Not Guilty/Not Free
 

Sorors,

I was reading the newspaper on last night and came across another disturbing article. A mentally retarded man spent a decade on death row for raping and murdering a 19-year old woman. Recently taken,DNA tests proved that the semen taken from the body of the victim did not match the semen of the man. The test also concluded that the semen from a blanket at the crime scene was that of a convicted rapist. The man was afforded a full pardon;however, he will not be released. He is serving a 30 year sentence for beating a 73 year old woman and burglarizing her home.
Lets say that man had not beaten or stolen from the elderly lady and was just charged with the rape and murder. This type of injustice happens to OUR MEN all of the time. Can you imagine being convicted for something that you did not do? Why did they not run DNA tests in 1982? Did they not have this type of testing? Of course! Why is it that OUR MEN seem to get the sharper end of the stick? Can you imagine the mental bondage that this brother and others like him may be experiencing. Question? Have things really changed? It used to be if "they" felt like "WE" transgressed against "them"(looked at "their"women, used a less than humble tone, looked eye to eye at them)they would automatically hang us or whip us--no questions asked. Now days if fingers should happen to point to "us" "we" may have to go through a paper process, but what is usually the end result? Guilty! "Lock them up---death by leathal injection," the jorors said. I am not saying that this is true in every instance; however, it is happening more than it has been reported. The only way that things will change is if we change them. How? "We" must educate or selves, we must run for offices, we must VOTE the same way!

Peace and unity

Conskeeted Skee Wee

You Are The Master Of Your Own Destiny!

Thanks Soror Griffith for the insight!

Well actually, DNA testing wasn't really available in 1982, if memory serves me correctly.

While it's regrettable, in fact, horrible, that this man spent these last years in prison for a crime he didn't commit, he is still there because of one he did commit. I'm not sure where our outrage should be placed-on the fact that he was wrongly convicted of the rape and murder or because he's still in jail? Please clarify, soror.

Also, while I agree with you that justice in America has often eluded black and brown people, I also know that we each must be accountable for our actions. I personally think the vast majority of people in prison are there because they did something wrong. Yes, some are there longer because they got harsher sentences than others simply because of their race, but the fact remains that THEY ARE CRIMINALS in the first place. If someone kills my mama and daddy tonight, I want them in JAIL-FOREVER. I don't really care if they had a hard childhood or not. So did millions of us. Poverty and racism are not excuses for poor personal choices.


[This message has been edited by Discogoddess (edited October 04, 2000).]