Last week South Carolina executed Khalil Allah, and this week Missouri plans to execute Marcellus Williams—despite DNA evidence proving both men innocent
use http://faxzero.com to send a free fax to Governor Mike Parson’s office @ tel:573-751-1495; you can type a message out or copy the script here
“I'm faxing you in regards to the impending execution of Marcellus Williams. Don't let Missouri execute Marcellus, an innocent man—where there's overwhelming evidence that his trial was constitutionally unfair— on Sept. 24. Missouri should not commit this irreparable injustice."
I have called twice and both times it says that the governors answering service is filled. There’s no room to leave messages so clearly people have been calling but if they don’t clear it more people aren’t able to leave their message and I pray that this man is given justice, and I wish their damn service would except peoples calls.
This shows just how sad our country is. I agree with you, Qasim, and with many folks here. The United States is truly a nation in conflict. I old love to see a national ban on the death penalty, but I know the republicans love killing minorities and mentally ill people. We must move past this attitude and get better at loving each other. Life is precious and should not be wasted. If the death penalty was applied equally and fairly, there would be no issue. But, as you point out, this is far from the case. A stay should be put in place now. I think the radical supreme court would strike such a ban down, but we need it.
For untold generations now, within slavery and after slavery was abolished, white persecution of black people has been driven by the guilt and fear induced by the white knowledge of the sins committed by them upon black peoples.. Most white people cannot bear to admit this knowledge and a nauseating litany of excuses, justifications and bloated hate speech have rolled over this nation like an inexhaustible flow of sewage.
What makes America exceptional is its endless war against people of colour.
Missouri used to be known as the "show me" state. Now, even showing them will not change their racial dynamics or promote justice .
It is egregious-Black women are also the ones getting charged in the post-Roe v. Wade decision for “crimes” of homicide against a fetus for natural abortions. They are the scapegoats as Republicans test the waters for how the public will proceed and react to the criminalization of what are often natural side effects of pregnancy. I for one will stand up for women of color and make the calls to end executions, but how do I help other white people to let go of their hate and fear? I don’t know that I can change the heart of another, but I can help to make racism unacceptable. I can help to speak up for better, equal education and equality in pay and in the workplace and colleges. I believe that killing the cancer of racism in this country will be a slow, process that begins with who we elect in the southern states.
Thank you for this essay on the impending execution of Marcellus Williams and the other gentleman who was recently executed, despite being innocent - and that Black people are wrongfully accused of capitol crimes at many times the rate of White defendants. I tried calling and emailing Governor Parson today, but the Project Innocence platform had some errors - the governor's voice mail box is full, and the attempted email and tweet just returned an error message. Regretfully, I just sent an email to Governor Parson using the Project Innocence talking points, and I hope this message reaches the governor before Mr. Williams' scheduled execution. Please keep us updated on Marcellus Williams' case.
There are so many ways by which this happens. low income people often re represented by lawyers who are inept, who sleep through trials, who do a lousy job representing them. Then some prosecutors and judges who just want to get a case settled. Then there are professionals who won't admit they made a mistake, even when clear fresh evidence is presented. Our justice system is often just a maze of incompetence. We incarcerate more people per capita than any other country in the world, last I checked.
What will it take to look at other countries, like Denmark, who run systems that are focused on prevention and rehabilitation...
I urge everyone who reads this to at least send email to the governor of Missouri asking this execution to be stopped. I waited on hold but could never leave any sort of message. There are many unjust convictions such as this.
Robert Robertson, faces execution on October 17th in Texas, which leads the country in executions.
He is autistic, and when he was convicted of killing his 2 year-old child, the cause of death was indicated as shaken infant syndrome. Robertson being autistic displayed little or no emotions, which is a symptom of autism. Now, new evidence died due to a health issue, and an accidental fall. The Texas court of appeals denied his lawyers appeal. So now his only hope rests with Texas governor Abbot. I will try to contact Abbot through his website and urge all who reads this to do the same.
I tried to leave a message using the phone number but the voice mailbox is full. I will go to the Governor’s website to leave my message there. Thank you.
Qasim, I have no doubt that S Carolina got calls from lots of people. They got two calls from me. The very charming- and pleasant-sounding woman who answered the phone might or might not have made the notes she gave the impression of recording, and she might or might not have passed this information along to Gov McMaster. But S Carolina executed Freddie Owens yesterday anyway.
Today, I called Missouri. They've had so many calls that the voicemail was full.
But states like S Carolina and Missouri are VERY reluctant to let opportunities to execute African Americans get away from them. As in Williams' case, they don't really care by what method the opportunity is presented to them. So what if there's no evidence of guilt? So what if witnesses are either bought or recant? So what if even the prosecution objects? Opportunities like these appear to be too good to let get away.
Illinois eliminated the death penalty in a horrifically unjust case of mistaken guilt that eventually gets rectified as told in a book by Illinois Attorney Gary Johnson called”Luck is a talent.”
LESS THAN THREE & A HALF HOURS TO GO - ‘..they’ve disconnected phone lines but faxes still go through..’
https://x.com/imhalesfyi/status/1838316641693708799
use http://faxzero.com to send a free fax to Governor Mike Parson’s office @ tel:573-751-1495; you can type a message out or copy the script here
“I'm faxing you in regards to the impending execution of Marcellus Williams. Don't let Missouri execute Marcellus, an innocent man—where there's overwhelming evidence that his trial was constitutionally unfair— on Sept. 24. Missouri should not commit this irreparable injustice."
https://innocenceproject.org/attorney-statement-despite-widespread-concern-about-innocence-racial-bias-and-other-errors-missouri-governor-denies-clemency-to-marcellus-williams-before-sept-24-execution/
I have called twice and both times it says that the governors answering service is filled. There’s no room to leave messages so clearly people have been calling but if they don’t clear it more people aren’t able to leave their message and I pray that this man is given justice, and I wish their damn service would except peoples calls.
This shows just how sad our country is. I agree with you, Qasim, and with many folks here. The United States is truly a nation in conflict. I old love to see a national ban on the death penalty, but I know the republicans love killing minorities and mentally ill people. We must move past this attitude and get better at loving each other. Life is precious and should not be wasted. If the death penalty was applied equally and fairly, there would be no issue. But, as you point out, this is far from the case. A stay should be put in place now. I think the radical supreme court would strike such a ban down, but we need it.
For untold generations now, within slavery and after slavery was abolished, white persecution of black people has been driven by the guilt and fear induced by the white knowledge of the sins committed by them upon black peoples.. Most white people cannot bear to admit this knowledge and a nauseating litany of excuses, justifications and bloated hate speech have rolled over this nation like an inexhaustible flow of sewage.
What makes America exceptional is its endless war against people of colour.
Missouri used to be known as the "show me" state. Now, even showing them will not change their racial dynamics or promote justice .
It is egregious-Black women are also the ones getting charged in the post-Roe v. Wade decision for “crimes” of homicide against a fetus for natural abortions. They are the scapegoats as Republicans test the waters for how the public will proceed and react to the criminalization of what are often natural side effects of pregnancy. I for one will stand up for women of color and make the calls to end executions, but how do I help other white people to let go of their hate and fear? I don’t know that I can change the heart of another, but I can help to make racism unacceptable. I can help to speak up for better, equal education and equality in pay and in the workplace and colleges. I believe that killing the cancer of racism in this country will be a slow, process that begins with who we elect in the southern states.
Qasim,
Thank you for this essay on the impending execution of Marcellus Williams and the other gentleman who was recently executed, despite being innocent - and that Black people are wrongfully accused of capitol crimes at many times the rate of White defendants. I tried calling and emailing Governor Parson today, but the Project Innocence platform had some errors - the governor's voice mail box is full, and the attempted email and tweet just returned an error message. Regretfully, I just sent an email to Governor Parson using the Project Innocence talking points, and I hope this message reaches the governor before Mr. Williams' scheduled execution. Please keep us updated on Marcellus Williams' case.
There are so many ways by which this happens. low income people often re represented by lawyers who are inept, who sleep through trials, who do a lousy job representing them. Then some prosecutors and judges who just want to get a case settled. Then there are professionals who won't admit they made a mistake, even when clear fresh evidence is presented. Our justice system is often just a maze of incompetence. We incarcerate more people per capita than any other country in the world, last I checked.
What will it take to look at other countries, like Denmark, who run systems that are focused on prevention and rehabilitation...
I urge everyone who reads this to at least send email to the governor of Missouri asking this execution to be stopped. I waited on hold but could never leave any sort of message. There are many unjust convictions such as this.
Robert Robertson, faces execution on October 17th in Texas, which leads the country in executions.
He is autistic, and when he was convicted of killing his 2 year-old child, the cause of death was indicated as shaken infant syndrome. Robertson being autistic displayed little or no emotions, which is a symptom of autism. Now, new evidence died due to a health issue, and an accidental fall. The Texas court of appeals denied his lawyers appeal. So now his only hope rests with Texas governor Abbot. I will try to contact Abbot through his website and urge all who reads this to do the same.
Link to The Marshall Project:
https://www.themarshallproject.org/2024/09/18/texas-autism-death-penalty-roberson#:~:text=Robert%20Roberson%2C%20who%20faces%20execution,of%20%E2%80%9Cshaken%20baby%20syndrome.%E2%80%9D
Link to Governor Abbot: gov.texas.gov
Done, and trying to think positively.
I tried to leave a message using the phone number but the voice mailbox is full. I will go to the Governor’s website to leave my message there. Thank you.
Same experience here
Qasim, I have no doubt that S Carolina got calls from lots of people. They got two calls from me. The very charming- and pleasant-sounding woman who answered the phone might or might not have made the notes she gave the impression of recording, and she might or might not have passed this information along to Gov McMaster. But S Carolina executed Freddie Owens yesterday anyway.
Today, I called Missouri. They've had so many calls that the voicemail was full.
But states like S Carolina and Missouri are VERY reluctant to let opportunities to execute African Americans get away from them. As in Williams' case, they don't really care by what method the opportunity is presented to them. So what if there's no evidence of guilt? So what if witnesses are either bought or recant? So what if even the prosecution objects? Opportunities like these appear to be too good to let get away.
"Pro-life?" Meaning what?
Yes, they just can’t help themselves. This means the voters need to help them out of office!
Illinois eliminated the death penalty in a horrifically unjust case of mistaken guilt that eventually gets rectified as told in a book by Illinois Attorney Gary Johnson called”Luck is a talent.”
The US is a truly barbaric country.