Hello
Guys!
Thought
it was time I check in with you again. I have not written for awhile
due to personal problems. I write now because as many of you will
know Florida is executing at a higher rate. It seems like Florida is
trying to become like Texas. They passed a law in the senate called
“The Timely Justice Act”. What it should be called is “The
Untimely Just-Us Act”. Made up by those who are the “Just-Us”
who can afford justice.
For those poor white, blacks and Hispanic who
cannot afford good private attorneys. They through this law wants to
control the courts and rush our cases through the already flawed
system. The judges and courts are already understaffed and over
loaded with cases. Now if this law is enacted and the courts finds
it’s legal, would rush cases through and execution rates will be
much faster. Justice will be forgotten.
The thing is regardless of
how it’s done. The death penalty does not work. It’s an
archaic-out dated method of ridding society of their undesirables.
When a life sentence would do the same thing. No life would be
taken - no more legal murder.
I found out recently that the medical
examiner who does the work on guy executed. They list reason of death
as homicides or murder by the state. When this is carried out - an
execution, they call it the will of the people, and say justice is
done. I once said I’ve been here 36 years now. In February that
will be 37. So, I could serve 38 without a doubt. But, it isn’t
enough apparently. Right now they are concentrating on old cases.
I
watched a movie called “Monsters Ball”. For those of you who
wonder what death row is like. The first 30 minutes is a good example
of death row-the cells and how an execution goes down.
The method is
now lethal injection. But the method does not matter, death is death.
The real question is do we continue to kill people to say killing is
wrong. Or do we find a better way. Do we cling an outdated and flawed
system or do we follow the Europeans and end the system.
We need
your support more than ever. All you guys who stand up and say: "No, not
in my name". For me I believe it will end. I may not be around to see
it! But as I’ve always said. It’s about the issue, the cause and
not about me as an individual. You can make a difference. You need
not be an attorney or rich. Every voice counts.
They are currently
appealing the usage of the new drug used to execute. But, I do not
see a win there. And if the timely justice law goes through, Florida
could become just like Texas, killing at a fast rate. We lost 7 last
year to executions. Also 7 to cancer. So 14 who are not longer with
us. Thomas Knight
was executed January 7th. He had been here almost 40 years. Another human
being gone. Juan Carlos Chavez was executed the 12th of February and there is another execution scheduled for the end of this month and already for next month too. I feel that 2014 will
be a bad year for executions. I hope I am wrong.
But, either way you
can make a difference. I decided to give you 3 names of guys who need
legal help. Drop them a line, see how you can aid them legally.
I
don’t have the answers to what changes things. All I know is we
fight till it does change. Recent polls show a decline in people who
support the death penalty. 40% do not now. It was 30 to 33%. So
things are slowly working around to end it. But, there’s still much
work and effort to be done. And yes-1 person still makes a
difference.
I will write more soon. For now, just want to get the
message out. I’ll sign off here. As I said though, I will be back-soon. Until
then take care of yourselves in the struggle.
With love. Average Joe
Legal
Aid needed:
Michael
Reynolds #P-02128 P-2128-S
Union
Correctional Institution
7819
N.W. 228th.
Street
Raiford,
Florida 32026-4400
Mike
Orme I wing-N
Union
Correctional Institution
7819
N.W. 228th.
Street
Raiford,
Florida 32026-4410
Sonny
B. Oates Jr. 051769 P-2116-N
Union
Correctional Institution
7819
N.W. 228th.
Street
Raiford,
Florida 32026-4420
