My opinion about the Death Penalty

In memory of Michael James Perry – (09.Apr.1982 / 01.July.2010)

Death row…Welcome to a cold and scary world…

Let me tell you a little story…
On March 24th 2010, I ended up on the website of Michael Perry, a 28 year old guy who was on death row in Texas for 7 years.
I read his story,his case and it touched me so much that I decided to write him. Michael wrote me back, a long and very powerful letter. On that day, I entered the world of death row and I knew that I will never be able to leave it… A world in which life has no meaning anymore, a world where only pain and suffer remain…I know that some of you will say: “Well, these guys are guilty, they killed, they have to pay” and you will stop reading, thinking that I am only writing bull shit. But please, don’t give up so early and take some minutes of your time to read what my heart has to say…

Yes, the death penalty world is a scary world…not only because human beings are killed but also because the people involved (police officers, judges, DA’s etc…) do all they can to make sure that these human beings are killed. It is their turn to become what they hate the most: murderers…
They coerce witnesses into testifying against the defendant, they coerce the defendant to confess to the crime, they offer immunity to accomplices against their testimonies, they destroy evidences etc etc…
All is proven, in more than one case…
Nevertheless, even it's proven, the defendant will stay on death row…because if no-one pays for the crime then justice is not served…Better to have an innocent killed than a murderer free…

I am not saying that ALL death row inmates are innocent but some of them are…
We all know that people do mistake, the human race is not perfect. And we also know that we all deserve a second chance. These guys have NO second chance, just because some people decided that they are a threat to society…

My friend, Michael, ended up on death row when he was only 21…he had a hard life, made mistakes, has been at the wrong place at the wrong time but he did not deserve to die. Because of his past, it has been decided that he was a threat to society and that he should die. I believed and still believe in his innocence. I read his case, read some official statements, read the court decisions to his several appeals. I am not speaking out of the blue, the facts are here.

Michael said in an interview that prison did good to him, he changed, he became a better man but had no chance to show the world the great man he became. Rehabilitation is the key, most of the criminals could be saved and I strongly believe that most of them deserve a second chance.

A lot of people think that death penalty is the right solution because then, they don’t finance a criminal’s life until he dies or it is a deterrent to criminality. Sorry guys but you’re all WRONG! It is proven that executing people costs much more money than giving a life sentence and it is proven that DP is NO deterrent! Please, instead of listening to ignorant people, make your own opinion, read books, watch movies and if you’re brave enough….write to a death row inmate and enter his world. The goal is not to play with your emotions. The goal is to make you understand that death row is torture… Being against the death penalty doesn’t mean that I have no compassion towards the victims or their families. I have a heart…for both sides…But when it comes to death penalty, I only see revenge and absolutely no justice.
Please have a look at the David Powell’s case…David killed a police officer when he was young and under drugs…he got the death sentence. He spent 32 YEARS on death row. Everybody said that he was a well-behaved inmate. He even taught other inmates to read. But the representatives did not give a damn. This year, David got executed and the police officers had a drink to celebrate his death…I tell you…Revenge. Once you’re on death row, there is almost no chance for you to get out …except if you have enough money…As they say in there: “if you don’t have the capital, you get the sentence”.

Do you know how is “life” on Texas death row? You’re stuck 23h/day in a tiny cell (2m large/3m long), you get 3 meals: breakfast at 3am, lunch at 10am and dinner at 4pm. If you’re sleeping while they serve you and don’t get up, you get no meal. If you’re hungry between the meal hours and have no food, you have to wait for the next service. You have no television and only a very small window you can’t open. No air conditioning and no ventilation. You have to wash your own clothes, in a tiny sink. Your only contacts with the outside world are the letters you receive and the visits (behind a glass, talking through a phone). The warden will do everything they can to make your “life” even more horrible. They will find any possible reasons to turn your cell apart or to make a lockdown. They will cancel your visits, just to play with your nerves a little bit more…
I had my own experience with the wardens…they lied to me…They tore Michael’s cell apart, telling him that I tried to get him a cell phone (strictly forbidden). They built up their own story and tried to make Michael mad at me, just 5 days before his execution… This is torture, psychological torture…on top of the fact that you have to face your own death on a daily basis…

On July 01st, Michael’s last appeal has been denied 90 minutes before his execution….Torture….when we know that some new presented reports have not even been read…when we know that 30min later, Michael would have had a 30 days stay…Torture. I had the chance to talk to him several hours before his death, he was full of hope, making jokes and laughing…
This whole masquerade has to stop…
I am against the death penalty and will always be…

“An eye for eye makes the whole world blind” Gandhi

Rest in peace Michael,
The fight goes on.

Stephanie