Weekly Report from the Board Meeting at Holman Prison 3.3.21
It came as absolutely no surprise to us that last week Alabama state lawyers wrote in a court filing that it is amending its lethal injection procedures to allow a condemned inmate to have his spiritual advisor in the execution chamber. And so what happened to the safety concerns that had not allowed that previously? An example of a seemingly positive filing for strictly negative reasons!
Last week we said goodbye to James McWilliams and Lionel Francis who were resentenced to life without the possibility of parole. We wish them well and know they have a hard road ahead of them.
We were delighted to be contacted by a 9th grade teacher in Maryland whose class, and I quote, “is interested in exploring and as, appropriate, publicizing the humanity of people on death row.” They had had a presentation by our journalist friend Lauren Gill who had apparently recommended our organization. Thank you to all for the encouragement and we are definitely interested in doing all we can do to further the quest of that 9th grade in MD!
Last week we provided Alabama Arise with the current number of people who were sentenced via judicial override and the number who were sentenced non-unanimously: 31 override, 32 unanimous; 83 non-unanimous; 6 unknown. This was very quickly picked up by journalist Beth Shelburne who asked whether she could quote us on Twitter as being unconscionable. Much appreciated and thank you, Beth!
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!
Esther
