softheart
06-19-2005, 12:30 AM
Open letter to the hip-hop community
To those of you now viewing these words, I'd like to bring to your
attention that Ronald Ray Howard has been given an execution date by the
state of Texas for October 6, 2005.
For some of you - especially fans of Tupac - the name may sound vaguely
familiar while others may have no clue as to who Ron. R. Howard is.
Before I tell you who Ron is to many others, and me, I'll tell you what
Texas labels him as - a convicted cop killer. He now sits on Texas death
row for that crime, which happened over a decade ago. This missive isn't
in any way an attempt to glorify nor justify what took place April 11,
1992, but rather it is to make not only the community but the world aware
that Ron is not the same destitute young black male he was so long ago.
Over the many years, he's done a lot of introspection and has dedicated it
all to strive tirelessly to generate awareness to the youth not to make
the mistakes he has. And Ron has used his life as a testimonial to help
steer the young who live and are raised in the same kind of environment he
and many of us come from.
As evidence of this truth, you can visit his website at:
www.ronrhoward.org
It is my hope that the community will unite in an effort to join others
who speak out and oppose the death penalty! Why now? Well, his case is
linked to all who listen to music. How? On today's date April 11th,
thirteen years ago, a Texas state trooper was killed by a young black male
while listening to music, rap music or gangsta-rap music as many label it.
Some utilized this event to criticize the lyrics in some artists' songs
while others have viewed it entirely different. Right now, today, I'm
asking you to take a look at the person Ron has become regardless of how
one may have felt back then. A man who has acknowledged his past and has
since dedicated himself to advising others not to trek down the path he
once did and for the youth on the grasp of the streets there's no better
voice than one who has experienced the ills of what the streets offer and
produce.
Even after enduring 13 years of incarceration on Texas death row, Ron is
still a high-spirited and positive brother, who is always willing to help
someone in any way he possibly can. To me, Ron is more than a comrade. He
is my brother and very close friend. He's an inspiration when I'm felling
down and need a boost or reminder that the sun still shines behind gray
skies! He's a genuine brother who made a wrong decision in life that
eventually sent him to death row while still a teenager.
Many young men will continue to make these same mistakes as long as
they're not truly aware that the life they lead could land them in a place
such as this - death row. That awareness derives from education and
change. Change doesn't come without action! People around the world can
sit and watch as families drift further apart. As poverty increases! As
more and more line up for unemployment and crimes increase as a result.
The world can continue to watch as more men and women are executed by
states and governments. You all can sit back and say: "Oh, what a shame
that this is occurring!" The point is it will "continue" to transpire
until someone takes constructive action to bring about change.
Every constructive action counts but it counts more when it's done as a
collective and organized movement. We could all light candles around the
world but as long as some of you continue to hold the candle "inside" your
house (i.e. mind, body and soul) instead of "outside" where others can
see, then your action is not constructive.
The goal is to provide light (i.e. awareness) to the world, which is
engulfed in darkness about the true nature of the death penalty and its
flaws!
Ron has manifested actions by utilizing his story to make other aware of
his mistakes in hopes that they don't make the same. And it would serve no
other purpose that revenge if this execution is allowed to take place!
Revenge won't change anything at all but allowing Ron's life to be spared
can and will change a lot as he has yet to reach the pinnacle in his
dedication to generate the awareness needed so that all who can possibly
be affected by his story and continued message are given an opportunity to
receive it.
I don't write this to mount a plea for his freedom but I do hope to
motivate others to join in the effort to save Ron's life from the Texas
Death machine. You can help in many ways by voicing opposition to this
execution and the death penalty through organized writing campaigns and
rally to spread the word of Ron's dilemma.
You can write any anti-death penalty group to link up with them to voice
your opposition against the death penalty.
Let your future actions be the beginning of a change in progress.
Thank you for reading this.
Christopher B. Coleman
#999239
Polunsky Unit
3872 FM 350 South
Livingston, TX 77351
To those of you now viewing these words, I'd like to bring to your
attention that Ronald Ray Howard has been given an execution date by the
state of Texas for October 6, 2005.
For some of you - especially fans of Tupac - the name may sound vaguely
familiar while others may have no clue as to who Ron. R. Howard is.
Before I tell you who Ron is to many others, and me, I'll tell you what
Texas labels him as - a convicted cop killer. He now sits on Texas death
row for that crime, which happened over a decade ago. This missive isn't
in any way an attempt to glorify nor justify what took place April 11,
1992, but rather it is to make not only the community but the world aware
that Ron is not the same destitute young black male he was so long ago.
Over the many years, he's done a lot of introspection and has dedicated it
all to strive tirelessly to generate awareness to the youth not to make
the mistakes he has. And Ron has used his life as a testimonial to help
steer the young who live and are raised in the same kind of environment he
and many of us come from.
As evidence of this truth, you can visit his website at:
www.ronrhoward.org
It is my hope that the community will unite in an effort to join others
who speak out and oppose the death penalty! Why now? Well, his case is
linked to all who listen to music. How? On today's date April 11th,
thirteen years ago, a Texas state trooper was killed by a young black male
while listening to music, rap music or gangsta-rap music as many label it.
Some utilized this event to criticize the lyrics in some artists' songs
while others have viewed it entirely different. Right now, today, I'm
asking you to take a look at the person Ron has become regardless of how
one may have felt back then. A man who has acknowledged his past and has
since dedicated himself to advising others not to trek down the path he
once did and for the youth on the grasp of the streets there's no better
voice than one who has experienced the ills of what the streets offer and
produce.
Even after enduring 13 years of incarceration on Texas death row, Ron is
still a high-spirited and positive brother, who is always willing to help
someone in any way he possibly can. To me, Ron is more than a comrade. He
is my brother and very close friend. He's an inspiration when I'm felling
down and need a boost or reminder that the sun still shines behind gray
skies! He's a genuine brother who made a wrong decision in life that
eventually sent him to death row while still a teenager.
Many young men will continue to make these same mistakes as long as
they're not truly aware that the life they lead could land them in a place
such as this - death row. That awareness derives from education and
change. Change doesn't come without action! People around the world can
sit and watch as families drift further apart. As poverty increases! As
more and more line up for unemployment and crimes increase as a result.
The world can continue to watch as more men and women are executed by
states and governments. You all can sit back and say: "Oh, what a shame
that this is occurring!" The point is it will "continue" to transpire
until someone takes constructive action to bring about change.
Every constructive action counts but it counts more when it's done as a
collective and organized movement. We could all light candles around the
world but as long as some of you continue to hold the candle "inside" your
house (i.e. mind, body and soul) instead of "outside" where others can
see, then your action is not constructive.
The goal is to provide light (i.e. awareness) to the world, which is
engulfed in darkness about the true nature of the death penalty and its
flaws!
Ron has manifested actions by utilizing his story to make other aware of
his mistakes in hopes that they don't make the same. And it would serve no
other purpose that revenge if this execution is allowed to take place!
Revenge won't change anything at all but allowing Ron's life to be spared
can and will change a lot as he has yet to reach the pinnacle in his
dedication to generate the awareness needed so that all who can possibly
be affected by his story and continued message are given an opportunity to
receive it.
I don't write this to mount a plea for his freedom but I do hope to
motivate others to join in the effort to save Ron's life from the Texas
Death machine. You can help in many ways by voicing opposition to this
execution and the death penalty through organized writing campaigns and
rally to spread the word of Ron's dilemma.
You can write any anti-death penalty group to link up with them to voice
your opposition against the death penalty.
Let your future actions be the beginning of a change in progress.
Thank you for reading this.
Christopher B. Coleman
#999239
Polunsky Unit
3872 FM 350 South
Livingston, TX 77351