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In fact, it's cruel and unusual, a barbaric relic. It defiles due process, judicial fairness, and humanity. It violates equal constitutional protection under the law. It disproportionately affects people of color, the poor, and disadvantaged. It legitimizes the illegitimate, what's prohibited by fundamental religious teachings stating "thou shall not kill." It justifies an eye for an eye, what Gandhi said makes the whole world blind, is ineffective in deterring crime, and unconscionable by a society calling itself civilized.
Further, who can judge fairly in light of clear evidence of numerous wrongful convictions, framed defendants, and the most disadvantaged denied due process and judicial fairness - to wit, Kevin Cooper, an innocent man, framed by state officials who may die for the crimes of three others.
In his own words, ahead of his scheduled February 2004 execution, he said:
"This is Not My Execution and I Will Not Claim It," adding he's "an innocent man about to be murdered by this state (and) realize(s) that innocence makes no difference to the people who control the criminal justice system, including this prison. This is the same system that has historically and systematically executed men, women and children who look just like me, if only because they can (and do it to) poor people all over this world....If I must be murdered by the state, then I will do so with my dignity in tact (and knowledge that) This guilt that the criminal justice system has put on me will be questioned by anyone and everyone who finds out the whole truth of this case," and spreads the word widely.
Still on death row, activists nationally support Cooper's struggle after many years of wrongful imprisonment for a crime he didn't commit, yet may pay for it with his life.
Stephen Lendman is a Research Associate of the Centre for Research on Globalization. He lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to the Lendman News Hour on RepublicBroadcasting.org Monday - Friday at 10AM US Central time for cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on world and national issues. All programs are archived for easy listening.
http://republicbroadcasting.org/Lendman
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