Do you know Herman?

CELEBRATING & WELCOMING     HERMAN LINDSEY      50th BIRTHDAY PARTY      DECEMBER 29th 2PM ET ON ZOOM      RSVP Give in Herman's Honor Do you know Herman Lindsey? Well, he and I have something major in common. We were both innocent on death row, fearing execution, hoping for a miracle. We share something else in common. We both made it home and today are leading this incredible organization of death row exonerees.  Will you help me welcome him as our new Executive Director?  Will you make a gift in his honor? We are having a Zoom party on his 50th birthday to celebrate with him and officially welcome him in his new role. I hope you can join us! Sincerely, Kwame Kwame Ajamu Board Chair DONATE 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-519-4384 info@witnesstoinnocence.org www.witnesstoinnocence.org 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 with a mission is to abolish the death penalty. Our members are 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.

I am devastated by this Supreme Court decision

 

On May 23, 2022, the Supreme Court issued their ruling in Shinn v. Ramirez, ultimately deciding that federal courts may not hold evidentiary hearings in suits from state prisoners claiming ineffective assistance of counsel. This devastating decision will make it even more difficult for innocent people to get their convictions overturned, increasing the likelihood that innocent people will be executed. VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

The Supreme Court voted 6-3, overruling two lower courts and disregarding the innocence claims of Barry Lee Jones, currently on Arizona's death row. The majority ruling noted that its decision came not from their finding that Jones's innocence claims were unpersuasive, rather that federal courts are barred from even considering them. This problematic ruling overlooks the fact that innocent people are too often wrongfully convicted. As death row exonerees, we are living proof that the justice system does get it wrong.

As The Washington Post points out, the Supreme Court's own history points to just how often the justice system gets it wrong. Current Supreme Court Justices Roberts and Thomas have supported maintaining convictions in death penalty cases where those convicted were later exonerated, including that of Tennesse death row exoneree and Witness to Innocence member Paul House. Paul was wrongfully convicted and sentenced to die in 1986 and spent 23 years wrongfully incarcerated on Tennessee's death row. Why don't cases like Paul's haunt Justices Roberts and Thomas? READ ARTICLE In a 1993 case, former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in his concurrence that the Constitution does not prevent the government from executing someone who may be innocent. At the time, this claim was considered so outlandish that Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote a rebuttal directly countering Scalia's opinion, despite agreeing on the overall outcome of the case. Following the Shinn v. Ramirez ruling, this once-considered outlandish position has become law. This ruling is a reminder to us that the only way we can ensure that innocent people won't be executed is to abolish the death penalty. Thank you for continuing to stand with death row exonerees like Paul House in the fight to abolish the death penalty. Innocence should be enough. Sincerely, KIRKKirk Bloodsworth Executive Director 1st person to be exonerated by DNA from a wrongful death sentence

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1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-519-4384 info@witnesstoinnocence.org www.witnesstoinnocence.org

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.

Texas Residents - Urgent Action Needed for Carl Wayne Buntion

 

STOP THE EXECUTION OF CARL WAYNE BUNTION The state of Texas is scheduled to execute Carl Wayne Buntion on April 21. Mr. Buntion has been on death row for 30 years and just turned 78, making him the oldest man on Texas's death row. If executed, he would be the oldest man ever put to death by the state. Mr. Buntion has filed an application for clemency with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor Greg Abbott asking for the governor to commute his death sentence to a lesser penalty. Join with death row exonerees and the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty in asking the state of Texas to grant clemency to Carl Wayne Buntion.  TAKE ACTION

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

In Memory of Wiley Bridgeman

 

On June 27, 2021 Wiley E. Bridgeman got his wings. A devastating loss for his devoted brother Kwame Ajamu who was steadfastly by his side through decades of wrongful incarceration and through the joys and sorrows of life after exoneration. Wiley will be deeply be missed by the Witness to Innocence family and all who knew him. We will forever remember his humble graciousness, his sagacious poetry and his warm smile.  In memory of Wiley - CALL FOR ABOLITION IN OHIO Read more about Wiley 1501 Cherry Street Philadelphia, PA 19102

VIDEO: #ImLivingProof...that we send the innocent to die

 

#ImLivingProof... that we send the innocent to die. (Ray Krone)

#ImLivingProof ...that we send the innocent to die (Shujaa Graham)

#ImLivingProof ...that we send the innocent to die (Derrick Jamison)

#ImLivingProof ...that we send the innocent to die (Gary Drinkard)

#ImLivingProof...that we send the innocent to die (Herman Lindsey)

#ImLivingProof ...that we send the innocent to die (Ron Keine)

#ImLivingProof...that we send the innocent to die (Sabrina Butler Smith)

#ImLivingProof ...that we send the innocent to die. (Randal Padgett)

#ImLivingProof ...that we send the innocent to die. (Kwame Ajamu)

We are having a big impact.

• WASHINGTON: Sabrina and I, and our fellow exoneree Randal Paget, were in WA in the months before their Supreme Court struck down the death penalty as unconsitiutional in 2018.
• NEW HAMPSHIRE: Sabrina, I and our fellow exonerees Randy Steidl and Ray Krone testified in NH year after year before they finally abolished the death penalty in 2019.
• VIRGINIA: This year, I submitted written testimony to the VA legislature in the weeks before their historic vote which made VA the first southern state to abolish.

Death row exonerees and the issue of innocence have been pivotal in every state that has abolished the death penalty in the last 17 years!

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.

Witness to Innocence 1501 Cherry Street  | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102 (267) 519-4584 |