Pam
05-28-2002, 10:49 AM
ANOTHER TEXECUTION TONIGHT, INCLUDING....
* CNN REPORT // TAKE ACTION!
CNN ran a report <http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/presents/> several times
this past weekend by CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane
Amanpour (big time, for CNN). CUADP has had several reports that the CNN
program was very well done....
TAKE ACTION: Call TX Gov. Rick Perry to oppose tonight's Texecution:
If you are a Texan, be sure the person answering the phone makes note of
that fact. The toll-free phone number in Texas is 1-800-843-5789.
If you are calling from outside of the state of Texas, please use these
numbers -- Phone: 512-463-2000 or Fax: 512-463-1849.
SUGGESTED MESSAGE: "I saw the report on CNN, and I think what you are
doing is both unnecessary and OBSCENE!"
****
* AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN EDITORIAL
Perry still has time to stop execution
Editorial: American-Statesman Tuesday, May 28, 2002
The odds weren't always stacked against Napoleon Beazley, but they are today.
The once-promising high school scholar and athlete was poised to attend
Stanford Law School one day. Instead, he sits on death row, waiting to die
after 6 p.m.
Now 25, Beazley killed the father of a federal judge and is on death row in
an election year. It seems unlikely that anyone with the power to stop his
execution will do so.
That's the brutal sum of Beazley's situation. Gov. Rick Perry should listen
to a chorus of voices urging him to spare Beazley. He should issue a 30-day
stay, then direct the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend
clemency. Such an act won't be popular in an election year, but it would
be the right and courageous thing to do. By doing so, Perry would be
sending a message that the state shows real power when it shows compassion.
Beazley, who is African American, was 17 when he killed John Luttig during
a botched carjacking. Not even Beazley makes excuses for what he did. Is it
justice, though, for the state to seek the ultimate punishment for a crime
committed when the defendant was not even old enough to vote? It is a
question worth asking in a state that leads the nation in executions and is
unchallenged in its record of executing offenders who committed murder as
minors.
Ten of 18 such executions nationwide have been carried out by Texas during
the past three decades, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
In Texas, 30 offenders who murdered as minors are awaiting execution,
according to a state official -- most are minorities. Beazley should be
punished, but justice is more than punishment. Justice should be tempered
with mercy and above all, it must be fair.
The arguments to spare Beazley because of his age at the time he killed are
so compelling that the judge who presided over Beazley's trial asked Perry
to commute Beazley's sentence. Smith County Judge Cynthia Kent wrote to
Perry last year: ". . . it is my recommendation that due to his age at the
time of the offense (17) that you consider carefully and grant his request
that his sentence be commuted from the death sentence to a sentence of life
imprisonment." The governor should heed Kent's plea.
Beazley has drawn other unlikely supporters who have asked the governor and
parole board for clemency: the prosecutor of his native Houston County, a
former death row warden and 15 Texas lawmakers. In their request to the
governor, the legislators cited a bill that would have raised the age of
eligibility for the death penalty to 18. The bill passed the House last
year, but died in the Senate. That bill no doubt will be filed again in
2003, when the Legislature next meets. It might pass, but that will be too
late for Beazley.
His fate is in Perry's hands. The governor may feel that his hands are tied
by re-election considerations. Support for the death penalty in Texas is
strong, and Perry is a proponent.
In considering Beazley's case, the governor should weigh new research that
indicates that mental development -- including one's conscience --
continues beyond the teen-age years.
"It's been seen that the average child who has a good enough environment
will continue developing their super ego, their conscience, into their
20s," said Dr. Beverly Sutton, director of the psychiatric residency
program for the Austin State Hospital. Sutton said research conducted at
Harvard University's McClean Hospital and the University of Illinois using
neuroimaging (X-rays) to study the physiology of the brain has made
progress on that front. "What I'm hoping is that they stop this nonsense of
executing people who commit murders as juveniles," she said.
Aside from age, Beazley's case raises other serious questions about whether
the death penalty is fairly applied without regard to race or ethnicity.
* Beazley was tried and sentenced by an all-white jury after African
Americans were excluded from the jury pool.
* In an affidavit, Robin Norris, who represented Beazley in one round of
appeals said he did not raise claims relating to racial bias, as he should
have, despite a juror's statement to an investigator that the "nigger got
what he deserved."
We urge the governor to consider those issues carefully and to show mercy.
****
* A REPORT FROM THE FRONT: BEAZLEY'S PARENTS SPEAK OUT!
From: Abolition Movement <abolitionmovement@JUNO.COM>
Subject: News. Texas. Napoleon Beazley's family struggles until the last hour
To: ABOLISH@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
On Saturday Rena and Ireland Beazley had their last visit with their son
Napoleon, who is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday. They spent the day in
Houston Monday, using all the energy they could muster to talk about their
son and urge people to call or fax the Parole Board and governor to ask for
clemency.
At 11 AM they were in the radio studio at KPFT, Pacifica Radio in Houston.
Gloria Rubac and Njeri Shakur, co-hosts of "Fight Back!" interviewed the
Beazley's and then opened the phone lines for questions and comments. The
hour was lively and gave the Beazleys the opportunity to open their hearts
to the listeners in this area. Most callers were very supportive. One woman
reported that she had phoned the governor to leave a message about stopping
the execution and couldn't do it as his mail box was FULL! Hopefully both
he and the Board of Pardons and Paroles have so many messages that they
will be forced to read and consider them.
After the KPFT show, Ireland Beazley and Gloria Rubac did an extensive
interview with the BBC in London.
Then the family attended the 27th Annual Pan African Festival in Herman
Park, sponsored each year by the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center. Njeri
introduced Rena and Ireland, who spoke about their son and asked for help.
Then SHAPE director Deloyd Parker took the microphone and urged the
hundreds of people within earshot to sign the post cards to the Board of
Pardons and Paroles. Members of the Abolition Movement were swamped with
signers. Many folks went up and hugged Rena and told her to be strong and
that they would keep the Beazleys in their prayers. The young woman
chairing the music part of the festival took the microphone and said she
was from Conroe and remembers the Clarence Brandley case and had marched
for Clarence in Conroe. She told the crowd that we have to unify and stand
up and fight for what is right.
The Abolition Movement had already mailed in over 400 postcards and today
faxed about 250 that were signed in the park.
The Beazleys drove back to Grapeland late this afternoon, thanking us for
all the support and feeling good about doing all they could to help
Napoleon. When Njeri told Rena that her son had learned to be a warrior
during his years on death row, Rena responded, "Yes, he has and I think we
are learning to be warriors too!"
Both Rena and Ireland are still hoping for a miracle from the Parole Board.
Let's hope they get it!! If anyone ever deserved clemency, it is their
son. If not, join us at the Walls Unit at 5:30 tomorrow as we stand by the
yellow crime scene tape put up by prison authorities, and protest the crime
they are committing. Cars will leave the Abolition Movement office at
SHAPE, 3903 Almeda Rd. at 3:30 PM. If you can drive others or need a ride,
eMail, or phone 713-523-8454.
* CNN REPORT // TAKE ACTION!
CNN ran a report <http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/presents/> several times
this past weekend by CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane
Amanpour (big time, for CNN). CUADP has had several reports that the CNN
program was very well done....
TAKE ACTION: Call TX Gov. Rick Perry to oppose tonight's Texecution:
If you are a Texan, be sure the person answering the phone makes note of
that fact. The toll-free phone number in Texas is 1-800-843-5789.
If you are calling from outside of the state of Texas, please use these
numbers -- Phone: 512-463-2000 or Fax: 512-463-1849.
SUGGESTED MESSAGE: "I saw the report on CNN, and I think what you are
doing is both unnecessary and OBSCENE!"
****
* AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN EDITORIAL
Perry still has time to stop execution
Editorial: American-Statesman Tuesday, May 28, 2002
The odds weren't always stacked against Napoleon Beazley, but they are today.
The once-promising high school scholar and athlete was poised to attend
Stanford Law School one day. Instead, he sits on death row, waiting to die
after 6 p.m.
Now 25, Beazley killed the father of a federal judge and is on death row in
an election year. It seems unlikely that anyone with the power to stop his
execution will do so.
That's the brutal sum of Beazley's situation. Gov. Rick Perry should listen
to a chorus of voices urging him to spare Beazley. He should issue a 30-day
stay, then direct the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to recommend
clemency. Such an act won't be popular in an election year, but it would
be the right and courageous thing to do. By doing so, Perry would be
sending a message that the state shows real power when it shows compassion.
Beazley, who is African American, was 17 when he killed John Luttig during
a botched carjacking. Not even Beazley makes excuses for what he did. Is it
justice, though, for the state to seek the ultimate punishment for a crime
committed when the defendant was not even old enough to vote? It is a
question worth asking in a state that leads the nation in executions and is
unchallenged in its record of executing offenders who committed murder as
minors.
Ten of 18 such executions nationwide have been carried out by Texas during
the past three decades, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.
In Texas, 30 offenders who murdered as minors are awaiting execution,
according to a state official -- most are minorities. Beazley should be
punished, but justice is more than punishment. Justice should be tempered
with mercy and above all, it must be fair.
The arguments to spare Beazley because of his age at the time he killed are
so compelling that the judge who presided over Beazley's trial asked Perry
to commute Beazley's sentence. Smith County Judge Cynthia Kent wrote to
Perry last year: ". . . it is my recommendation that due to his age at the
time of the offense (17) that you consider carefully and grant his request
that his sentence be commuted from the death sentence to a sentence of life
imprisonment." The governor should heed Kent's plea.
Beazley has drawn other unlikely supporters who have asked the governor and
parole board for clemency: the prosecutor of his native Houston County, a
former death row warden and 15 Texas lawmakers. In their request to the
governor, the legislators cited a bill that would have raised the age of
eligibility for the death penalty to 18. The bill passed the House last
year, but died in the Senate. That bill no doubt will be filed again in
2003, when the Legislature next meets. It might pass, but that will be too
late for Beazley.
His fate is in Perry's hands. The governor may feel that his hands are tied
by re-election considerations. Support for the death penalty in Texas is
strong, and Perry is a proponent.
In considering Beazley's case, the governor should weigh new research that
indicates that mental development -- including one's conscience --
continues beyond the teen-age years.
"It's been seen that the average child who has a good enough environment
will continue developing their super ego, their conscience, into their
20s," said Dr. Beverly Sutton, director of the psychiatric residency
program for the Austin State Hospital. Sutton said research conducted at
Harvard University's McClean Hospital and the University of Illinois using
neuroimaging (X-rays) to study the physiology of the brain has made
progress on that front. "What I'm hoping is that they stop this nonsense of
executing people who commit murders as juveniles," she said.
Aside from age, Beazley's case raises other serious questions about whether
the death penalty is fairly applied without regard to race or ethnicity.
* Beazley was tried and sentenced by an all-white jury after African
Americans were excluded from the jury pool.
* In an affidavit, Robin Norris, who represented Beazley in one round of
appeals said he did not raise claims relating to racial bias, as he should
have, despite a juror's statement to an investigator that the "nigger got
what he deserved."
We urge the governor to consider those issues carefully and to show mercy.
****
* A REPORT FROM THE FRONT: BEAZLEY'S PARENTS SPEAK OUT!
From: Abolition Movement <abolitionmovement@JUNO.COM>
Subject: News. Texas. Napoleon Beazley's family struggles until the last hour
To: ABOLISH@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
On Saturday Rena and Ireland Beazley had their last visit with their son
Napoleon, who is scheduled to be executed on Tuesday. They spent the day in
Houston Monday, using all the energy they could muster to talk about their
son and urge people to call or fax the Parole Board and governor to ask for
clemency.
At 11 AM they were in the radio studio at KPFT, Pacifica Radio in Houston.
Gloria Rubac and Njeri Shakur, co-hosts of "Fight Back!" interviewed the
Beazley's and then opened the phone lines for questions and comments. The
hour was lively and gave the Beazleys the opportunity to open their hearts
to the listeners in this area. Most callers were very supportive. One woman
reported that she had phoned the governor to leave a message about stopping
the execution and couldn't do it as his mail box was FULL! Hopefully both
he and the Board of Pardons and Paroles have so many messages that they
will be forced to read and consider them.
After the KPFT show, Ireland Beazley and Gloria Rubac did an extensive
interview with the BBC in London.
Then the family attended the 27th Annual Pan African Festival in Herman
Park, sponsored each year by the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center. Njeri
introduced Rena and Ireland, who spoke about their son and asked for help.
Then SHAPE director Deloyd Parker took the microphone and urged the
hundreds of people within earshot to sign the post cards to the Board of
Pardons and Paroles. Members of the Abolition Movement were swamped with
signers. Many folks went up and hugged Rena and told her to be strong and
that they would keep the Beazleys in their prayers. The young woman
chairing the music part of the festival took the microphone and said she
was from Conroe and remembers the Clarence Brandley case and had marched
for Clarence in Conroe. She told the crowd that we have to unify and stand
up and fight for what is right.
The Abolition Movement had already mailed in over 400 postcards and today
faxed about 250 that were signed in the park.
The Beazleys drove back to Grapeland late this afternoon, thanking us for
all the support and feeling good about doing all they could to help
Napoleon. When Njeri told Rena that her son had learned to be a warrior
during his years on death row, Rena responded, "Yes, he has and I think we
are learning to be warriors too!"
Both Rena and Ireland are still hoping for a miracle from the Parole Board.
Let's hope they get it!! If anyone ever deserved clemency, it is their
son. If not, join us at the Walls Unit at 5:30 tomorrow as we stand by the
yellow crime scene tape put up by prison authorities, and protest the crime
they are committing. Cars will leave the Abolition Movement office at
SHAPE, 3903 Almeda Rd. at 3:30 PM. If you can drive others or need a ride,
eMail, or phone 713-523-8454.