[CUADPUpdate] One Stayed, Two More Next Week
Abraham J. Bonowitz
abe at cuadp.org
Tue Jul 17 23:43:24 EDT 2007
Sent to the Recipients of CUADPUpdate ...and a few others...
Feel Free to Forward
Greetings All,
Of course, it is international news that the
Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles granted a 90
day reprieve for Troy Davis yesterday, less than
24 hours before he was to be exterminated for a
crime he quite likely did not commit. With
congratulations to the many many individuals and
organizations who took action to stop that
killing, you can read more about it
here: http://www.troyanthonydavis.org/ and of
course, here: http://www.deathpenaltyusa.blogspot.com/
But next week there are two more executions
scheduled of men who, for compelling reasons,
should not be killed by the state (as if *anyone*
should be killed by the state!).
************************************************
JULY 24 – Texas at 7:00 PM EDT Lonnie Johnson is
scheduled to be killed by the people of Texas in
revenge for his alleged murders of
Gunar Nelson Funk and Leroy McCaffrey Jr.
JULY 26 – Alabama at 6:00 PM EDT Darrell Grayson
is scheduled to be killed by the people of
Alabama in revenge for his alleged murder of Annie Laura Orr.
*************************************************
Even though their cases are not so clear-cut as
the Davis case, advocates are speaking out. Will
these cases become rallying points? In all
likelihood, they will not. Should
they? Perhaps. Judge for yourself by checking
out the following, and if you are so inclined, please take action!
Thanks.
--abe
************
From: NotaryCC at aol.com
Subject: Lonnie Johnson, death row, looking for media coverage
To: cuadp at cuadp.org
Lonnie Johnson's is on death row in Texas, with a
date next week. His attorney, Jodi Callaway-Cole
of Austin is filing a writ on Wednesday, July 18,
2007, on behalf of Mr. Johnson, which will prove
a Brady violation - suppression of evidence by
the prosecution. I can email you the PDF copy of
the pleading if you're interested.
Additionally, we are looking for any media
coverage in the next few days. Please let us
know if your organization would be willing to
write about Lonnie's story or if you have any
media contacts that might be willing to write a
story regarding Lonnie's case. Please visit our
website in
progress: <http://www.freelonniejohnson.com/>www.freelonniejohnson.com
Thank you,
Carrie Christensen
Johnson Family Representative
(310) 701-4380
*****************
Anti-Hunger Activist To March from Selma to
Montgomery in Protest of July 26 Execution of
African American Denied His Right of DNA Evidence
“Most states now have laws that provide
post-conviction access to DNA evidence, but
Alabama is one of eight that do not. Darrell
Grayson, whom Alabama plans to execute July 26
for a 1980 murder in Montevallo, has been unable
to obtain DNA testing that might or might not
prove innocence. Why would a state want to
execute anybody when even a shred of uncertainty
exists about his guilt?” Decatur Daily [Alabama] July 7, 2007
All Are Encouraged to Participate--whether 1 Hour or 4 Days!!!
Walk for Darrell Grayson begins Saturday July 21,
9:30 a.m. at National Voting Rights Museum, 1012
Water Ave.; Crosses Edmund Pettus Bridge; 10:00 a.m. Rally, Voting Rights Park
Monday, July 23rd, Rally, 6:00 p.m., Annie Mae’s
Art Place, 278 Harriet Tubman Rd., Burkville (Lowndes Co.)
Noon Rally on Capitol Steps in Montgomery July 25
Invited Speakers include: Al State Senator Hank
Sanders Ed Vaughn, President Alabama NAACP, and others
" ... If Darrell can achieve all he has, be all
he is, there is not one of us here. . . who
cannot also fight for justice and change. We owe
it to him, we owe it to our children, we owe it
to ourselves. We cannot allow injustice to win.
We must, each and every one of us embrace Hope
and stand up and fight for justice now!"
– Esther Brown, Director, Project Hope Against
The Death Penalty (see statements by Innocence
Project and Darrell’s lawyer regarding his
innocence at <http://www.phadp.org/>www.phadp.org)
Contact Gov. Bob Riley, 600 Dexter Ave, Mtgy
36130; Call 334-242-7100; Fax 334-353-0004,
please send copies to Lisa Thomas at
<mailto:lmoelj at peoplepc.com>lmoelj at peoplepc.com to be announced during the walk
More About Lisa Thomas, Leader of Protest Walk
for Darrell Grayson Jeffrey McMurray AP writer May 17, 2005.
“Alabama Woman Finishes Protest Walk to
Washington...Lisa Thomas, 52, arrived in
Washington Saturday, completing the 53-day walk
that began in her hometown of Brewton,
Ala...Thomas, who earlier made a march to
Montgomery and met with Gov. Bob Riley, walked
about 20 miles a day during the journey...’They
used to settle everything by walking,’ said
Thomas, the founder of Carlisa Inc., a nonprofit
organization that aides the poor and elderly in south Alabama.”
Now Lisa heartily encourages supporters to join
her in seeking justice for Darrell Grayson and
others, assuring DNA testing where applicable,
stopping all lethal injections until issues of
“cruel and unusual punishment” are resolved.
Project Hope ACTION ALERT FOR DARRELL B. GRAYSON, JULY 26!
Friends,
We are honored to ask you whether living in
Alabama, the U.S. or in other parts of the world
to write to the Governor of Alabama on behalf of
the chairman of Project Hope to Abolish the Death
Penalty, Darrell B. Grayson. All of us who are
fighting state murder owe him our gratitude for
all that he has done and is continuing to do to speak out for justice for all.
Esther
Please go to <http://www.phadp/>www.phadp for Darrell's statement.
TALKING POINTS FOR DARRELL B. GRAYSON
EXECUTION DATE JULY 26TH!
* Alabama has refused to make its lethal
injection protocol public. The 11 states that
looked at lethal injection at least gave the
matter pause and consideration. Alabama is doing
everything possible to keep everything secret.
Why this secrecy? Why not at least stop and
say-let’s review like the other 11 did?
* Judge Watkins had set a tentative date for
a 3 day trial on this for June 26th and then
denied this due to pressure by the State, citing
laches. Judge Watkins had been aware of this prior to setting tentative date.
* Darrell Grayson had an all white jury and a
divorce attorney for his initial trial.
* Attorney failed to investigate citing insufficient funds from State.
* Attorney told Darrell Grayson to throw
himself on the mercy of the court, ie. confess
although he had been in a black out the night of
the crime with no recollection of the event.
* A witness who had been with Darrell Grayson
and Victor Kennedy, ( already executed for the
murder), and Rodney Grayson that night drinking
and drugging gave sworn affidavit that Darrell
Grayson was passed out cold and did not leave
with Victor Kennedy or Rodney Grayson.
* On the night of Victor Kennedy’s execution
he sent word to Darrell B. Grayson via the
chaplain asking him for forgiveness. Victor
Kennedy had steadfastly refused to answer Darrel
B. Grayson’s questions about the events.
* Darrell B. Grayson represented by the
Innocence Project has been denied DNA testing of
evidence, which could clear him because it would
contradict his false confession of culpability.
In denying testing the State states that Darrell
B. Grayson has not claimed innocence. As stated
before, Darrell B. Grayson has no recollections of that night!
For Darrell B. Grayson’s statement please go to
<http://www.phadp.org/>www.phadp.org and click on Action Alert!
Please write the Governor, the media, your legislators!
THE HONORABLE GOVERNOR BOB RILEY
STATE CAPITOL N 104
11 S. UNION ST. # 600
MONTGOMERY, AL 36130 2751 FURTHER DETAILS ON HOW TO REACH THE GOVERNOR:
PHONE 334 242 7100FAX: 334 242 0937
Website:
<http://www.governor.state.al.us/>www.governor.state.al.us
Email:
<http://www.governor.state.al.us/contact.htm>http://www.governor.state.al.us/contact.htm
*************
SENT BY: abe at cuadp.org
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