We plan to keep 1.27.22,, the execution date for Matthew Reeves as the heading of our Weekly Report. Mr. Reeves has an IQ in the 60s and is intellectually disabled. Mr. Reeves was 18 years old at the time of the crime. You can find the Talking Points on our website http://www.phadp.org/?q=alerts and the petition at: https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-matthew-reeves-in-alabama?fbclid=IwAR36piPfuSAwcNU9CmBKO1io7FKugiOr7eVKpqzt_Do-2z1AdI84E7_39hM
After positive Christmas celebrations the last week brought concerns, We received an 8 page packet, some of them incomplete, from the DOC containing rules and regulations for which we were asked to sign twice, once to acknowledge that we had received it and once to say that we understood the content. The bulk covered institutional rules but the last 2 pages dealt with rules regarding executions, like for example that we are allowed 5 minutes with our spiritual Advisor before being executed. Some of us signed and some of us did not. The suggestion that we could call our attorneys for advice seemed not very realistic during the Christmas week. Obviously all of this raised a lot of concerns and also provided proof once more that there are those among us who are intellectually disabled. These men asked us to explain not only what this was all about but also the meaning of certain words. We wondered was this a parting gift from the retiring head of the DOC? We called the Federal Defenders to alert them at the first possible opportunity and are grateful that they are aware of the situation. We are concerned!
We are doing our best to be a presence in Matthew Reeves’ life just as we were in Willie Smith’s. We encourage him to be his own best friend but being intellectually disabled this is not always easy for him.
In closing and as always, we continue to thank all our generous donors who either gave by going to our website and using the “donate” button or who gave directly. Thank you also to all who took the time to read our notes, commented, liked and shared them on Facebook. You encourage us and make all the difference. Stay safe and wear a mask!
Esther
