I thought I was the only one

 

Dear Friends of Witness to Innocence, This is my first time writing to you. I’m a death row exoneree and I’ve just joined the Witness to Innocence staff as an administrative assistant. I was incarcerated for 24 years, 22 of those years on death row, and I never imagined that one day I would have a job working with Kirk Bloodsworth and other death row survivors fighting to end the death penalty. Kirk was actually the first person I heard of that was exonerated from death row.  When I was sent to prison in 1991, it was beyond comprehension to me that an innocent person could be in prison at all, and even more unbelievable that you could be innocent on death row. I felt so alone. I was the only female on death row in Arizona at that time and I thought I was the only innocent person on death row. In 1994, when I read about Kirk, I said “Oh my God! He was innocent. I’m not the only innocent person on death row! There are others like me.” I saved all the article clippings about Kirk. I showed them to my attorney and said “See, I’m not making this up! Innocent people do get convicted.” Now all these years later, I’m actually working with Kirk and trying to help other people who are facing execution - people like Julius Jones and Rodney Reed who are fighting to prove their innocence. Recently there have been big ups and downs in their cases. A Bastrop, TX judge declined to recommend a new trial for Rodney Reed, but the TX Court of Criminal Appeals could still grant Rodney a new trial. At a rally before the hearing this summer, Witness to Innocence member Juan Melendez actually got to speak to Rodney on the phone and let him know that we are out here fighting for him. I know how much it would have meant to me to know that there were death row exonerees out there who believed in me and were fighting for me.  At the rally on November 13th, Herman Lindsey spoke alongside Julius' sister, Antoinette Jones, asking the governor to save Julius' life. On the phone with Rodney Reed, Juan Melendez said, "You are just like me. You are going to be a miracle. You are going to be on this side just like I am." In Julius Jones' case, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board voted 3-1 to recommend commuting Julius' sentence. But the governor said nothing for two weeks! He waited until less than three hours before the scheduled execution to finally commute Julius' sentence to life without the possibility of parole. The suffering to Julius and to his family during that torturous wait for word from the governor is something only those who have been through it can really understand. And that's why in the middle of that excruciating wait, three Witness to Innocence members, Herman Lindsey, Gary Drinkard, and Juan Melendez, flew to Oklahoma to stand side by side with Julius' family and to offer their support. The fight for Juilus' freedom continues and WTI will continue to be there with the Jones family.  Please join me and Kirk and the other death row exonerees of Witness to Innocence in our work for all the people facing execution. We are fighting to end the death penalty and we need your help to keep going. Will you make a donation to Witness to Innocence?   Sincerely, Debra Milke Administrative Assistant Death Row Exoneree Witness to Innocence is the only national organization in the United States composed of and led by exonerated death row survivors and their family members. Our mission is to abolish the death penalty by empowering our members to become effective leaders in the abolition movement. We actively challenge political leaders and the public to grapple with the reality of a fatally flawed criminal justice system that sends innocent people to death row. We also seek ways to support death row survivors and their loved ones as they confront the challenges of life after exoneration. 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-519-4384 info@witnesstoinnocence.org www.witnesstoinnocence.org

There was a miracle my last Christmas on death row

 

I was sitting there at the new jail. It snowed that Christmas, 1992. Mom passed away the next month. My mother always told me to watch for signs from God. She said you’ll see them in the smallest things. I was sitting there and it was coming down. The snow was going sideways. They had these long 6-inch wide windows in the new jail that you could roll open and shut. This bird curled up to the heat coming through the window. He stayed there all night. I sat there and talked to him. I got emotional, felt God. I made a wish with tears falling down my face and I realized in that moment that I was going to get out. I also understood that I was going to have to endure a large hardship, which was mom’s passing, but I was out by June. I saw the bird and it made me go to the window. It was one of those black-capped chickadees, with a little black hat. He was a fat little joker. He was siting right there on the other side of an industrial screen but so close we could have kissed each other. He was just huddling from the weather. I guess we soothed each other somehow. I was sad because it was Christmas, I had just talked to mom and dad on the phone, and of course I wouldn’t see her again. She said to me “I’m not gonna be here when you get out. You’re gonna have to do it yourself. Just remember what I’ve told you.” It was like the bird on a Christmas card. Like a natural Christmas card sent to me. Looking back on the metaphor of the whole thing - there I was in the midst of the storm asking God for help. It must have been 20 miles an hour wind. It was cold but I didn’t want to close the window. He stayed with me all night long. I felt better and then my mom passed away and the whole thing unraveled into my exoneration and release. In the morning, I looked at where the bird had sat and I saw his footprints. It was magical.  I have black-capped chickadees in my yard to this day.  For all those still on death row today, we are hoping for the miracle of abolition as soon as possible. Miracles do happen.

Witness to Innocence is the only national organization in the United States composed of and led by exonerated death row survivors and their family members. Our mission is to abolish the death penalty by empowering our members to become effective leaders in the abolition movement. We actively challenge political leaders and the public to grapple with the reality of a fatally flawed criminal justice system that sends innocent people to death row. We also seek ways to support death row survivors and their loved ones as they confront the challenges of life after exoneration. 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-519-4384 info@witnesstoinnocence.org www.witnesstoinnocence.org

What does it take to abolish the death penalty?

 

Dear Friends of Witness to Innocence, You may know me and my story already. You may know that I was wrongfully convicted and sent to death row as a teenager and that it took 28 years for me to gain my freedom and a total of 39 years before I was finally exonerated.

But the story you may not know is how that turned me into an abolitionist, how I now work day in and day out to end the death penalty, and miraculously, how I am not at all alone on this journey.  You see, Witness to Innocence is an entire organization of people like me. Death row survivors. Abolitionists.

So, what does it take to abolish the death penalty? We have worked hard in every state that has abolished the death penalty in the past 17 years, and I can tell you it takes turning public opinion away from the death penaty. It takes changing hearts and opening people’s minds to the reality of how unjust and cruel the death penalty is.

When we testify before state legislatures, we tell them our stories. And when those legislators vote to abolish the death penalty, they tell us it was because they could not forget what happened to us. Most recently, we did this in Washington, New Hampshire and Virginia. Our Executive Director, Kirk Bloodsworth, was on death row in Maryland and when he got out, he made sure Maryland abolished the death penalty. By this time next year, I hope I can say that I helped to abolish the death penalty in my own state of Ohio. You may know that today is what’s called “Giving Tuesday.” After giving thanks last week for all of our blessings, today is a day to give to organizations that we believe in. Will you make a donation to Witness to Innocence? Will you help us change hearts and minds? Will you help us abolish the death penalty?  Until one fine tomorrow,  Kwame Ajamu Board Chair Witness to Innocence is the only national organization in the United States composed of and led by exonerated death row survivors and their family members. Our mission is to abolish the death penalty by empowering our members to become effective leaders in the abolition movement. We actively challenge political leaders and the public to grapple with the reality of a fatally flawed criminal justice system that sends innocent people to death row. We also seek ways to support death row survivors and their loved ones as they confront the challenges of life after exoneration. 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-519-4384 info@witnesstoinnocence.org www.witnesstoinnocence.org

WATCH: Video from outside Julius Jones' clemency hearing

 

 

On Monday, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board recommended that Governor Stitt commute Julius Jones' sentence to life with the possibility of parole for a second time. The Justice for Julius Movement is a human chain. Thank you all! We still have work to do!

Take Urgent Action For Julius Jones On Monday at Julius Jones' clemency hearing, Julius was seen and heard for the first in over 20 years. After hearing from Julius & his defense team's compelling argument for Julius' innocence, the OK Pardon & Parole Board voted 3-1 to commute Julius' sentence to life with the possibility of parole. WATCH: VIDEO FROM THE DAY OF THE HEARING Now it is up to Governor Kevin Stitt to accept the board's recommendation and commute Julius' sentence.  Despite the Board's recommendation, Julius' execution date is still set for November 18.  Julius urgently needs your help!  Witness to Innocence is the only national organization in the United States composed of and led by exonerated death row survivors and their family members. Our mission is to abolish the death penalty by empowering our members to become effective leaders in the abolition movement. We actively challenge political leaders and the public to grapple with the reality of a fatally flawed criminal justice system that sends innocent people to death row. We also seek ways to support death row survivors and their loved ones as they confront the challenges of life after exoneration. 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-519-4384 info@witnesstoinnocence.org www.witnesstoinnocence.org

Show Your Support for Rodney Reed

 

“My brother is in Bastrop County right now and he’s been locked up for the last 24 years for something he didn’t do so every last step we make is, we hope, a step towards his freedom.” - Rodrick Reed (pictured above), brother of Rodney Reed Get your "I Stand with Rodney Reed" t-shirt! Rodney Reed has been behind bars for 24 years, despite maintaining his innocence. On July 19th, Rodney will have an evidentiary hearing. His family is organizing a rally of support on July 17th at 3PM CDT in Bastrop County, Texas. Join Rodney's mom (pictured left) and family in this fight to bring him home, by wearing your "I Stand with Rodney Reed" t-shirt! Get your t-shirt. Then, take a picture of yourself in the shirt and send it to Rodrick at reedjusticeinitiative@gmail.com. Finally, wear your t-shirt in solidarity with the Reed family on July 19th. Get T-Shirt for July 19th THANK YOU FOR STANDING WITH RODNEY REED! Witness to Innocence is the only national organization in the United States composed of and led by exonerated death row survivors and their family members. Our mission is to abolish the death penalty by empowering our members to become effective leaders in the abolition movement. We actively challenge political leaders and the public to grapple with the reality of a fatally flawed criminal justice system that sends innocent people to death row. We also seek ways to support death row survivors and their loved ones as they confront the challenges of life after exoneration. 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-519-4384