I just saw an ad on TV by supporters of Proposition 62
(Repeal of the Death Penalty).*
Mike Farrell, president of Death Penalty Focus,
claimed that a yes vote on Prop. 62 saves innocent lives on Death Row, by
giving them all a Life Without the possibility Of Parole death sentence
instead. What a myth and twist in thinking.
Would Mr Farrell be willing to debate any LWOP
prisoners he has demonized? Or is he afraid of the truth?
Prop. 62 does not save any innocent lives on Death Row
by re-condemning already condemned prisoners on Death Row to a LWOP death
sentence.
A yes vote would garnish more tax payers funds with no
returns. Mr Farrell stated in his bill that he will charge prisoners and their
families and friends and take the pennies from prisoners slave wages.
Listen to the absurdity of this claim. He wants Prop.
62 to pass to save innocent lives on Death Row, when in fact innocent prisoners
are better off on Death Row, where a poor person of color can get a real
lawyer! Under Farrell’s bill, innocent LWOP’s will die in prison because they
will get no legal representation.
Prop. 62 does nothing to save money, but gives more
money to politicians, the prison industry, lobbyists and other companies that
survive like maggots on the victims and their families, prisoners and their
families and loved ones. A yes vote on Prop. 62 is a vote to continue on an
endless LWOP path equally as hideous as Death Row.
In civilized countries around the world LWOP and the
Death Penalty are considered barbaric, inhumane, cruel and unusual punishment.
So why does Mike Farrell and the Death Penalty Focus push so hard to keep
prisoners in limbo, and leave innocent, young, old, and first term offenders
with LWOP sentences without any hope or road to freedom? At least on Death Row,
death can free you from the fate of a LWOP sentence… I cannot grasp how anyone
who cares about humanity can support LWOP or DP sentences.
Has Mike Farrell ever sat in a group with LWOP or DP
prisoners to discuss the ramifications of LWOP sentences or discussed the human
aspects of the penal system of justice and reform. Claiming that innocent lives
will be spared by unbreakable, no hope LWOP sentences is myopic and absurd.
There is no humanity or reform in any of the statues
of the Prop. 62 bill, no savings. In fact, in the long run it will cost more, because the racist implementing of LWOP sentences
mainly target people of color and the poor and will keep prisons full of
inmates without hope.
Getting rid of the Death Penalty for its twin; Life
Without The Possibility Of Parole is not justice. There must be a path for
redemption and second chances - for the young, for the old, for first term
offenders, for the repented who messed up their lives and lost sight of what it
is to be human, only to discover their humanity while incarcerated.
We are all human and nothing human is alien to any of
us. Even those who have made huge mistakes, but have reformed. Some countries
embrace change and humanity and see prisoners in their society as their
brothers and sisters to one day be welcomed back to the society.
In Germany, Scandinavia, Jamaica and some countries in
Africa, in their prison system, even for life sentences, there are paths to
second chances, forgiveness and reform. American journalists have asked prison
officials in Germany; why do you allow such reform programs in your prisons?
The German officials said; these people in our penal system are our sisters and
brothers and fellow citizens, and must be welcomed back to the society when reformed.
For your family and fellow citizens, vote no on
Proposition 62, because it is the human and healing thing to do.
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