housing 2,587 women (131% capacity).
Twenty women share the Death Row Cage.
(Please look through earlier articles posted to learn more about Kerry's case.)

The opposite of poverty is not wealth. … In too many places, the opposite of poverty is justice.” (Bryan Stevenson)
Watch Bryan Stevenson's talk on TED through this link:

http://www.ted.com/talks/bryan_stevenson_we_need_to_talk_about_an_injustice.html 

Bryan Stevenson is the founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, fighting poverty and challenging racial discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Michael Morton freed after 25 years, wrongly convicted of his wife's murder (sentenced over turned  Oct. 4, 2011).
Watch another case of innocence uncovered here:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7402891n

Earlier footage of Mr. Mortan's exoneration at this link:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/michael-morton-free-25-years-prison-exonerated-wifes/story?id=14663445




Prosecutorial misconduct must be addressed, their immunity to civil prosecution can be amended and possibly save others from wrongful convictions- it will not change our ability to prosecute and keep our communities safe. Please use this link for further info:http://www.prosecutorialoversight.org/

Prosecutorial oversight is typically a matter discussed within legal policymaking circles. The Prosecutorial Oversight Campaign seeks to explore policy reforms to prevent prosecutorial misconduct and error through a national dialogue on the issue, and your voice is critical to this process.

The Innocence Project team and Mr. Morton