Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin Talk about Their Release

excerpt from Mirror article:  NOVEMBER 20, 2013

Freedom without justice

By Leigh Tauss

Imagine a concrete box called home, orange mystery slop meals, shuffling in chains until you forget how to walk without them, consistently being beaten sometimes to the point of urinating blood and denied sunlight until nearly blind.

Let’s face it: Most of us couldn’t make it one day in solitary confinement on death row in a supermax prison, but Damien Echols spent 18 years there –- all for a crime he did not commit.

“From the moment you wake up you’re furious, thinking, ‘These people have no right to do this to me. I’m not supposed to be here,’” said Echols, describing his first few years incarcerated.

Echols, his wife Lorri Davis and attorney Stephen Braga ‘78 closed out The Regina A. Quick Center’s Open Visions forum for the fall semester with a panel discussing the corruption of the criminal justice system, the brutality of prison conditions and what life Echols has forged since being set free.

Read the whole article, more about the trial, death row, justice, freedom, and aftermath here:

http://fairfieldmirror.com/2013/11/20/freedom-without-justice/

Jason Baldwin, known as one of the West Memphis Three, talks about the Death Penalty

For the First Time, Prosecutor Being Jailed for Withholding Evidence in Conviction of Innocent Man

By David Harris-Gershon    November 9, 2013

Excerpts...  
" Today in Texas, former prosecutor and judge Ken Anderson pled guilty to intentionally failing to disclose evidence in a case that sent an innocent man, Michael Morton, to prison for the murder of his wife. When trying the case as a prosecutor, Anderson possessed evidence that may have cleared Morton, including statements from the crime’s only eyewitness that Morton wasn't the culprit. Anderson sat on this evidence, and then watched Morton get convicted. While Morton remained in prison for the next 25 years, Anderson’s career flourished, and he eventually became a judge.

In today’s deal, Anderson pled to criminal contempt, and will have to give up his law license, perform 500 hours of community service, and spend 10 days in jail. Anderson had already resigned in September from his position on the Texas bench."

Michael Morton, wife and son. He lost 25 years in prison - wrongfully convicted because of Ken Anderson withholding exculpatory evidence; then a prosecutor, now a judge.

" ...In Illinois, two police officers whose improperly grueling interrogation techniques led to the wrongful conviction of Juan Rivera and others were not penalized when their 3rd degree tactics came to light. Rather, they were recently hired at taxpayer expense to teach interrogation courses to other police officers around the state. A recent study found prosecutorial misconduct in nearly one-quarter of all capital cases in Arizona. Only two of those prosecutors have been reprimanded or punished."

read the complete article :

http://www.alternet.org/speakeasy/tikkundaily/first-time-prosecutor-being-jailed-withholding-evidence-conviction-innocent

"...In order for such misconduct to be curbed, meaningful punishments for such gross criminal actions will need to become the rule, rather than the exception. For as my students now understand, stealing someone’s innocence, and years of their life, is just about the most heinous crime possible to commit. It’s about time we treat it as such."

By David Harris-Gershon    November 9, 2013

The case of Kerry Lyn Dalton has these same issues (among many others): the prosecutor withholding exculpatory evidence - but the courts have not reviewed her case yet - sentenced March 1995. 
How long does justice take?

Please look up the case, the trial, the appeals, and read CAGES, the documented true story of her case quoted from the trial transcripts. (click the banner at the top of the page to get more info on CAGES)

Spokane performs the Dead Man Walking One-Act Play

Sister Helen Prejean, leading national advocate for
Death Penalty Abolition and Bestselling Author of
Dead Man Walking

Sister Helen Prejean visited Spokane, October 11th, 2013, to watch the performance of the Dead Man Walking and speak with community members and legislators about ending the death penalty in

Washington State.

Former WA State Superintendent of Prisons Speaks

The Journey Toward Justice

 Posters from the program Fellowship Of Peace created for the Spokane community. Sponsors were Gonzaga University and S&JA/WCADP campaign to repeal the Death Penalty in WA State.

The top poster is signed by Sister Helen Prejean, she wrote:

"To Victoria, Corin & Adriel & Adam- let us work until Kerry Lynn is FREE!       Helen Prejean"

The bottom poster is also signed by Sr. Helen: "To Kerry Lynn- my sister. I respect your precious life. Love & prayers, Helen Prejean"

The Journey Toward Justice was a program presented October 11th, 2013, created and organized by Fellowship Of Peace. major sponsors were Gonzaga University and S&JA campaign to repeal the death penalty in WA State. The event began with Fr, Frank Case (Gonzaga V.P. of Mission) welcoming the public, then introducing Bishop Blase Cupich, who was to offer the invocation over the evening. Next was the performance of the one act version of the play Dead Man Walking, with a cast of local students from Gonzaga Univ., Whitworth Univ., EWU, WSU) and Rogers High, along with several community members.

Following the play Sr.Helen Prejean addressed the audience on the subject of abolition.

Over 400 people crowded into the Globe Room at Gonzaga campus, a couple of hundred postcards were filled out to notify law makers their constituents want repeal. Folks crowded into lines to get books signed by Sr. Helen afterwards. (Prior to the program, Sr. Helen met with the cast who were very moved by here presence and the experience they received by participating in the play. Sr. Helen was asked to pose for a group photo and signed their posters as she chatted with each cast member. )

It was a success and a blessing toward repeal!

Thank you Sr. Helen for your tireless work and deeply compassionate heart for those on the Rows. May your strength and example be energized and continue to flow so we will all learn it's past time to end this Death Penalty.  With sincerity and hope ~ Fellowship Of Peace, and the Spokane community.

More on Facebook:   facebook.com/fellowshipofpeace

Read the article covering the program at Spokane FAVS     http://spokanefavs.com/2013/10/12/sr-prejean-visits-spokane-speaks-death-penalty/

Fellowship of Peace Foundation Presented DMW Play Oct. 11, 2013

October 11th's Dead Man Walking Play was co-sponsored by Gonzaga University and Spokane community members.

The primary cast of the Dead Man Walking play (Spokane college students and community members) with Sister Helen Prejean before their performance 

Rehearsing the part of Matthew Poncelet with student actor Patrick Ostrander. Victoria Thorpe directed the play.

Sister Helen Prejean with the staff of Fellowship of Peace Foundation: Victoria Ann Thorpe, Adriel , Corin, and Adam.