Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 2.19.25

The article “Innocent man on death row: Criminal injustice in Alabama” addresses the case of Toforest Johnson while also addressing all the many issues why Alabama’s death sentences have nothing to do with justice.” Alabama has an embarrassing history of misconduct by police, prosecutors, and defense attorneys — especially in capital cases.” Might we suggest that the word criminal instead of misconduct is the more appropriate word to use?

We appreciate being able to work with Sam Heath of the EJUSA Alabama Evangelical network and look forward to the upcoming initiative, already happening in other states, which will reach out to church leaders and Evangelical members in Alabama.

We appreciated being able to share that Pastor Kenneth Sharpton Glasgow of Dothan Alabama was just newly elected as National President of the New National Christian Leadership Movement and look forward to working together.

Why any halfway civilized state would want to follow Alabama’s example is incomprehensible unless of course it is as backward as AL. Louisiana apparently is and we quote our friends at Death Penalty Action: “In the past week, the Governor of Louisiana announced that gas suffocation execution protocols have been approved, and within days THREE execution dates were set, although one has since been rescinded. This is serious.” Indeed it is! And to quote the Nola Editorial –“The shameful return of executions to Louisiana” “Call it brutality. Call it torture. Whatever you call it, and even if it is in the act of lawfully putting a human being to death, this is not how civilized peoples and states should operate.”

Our organization was pleased to sign on to the Organizational letter from Alabama Arise to Alabama’s Congressional Delegation opposing cuts to Medicaid and SNAP.

We recommend the study published by the Equal Justice Initiative Diverse Juries More Reliable, Less Likely in Alabama Death Penalty. Anyone who has ever investigated death penalty cases in the South knows about all white juries and what they do depending on the race of the accused and the victim but for those who are supporters but not quite as close to our issue this is important reading.

We thank all who are working so hard and diligently to stop all killing in Alabama! And as always in closing, we 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. Stay safe and be kind to each other!

Esther