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November 1998 Issue 5

Articles in this Issue:

Fight to free Lawrence "Bubba" Hayes


By: Sherry Wolf

THE dramatic story of Lawrence Hayes' 47 years reads like one of Franz Kafka's absurdist novels. But unlike a novel, a man's tortured life is not entertainment. It is tragedy at the American justice system's worst.

Lawrence Hayes, a former Black Panther and outspoken opponent of the death penalty, was sentenced in September to five years in prison by the New York State Board of Parole. His crime? Lawrence visited his parole officer on the wrong days!


Justice for the Death Row Ten


By: Joan Parkin

Two months ago, the Death Row Ten - a group of prisoners who were sent to death row after being tortured by former Police Commander Jon Burge - asked the Campaign to be their voice on the outside. They took the courageous step of speaking out in the face of possible retribution by prison officials to let the truth be heard. What is outrageous is that while Burge was fired for extracting confessions with electric shock, suffocation and beatings, his victims remain on death row.


Washington executes mentally ill prisoner

By: Andrea Crabtree

On October 13, Jeremy Sagastegui was the first person executed by lethal injection in Washington.

By protesting this execution, I learned two important things:

First, Washington approves of killing the mentally ill as long as they are "competent," and second, we must be involved at all stages of every capital case if we want to put an end to the death penalty. The system is not only warped, it's quick.


The Politics of Execution

Interview with Stephen Bright, Part 2


By: Alex Roth

Stephen Bright is the Director of the Southern Center for Human Rights (SCHR) in Atlanta, Georgia. He is one of the foremost capital defense and appellate attorneys in the country, and one of the most outspoken and tireless opponents of the death penalty. I had the good fortune to be able to work at SCHR for a short time this past spring to help with some death penalty cases, and I asked Stephen to tell New Abolitionist readers a little about his thoughts and experiences.


The Fight for Derek Bentley

A Full Pardon - 46 Years Later


By: Marlene Martin

The 1953 execution of Derek Bentley, a mentally handicapped 19-year-old who was falsely convicted of murder, was pivotal in bringing about the end of capital punishment in Britain.

And now, after 46 years, the British justice system finally admitted its terrible mistake and granted Bentley a full pardon.


Report Back on "Live from Death Row" Events

New York City
by Tristin Adie

One hundred-sixty-five people turned out to a stirring "Live from Death Row" event at Hunter College on September 30.

Tyrone Gilliam and Kenny Collins addressed a live audience via speaker phone from Maryland's death row. Both talked about the racism implicit in the death penalty and the impending execution date set for Tyrone. The audience gave a standing ovation for these two inmates as well as for the remaining panelists.


Standing Up to Oppression

By: Andre Jones

To the New Abolitionist!

I greet you in the name of Peace, as Salaam Alaikum. My name is Andre V. Jones, Sr. I have been on death row for 19 years. I am writing in response to the article I read in your newsletter about a brother who is a dear friend of mine, Nathson Fields.


Appeal For DNA Testing

By: Donetta Hill

My name is Donetta Hill. I am a 31-year-old black woman and the mother of two daughters, ages 8 and 11. I am from Philadelphia, but for the past six and a half years I have been living at Muncy State Prison for Women, on death row. I am writing to you to ask you for your support and to ask for help from anyone who is willing to assist me in any way you can.


Death Row is a Horrible Place to Be

By: Renaldo Hudson

Greetings. I'm allowing my spirit to lead me in writing this letter. I want to address the Death Penalty from an angle many are running from. I can't make the argument of innocence, so I will not play that game with anyone.

I will state for the record that drugs played a big part in the decision I made 15 years ago. Anyone who has knowledge of drug abuse knows that while you're under the influence of drugs, you may think you know what you're doing and are in control even though you're not. If you stop and look at the decisions I made in 1983, it's clear that something was wrong with me.


AN URGENT APPEAL

Don't let them execute Mumia!

On October 30, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court refused to grant a new trial for celebrated death-row political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.

The Supreme Court decision is a signal that the mountain of evidence collected to show Mumia's innocence and of prosecutorial, police, and judicial misconduct in his original 1982 trial (see reverse) means nothing to the authorities.

The politicians and police are out to make an example of Mumia. We can't let that happen.

As has been the case at every stage of Mumia's attempts to appeal his frameup, the Supreme Court decision was biased against him.


A Statement from Death Row


By: Mumia Abu-Jamal

October 31, 1998


Free Mumia Abu-Jamal!

"Don't tell me about the valley of the shadow of death. I live there."


So begins the book Live from Death Row, by acclaimed writer and political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.

Mumia Abu-Jamal has been on death row for over 15 years for the killing of a Philadelphia police officer. An award-winning journalist, political activist and one-time member of the Black Panther Party, Mumia has faced one miscarriage of justice after another.


Join The Fight!

Demonstrations are being organized around the country for November 7 in solidarity with a call for a national day of protest by the International Concerned Family & Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal.

PHILADELPHIA
Rally at 10am at City Hall, 15th and Market. March to the State Building, Broad and Spring Garden, for a noon demonstration.

CHICAGO
Rally at 12noon at Federal Plaza, Adams and Dearborn.

LOUISVILLE, KY
Rally at 3pm at the Federal Building, 7th and Broadway.

LOS ANGELES