This morning on my way to work, I heard on "Michigan Minute" that today marked Michigan's last death penalty in 1830. Stephen Simmons was guilty, but his final address was so moving that it led "Michigan to become the first English-speaking government to abolish capital punishment." It made me proud to hear that, and it felt like a good sign.
I didn't sleep at all last night. (Max and Huckie were delighted I spent all night with them, Big A was mad, and if the timestamp on some of my internet comments seems weird, this is why.)
My mother would say I was importing other people's troubles into my life. And I guess that's true in a way, but also isn't that the point of being human? I'd never heard of Marcellus Khalifah Williams until about ten days ago when the Innocence Project and the NAACP began bruiting the news that this innocent person was about to be executed by the state of Missouri despite evidence of innocence, lack of DNA proof, prosecutor's admission of racial bias, and dissent from the victim's family. The death penalty is always a human rights violation, but unspeakably evil when it executes innocent people. Even the prosecuting attorney filed a motion to vacate Mr. Williams's conviction. But the M.O. Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court both failed to stay his execution. M.O. Governor Parsons (who previously pardoned the racist couple who brandished guns at BLM protestors) received over 1.5 million petitions to pardon Mr. Williams in addition to calls, emails, and faxes, (including some of mine over the past week). But he merely disconnected his office phones and allowed Marcellus Williams to be executed at 6 pm central time today.
The title of today's post comes from the title of NAACP's statement after Mr. Williams's execution; it is in turn based on their iconic, anti-lynching "A Man Was Lynched Yesterday" flag.
Pic: This is the poem Marcellus Khalifah Williams wrote recently about the children of Palestine. How humane it is to be at death's door oneself and express solidarity and love for others... It reminds me of how in 2020, in the wake of the George Floyd protests, the Palestinian people would tweet all the way from across the world, sending BLM protestors tips on how to avoid/recover from tear gas based on their own experiences. I love when we support each other... Some day I hope we will all be free. In the meantime, we must hold our democracy accountable. I noticed today that the Democratic Party, which previously opposed the death penalty, seems to have quietly removed that part from their 2024 platform. That's where I'm going to start. Tomorrow.
14 comments:
Yes, it's part of being human, but also, I am very worried about you, Maya. xo
Take care.
Sending you love, Maya. Your post took me down a rabbit hole, and I read about the lynching of Jesse Washington in Waco (which made me especially sad because I love Waco!) The south was such a terrible place for so long- not that things are great now, but it was especially brutal in the early 1900s. There's a lot about the civil rights movement in the book I'm reading (Edge of Eternity) and what was going on in Mississippi and Alabama in the 1960s- how can people be so mean to other people? But I can read about these things and then go on with my day, whereas it affects you much more strongly. I appreciate your compassion and passion- it's the Mayas of the world who affect change. But I also hope you can get some rest today. <3
I cannot believe that there is still a death penalty in this country. I am so vehemently, so Every Fiber Of My Being opposed to it that I cannot even describe it. What barbarism.
I am with you, maya.
I read the story about Williams' execution in the Post this morning. It does seem there was plenty of reasonable doubt about his guilt. It's heartbreaking and it makes me sad and mad about so many things (including the composition of the Supreme Court). But I'm with Nicole. You don't help any cause by risking your own health.
The death penalty is such an embarrassment to this country. That's all. I don't feel like I have much to add to this. I agree with you and I think the racial bias associated with it would be something that if it were happening in other countries would be considered unacceptable.
Get some sleep!
I am doing well, Nicole <3
Thanks, Gillian.
Jenny--what a kind message... thank you! I guess I'm just going to have to read EOE right away...
Nance--thank you. It's such an absolute travesty... I used to work with OTSE when I was in OH.
Steph--OMG, the composition of the SC :/ All the pro-life justices ruling against... (I read your last line and was going to say my health is ok, but this would be the sort of thing to give someone a stroke, I guess.)
Word, Engie. (I slept a bunch last night, Boss.)
I heard about this travesty and could not believe the cruelty and disregard for human life. I am anti death penalty in any case, but this one is beyond the pail. Horrifying, depressing, and enraging.
Strange fruit indeed.
Now I have that song in my head again, J... And yes, I'm with you 100%! No one deserves the death penalty--not even "guilty" people.
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