West Memphis 3 -It could happen to me, it could happen to you. - Jello Biafra
If you visit our website (www.TheMadScientists.biz) regularly you know that each month we focus on a different relevant political/cultural issue to help raise awareness. When you look at our myspace page we have a small banner supporting the West Memphis Three. This month on the the website we are also turning our focus on these three young men. For those of you not familar with this case I'll post a brief synaposis from their website (www.wm3.org)
Shortly after three eight-year-old boys were found mutilated and murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas, local newspapers stated the killers had been caught. The police assured the public that the three teenagers in custody were definitely responsible for these horrible crimes. Evidence?
The same police officers coerced an error-filled confession from Jessie Misskelley Jr., who is mentally handicapped. They subjected him to 12 hours of questioning without counsel or parental consent, audio-taping only two fragments totaling 46 minutes. Jessie recanted it that evening, but it was too late Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols were all arrested on June 3, 1993, and convicted of murder in early 1994.
Although there was no physical evidence, murder weapon, motive, or connection to the victims, the prosecution pathetically resorted to presenting black hair and clothing, heavy metal t-shirts, and Stephen King novels as proof that the boys were sacrificed in a satanic cult ritual. Unfathomably, Echols was sentenced to death, Baldwin received life without parole, and Misskelley got life plus 40.
For over 12 years, The West Memphis Three have been imprisoned for crimes they didnt commit. Echols waits in solitary confinement for the lethal injection our tax dollars will pay for. They were all condemned by their poverty, incompetent defense, satanic panic and a rush to judgment.
Over the years many people have been drawn to this case for a variety of reason but two primairy reasons stick out. Anger over the justice systems and its failings as well as its biasises against those who are different and poor (I would liked to add disabled as well, the number of people in prisons who have experienced head trauma, have low IQs, etc. is staggering). Or sympathy from people who were Damien, Jason, and Jesse. "Weirdos" in small towns (and not so small towns) that dressed in black, and listened to "evil" music. T
There is currently a letter writing campaign to the governor of Arkansas going on that you can find out more details at here. Please get the letters in before May 26, 2006. Also, WM3 awareness day (June 3) is quickly approaching and in honor of these events. We are organizing a benefit show at J&Js in Denton on May 22. There will be information about what is currently going on, how you can help, and the current letter writing campaignWe are asking a $3 suggested donation all of the door will be going to help the West Memphis Three. This is in its early stages but all details should be known by the end of the week.
Tom Waits on the WM3:
"These boys didnt get a fair trial. They got picked for wearing black clothes and having long hair. I am fundamentally opposed to the death penalty, and as Lenny Bruce said, In the halls of justice, all the justice is in the halls. Perhaps, a jury is composed of twelve men and women of average ignorance. and a judge is a lawyer who once knew a politician. In our system of justice, the best client for a lawyer is a scared millionaire. The worst thing in our criminal justice system is to be broke or different."
Shortly after three eight-year-old boys were found mutilated and murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas, local newspapers stated the killers had been caught. The police assured the public that the three teenagers in custody were definitely responsible for these horrible crimes. Evidence?
The same police officers coerced an error-filled confession from Jessie Misskelley Jr., who is mentally handicapped. They subjected him to 12 hours of questioning without counsel or parental consent, audio-taping only two fragments totaling 46 minutes. Jessie recanted it that evening, but it was too late Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols were all arrested on June 3, 1993, and convicted of murder in early 1994.
Although there was no physical evidence, murder weapon, motive, or connection to the victims, the prosecution pathetically resorted to presenting black hair and clothing, heavy metal t-shirts, and Stephen King novels as proof that the boys were sacrificed in a satanic cult ritual. Unfathomably, Echols was sentenced to death, Baldwin received life without parole, and Misskelley got life plus 40.
For over 12 years, The West Memphis Three have been imprisoned for crimes they didnt commit. Echols waits in solitary confinement for the lethal injection our tax dollars will pay for. They were all condemned by their poverty, incompetent defense, satanic panic and a rush to judgment.
Over the years many people have been drawn to this case for a variety of reason but two primairy reasons stick out. Anger over the justice systems and its failings as well as its biasises against those who are different and poor (I would liked to add disabled as well, the number of people in prisons who have experienced head trauma, have low IQs, etc. is staggering). Or sympathy from people who were Damien, Jason, and Jesse. "Weirdos" in small towns (and not so small towns) that dressed in black, and listened to "evil" music. T
There is currently a letter writing campaign to the governor of Arkansas going on that you can find out more details at here. Please get the letters in before May 26, 2006. Also, WM3 awareness day (June 3) is quickly approaching and in honor of these events. We are organizing a benefit show at J&Js in Denton on May 22. There will be information about what is currently going on, how you can help, and the current letter writing campaignWe are asking a $3 suggested donation all of the door will be going to help the West Memphis Three. This is in its early stages but all details should be known by the end of the week.
Tom Waits on the WM3:
"These boys didnt get a fair trial. They got picked for wearing black clothes and having long hair. I am fundamentally opposed to the death penalty, and as Lenny Bruce said, In the halls of justice, all the justice is in the halls. Perhaps, a jury is composed of twelve men and women of average ignorance. and a judge is a lawyer who once knew a politician. In our system of justice, the best client for a lawyer is a scared millionaire. The worst thing in our criminal justice system is to be broke or different."
posted by The Mad Scientists at 5/02/2006 08:10:00 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home