[PAA-Discuss] Major Developments in Todd Willingham Case
Juli3 at aol.com
Juli3 at aol.com
Mon Sep 27 09:35:25 EDT 2010
Having trouble viewing this email? _Please click here_
(http://campaigns.ratepoint.com/campaigns/e0e2416517573356fba24b110eafc46f?r=abb38ead144
bbdb6b2f742e1349ba839) _Forward to a Friend_
(http://campaigns.ratepoint.com/forward/17186/e0e2416517573356fba24b110eafc46f?e=juli3@aol.com) To
ensure delivery, please add _info at texasmoratorium.org_
(mailto:info at texasmoratorium.org) to your address book. _SmartUnsubscribesm_
(http://subscribe.ratepoint.com/unsubscribe/17186?c=e0e2416517573356fba24b110eafc46f&e=juli3@a
ol.com)
Sept 26, 2010
Dear Texas Moratorium Network Supporter,
We have some major developments to share with you. As you know, last year
Governor Perry replaced the chair and three other members of the Texas
Forensic Science Commission in an attempt to cover up a report by a fire
expert that ruled out arson in the case of _Cameron Todd Willingham_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/5ca49218c7e1027821e7acd43a471062/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f361150
3e3d) . In the last ten days there have been two major developments in
the ongoing case of Todd Willingham, who was executed in 2004 after being
convicted and sentenced to death based on seriously flawed science. These
developments may lead eventually to the official finding that Todd Willingham
was an innocent person executed by Texas.
We need your help to organize the _11th Annual March to Abolish the Death
Penalty_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/f4d09250d0132795cbbb62e652162bd7/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) , which is October 30 at 2 PM in Austin. If you
would like to make a donation to help with the march, you can click here to
donate by credit card or you can send a check to "Texas Moratorium
Network", 3616 Far West Blvd, Suite 117, Box 251, Austin, Texas 78731. We would
like to raise a few hundred dollars in order to help put on the best march
ever. If you would like to volunteer, reply to this email.
First Major Development in Todd Willingham Case
On September 17, the Texas Forensic Science Commission met in Dallas. The
scientists on the Commission rejected a draft report prepared by Chair
John Bradley. Had they accepted the report, it would have ended the
investigation and cleared arson investigators of misconduct or negligence in the
Willingham fire. The scientists demanded to hear from fire experts in-person
at the next Commission meeting on November 19. We expect the final report
to conclude that flawed forensic evidence was used to convict Todd
Willingham. Such a finding will lead more people to the conclusion that Todd
Willingham was an innocent person executed by Texas.
On Sept 17, members of Texas Moratorium Network were in Dallas for the
meeting of the Texas Forensic Science Commission. We brought signs and put
them on the walls of the meeting room. As the Dallas Morning News reported,
"one poster said in big black letters on a yellow board: "NO ARSON, NO
CRIME! TODD WAS INNOCENT."
We witnessed the scientists on the commission reject the draft report
written by the Chair John Bradley that would have ended the Todd Willingham
investigation with a finding that would have cleared arson investigators of
negligence or misconduct in the fire investigation. The change in momentum
after the meeting was enormous. John Bradley and Rick Perry had suffered a
major setback in their goal of scuttling the investigation into whether
Texas used junk forensic science to execute an innocent person.
_Read more about the Forensic Science Commission meeting in this Dallas
Morning News article_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/79a70522eb8dcf62da2b78c3a6efc17d/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) .
_Watch a video on YouTube that TMN recorded of Todd Willingham's family
speaking to the Forensic Science Commission_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/b53bffae6595adfb31ae96581e23c321/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) , including his
mother and cousins.
_Read the full transcripts of the 1992 trial of Todd Willingham at the
website we created about the case, _
(http://et.ratepoint.com/29ab9f640600ef84812eabbf25606f5e/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d)
_camerontoddwillingham.com_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/29ab9f640600ef84812eabbf25606f5e/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) .
Second Major Development in Todd Willingham Case
On Friday, Sept 24, a lawsuit was filed in Austin seeking a hearing in a
Court of Inquiry to determine if Todd Willingham was innocent. The lawsuit
was filed on behalf of Todd Willingham's relatives along with former Texas
Gov. Mark White and Barry Scheck, co-founder of the Innocence Project. The
judge will announce on Monday, Sept 27, whether he will allow the lawsuit
to go forward and convene a Court of Inquiry, which would likely be held
in October.
_Read more from the Austin -American Statesman here_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/91d47a82610a3ea2b3a6608b26c84dbd/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) .
We will update the TMN blog with the news on Monday about whether the
judge will convene a Court of Inquiry in the Willingham case. _Check the TMN
blog Monday afternoon_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/615f221819962707bb901c11bb115fa5/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) .
____________________________________
11th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty
(http://et.ratepoint.com/f4d09250d0132795cbbb62e652162bd7/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d)
The _11th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/f4d09250d0132795cbbb62e652162bd7/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) will
be held in Austin at the Texas Capitol at 2 PM on October 30, 2010.
_www.marchforabolition.org_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/f4d09250d0132795cbbb62e652162bd7/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d)
Because of the recent developments in the Todd Willingham case, it is
more important than ever for people from across Texas to gather at the
capitol to show Texas legislators and elected officials that the people of Texas
demand a stop to executions. So please make plans to join us and hundreds
of your fellow Texans and other friends at the march on October 30 in
Austin to raise our voices together to let the world know that more and more
people in Texas are opposed to the death penalty. We will shout it loud and
clear that Todd WIllingham was innocent and executed.
We need your help to organize the march. If you would like to make a
donation to help with the march, _you can click here to donate by credit
card_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/66f1a7ba280b63cf2e7acdaa6c860dde/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) or you can send a check to "Texas Moratorium Network",
3616 Far West Blvd, Suite 117, Box 251, Austin, Texas 78731. We would like
to raise a few hundred dollars in order to help put on the best march
ever.
Contact us by replying to this email or by phone at 512 961-6389, if you
would like to volunteer or if your organization would like to be listed as
a co-sponsor.
Special guests this year include exonerated former death row prisoners
Shujaa Graham, Ron Keine, Curtis McCarty and Greg Wilhoit. Curtis spent 21
years in prison – including 19 years on death row – in Oklahoma for a crime
he did not commit. Shujaa spent 3 years on death row in California for a
crime he did not commit. Ron spent two years on death row in New Mexico for
a crime he did not commit. Greg spent five years on death row in Oklahoma
for a crime he did not commit.
“This is fast becoming one of the biggest anti-death penalty events in
the country. I’ll be there“, said death row exoneree Ron Keine.
Each October since 2000, people from all walks of life and all parts of
Texas, the U.S. and other countries have taken a day out of their year and
gathered in Austin to raise their voices together and loudly express their
opposition to the death penalty. The march is a coming together of
activists, family members of people on death row, community leaders, exonerated
prisoners and all those calling for abolition.
Last year’s march was the largest anti-death penalty rally in Texas since
the first ever march in 2000. We will be joined this year by the Journey
of Hope, which is an organization led by murder victim family members
joined by death row family members, family members of the executed, the
exonerated, and others with stories to tell, that conducts public education
speaking tours and addresses alternatives to the death penalty.
The annual march is organized by several Texas anti-death penalty
organizations, including Texas Moratorium Network, the Austin chapter of the
Campaign to End the Death Penalty, the Texas Death Penalty Abolition Movement,
Texas Students Against the Death Penalty, Texas Death Penalty Education and
Resource Center, Death Penalty Free Austin, and Kids Against the Death
Penalty.
____________________________________
Journey of Hope 2010 Texas Tour
The Journey of Hope is coming to Texas for a multi-city tour October
15-31. The "Journey of Hope…From Violence to Healing" is a non-profit
organization led by murder victim family members, exonorees, and death row family
members. It was founded in 1993 by SueZann Bosler, Marietta Jaeger-Lane, Sam
Reese Sheppard, George White, and Bill Pelke. “Our work is for universal
abolition of the death penalty”.
_
Read more about the 2010 Texas Journey of Hope here_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/c9b9740440479bf31f7860ac79f2bac4/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) .
The Journey of Hope is coming to Texas with a group of 12 amazing people,
including several murder victim family members who will be reliving and
telling their personal stories of their murdered loved ones, how each came
to forgiveness and healing, and why they are opposed to the death penalty.
They are also coming with two death row exonerees who will explain how
innocent people can be sentenced to death.
Since 1993, the 'Journey of Hope…From Violence to Healing' has conducted
over 30 tours world-wide to raise awareness for restorative justice and
against all forms of violence.
They are still seeking speaking engagements in the Austin area. If you
would like the Journey of Hope to send speakers to your civic group, school,
college, church or other faith-based organization, then please contact
Delia Perez Meyer at 512-444-5366 or by email to dmeyer at io.com.
Austin dates that are still available are Wednesday, October 27th;
Thursday, Oct. 28th; and Friday, October 29th, 2010.
____________________________________
SADP seeks nominations for the Youth Abolitionist of the Year Award
_Students Against the Death Penalty_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/cfccde2572a13739792719396b655ec1/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) is accepting
nominations for the 2010 Youth Abolitionist of the Year Award. The Award is
presented each year to a young person (or persons under the age of 25) with a
deep commitment to fighting the death penalty and a proven ability to
transform this commitment into effective action. The recipients should have
demonstrated leadership ability, creativity, and integrity.
Nominations for the Youth Abolitionist of the Year Award may be submitted
at any time by sending an email to hooman(at)texasabolition(dot)org
describing in 500 worlds or less why this person merits the Youth Abolitionist
of the Year Award? Deadline to submit nominations are October 10, 2010.
Finalists might be asked to submit further supporting documents (letters of
recommendation, articles by or about the candidate, etc.) Anyone may
nominate a candidate, including members of the general public.
The winner will be announced at the _11th Annual March to Abolish the
Death Penalty_
(http://et.ratepoint.com/f4d09250d0132795cbbb62e652162bd7/c76f82145d7cf0a7c8464f3611503e3d) in Austin, Texas, October 30, 2010.
Texas Moratorium Network, 3616 Far West Blvd., Suite 117 Box 251, Austin,
TX 78731 512-961-6389
_Forward to a Friend_
(http://campaigns.ratepoint.com/forward/17186/e0e2416517573356fba24b110eafc46f?e=juli3@aol.com) _SmartUnsubscribe_
(http://subscribe.ratepoint.com/unsubscribe/17186?c=e0e2416517573356fba24b110eafc46f&e=
juli3 at aol.com) sm This email was sent to _juli3 at aol.com_
(mailto:juli3 at aol.com) by _info at texasmoratorium.org_ (mailto:info at texasmoratorium.org)
(http://www.ratepoint.com/?src=NLL&cid=e0e2416517573356fba24b110eafc46f)
_Update Profile/Email Address_
(http://subscribe.ratepoint.com/permission/17186?e=juli3@aol.com) | _SmartUnsubscribesm from this list_
(http://subscribe.ratepoint.com/unsubscribe/17186?c=e0e2416517573356fba24b110eafc46f&e=juli
3 at aol.com) | _Privacy Policy _ (https://www.ratepoint.com/privacy/)
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://paa-tx.org/pipermail/discuss_paa-tx.org/attachments/20100927/5e3ff8e8/attachment.htm>
More information about the Discuss
mailing list