Death Row Speaks in 2005 and the future

by André Kellner (webmaster Death Row Speaks)

December 23, 2005

2005 was a remarkable year in the field of legal murder. This was my first complete year as webmaster for Death Row Speaks and even though it seemed to be a quiet year for those involved for a longer time, for me (as a rookie) it felt like a war-zone. With 59 executions this year, we can clearly say that the machinery of death is very much alive. I wish we could the same about the victims of this hungry beast. Some of those executions were performed in silence, others created a public outcry, but each and every execution this, and previous years will eventually lead to the abolition of the death penalty in the USA, so in this content, these deaths, how sad it is, were not entirely purposeless.

One of the cases that received a lot of public and media attention is the execution of serial killer Michael Ross, who had to fight to be executed, instead of not being executed. Strange enough the government made it very hard for Ross to be executed, while normally they don’t seem to have a problem with this form of state supported suicide. The execution of Richard Cartwright, whose case and request for support received much attention on Death Row Speaks, was among the most tragic ones. We still belief that Texas executed an innocent man that day.

Another execution that received a lot of attention was the execution of Gregory Scott Johnson. Johnson wanted a stay from execution so that his liver could be transplanted into his ailing sister. This request was denied and caused a public outcry. The court decided that convicted murder Johnson might not be healthy enough to be executed after the transplantation. Crazy! Just like the state of Indiana no longer served a last meal on the day prior to the execution. This meal was given two days before the execution. The spokesman told the press that this was decided because injecting chemicals on a full stomach would be unhealthy.

Francis Newton was executed by the state of Texas on September 14. Newton claimed to be innocence and even the fact that there was serious doubt on the evidence presented in her case could not convince the courts and the Governor. Francis Newton was the first black woman to be executed in the modern history of the State of Texas.

Eric Randall Nance was executed on November 28 by the state of Arizona . Nance was a good friend of Death Row Speaks founder David Paul Hammer.

Against all odds Robin Lovitt, the potential 1000th victim of the machinery of death since it was re-installed in 1976, was granted clemency by Governor Warner from Virginia . Although we are happy that Lovitt’s life was spared, the intentions behind the clemency were not the ones we hoped for. Clemency is about grace and mercy, not about questions on evidence, or the lack of evidence, in a death penalty case. The courts should have taken action in this case but did not, leaving Lovitts fate to be decided on by the governor, who gladly enough had the courage to end this display of cruelty, even though it was purely on political motivations.

Robin Lovitt was lucky not to become the 1000th victim of the executioner since 1976. Kenneth Lee Boyd was less lucky and he received a deadly injection on December 2. Against his, and our wills he became a gruesome milestone is American modern history.

No-one in the world can deny that death row inmates are able to make a positive contribution to society. Stanley Williams is probably the most praised and celebrated inmate that has been executed in America ’s History. Never before did a single death row inmate caused so much public attention to the death penalty. Stanley Williams was executed despite the public outcry and support that he had gained amongst celebrities around the world. The execution of Williams is brought a lot of attention to the unfairness of the death penalty and will definitely contribute to the abolition of the death penalty, just as the persons that went before him, so their deaths would be a little less useless, when others are saved from the executioner.

This year of legal murder, 2005, would have ended here but this week, only a few days before Christmas, we were informed that three guys on the federal death row unit in Terre Haute received an execution date in May next year. They have been removed from the general (death row) population, and placed within the death watch. The BOP could have waited till after Christmas and still be within the 120 days limit to announce the execution dates. So, goodbye to the fragile Christmas spirit on the federal death row this year. Christmas is a difficult time for the guys on death row, but to get such news will definitely crush any feelings of Christmas joy or lust for celebration.

We wish all the family, friends and supporters of those who have been executed, or are still fighting for their lives, a lot of strength, and we hope that you will continue to fight amongst our side against the death penalty in 2006. We would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas despite your situation. Stay strong!

Death Row Speaks had its ups and downs, but in general 2005 was a good year. We have launched our new website in February, 2005. Since then we received a lot of attention from our visitors and friends. We have updated the website with a lot of profiles, writings and art that we received from death row inmates. We have started our Interviews with the Condemned series, which is very successful. We will also continue with that next year. We have several new interviews waiting to be published. We also started with columns written by our own David Paul Hammer and William van Poyck. Dustin Honken started to write a weekly journal, and more inmates have volunteered to keep a journal on Death Row Speaks. We are very excited about this. Death Row Speaks provided all the latest death penalty related news and articles that we collected on the internet to keep our visitors up-to-date. We also published information on upcoming and past executions on our Execution Alert Notice page.

This year we also helped a lot of inmates with finding pen-pals through our website. We received many letters from inmates telling us that our website contributed to finding friends, outside help, and professional assistance in their case, something we are extremely proud of. In total 2005 was an extremely successful year for Death Row Speaks. Even though we had difficulties finding the necessary funding to continue in 2006, the website is saved for at least another year (special thank to that person, you know who you are). The future of Death Row Speaks looks promising, thanks to all our supporters. We like to thank those who have donated to Death Row Speaks this year. Your generous gifts are greatly appreciated. Death Row Speaks also received a lot of media attention this year. We have been published in a large Dutch magazine and were interviewed on both local and national television in the Netherlands.

I like to share with you that we have send out invitation letters to 225 death row inmates across America . So in 2006 you can expect more profiles, writings, art, interviews, journals, writings, and much more. I am sure I have forgotten to mention a lot but I guess the message is very clear. Death Row Speaks is bigger then ever and we have a lot of plans for the future. Thank you for giving us this opportunity, without you, our supporters, we could not have done this! The inmates involved with Death Row Speaks also thank you for your help. Their future depends on us all.

I would also like to thank all of the people that are helping us. Sharril, thanks for your hard work. Elizabeth, for your help and friendship. Christine for your everlasting support, friendship and the book reviews! Melissa, for typing out inmate contributions. Sister Rita and Sister Camille for all the help and support. Barbara, for her never ending efforts in forwarding and returning messages to the guys on the row and legal support. Sarah, for your help with the paintings and interviews. Tracy, for providing so many interesting articles to our website. Yvonne, for your help, support and contributions. Mrs. Jenny Davis and Brian Bowler for your help and friendship (we will win!) And of course Eva, my technical and mental support. Thanks for your patience and help in keeping this website online. I would not be able to do this without your help and support. I would also like to thank everyone I forgot to mention or who have recently joined our team. The guys on the row that provided friendship, loyalty and contributions. My personal friends on the row and of course my family and friends in Holland and the rest of the world. Have a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

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