Comunità di Sant'Egidio - No to the Death Penalty

TEXAS COALITION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

3400 Montrose Blvd., Suite 312

Houston, TX 77006

RACISM SEEN IN HARRIS COUNTY DEATH PENALTY CASES

A review of the executions coming out of Harris County during 2004 reveals that 90% of the people executed and scheduled to be executed are minorities. Five executions have already occurred and five more are currently scheduled. Seven of the ten are African-American, two are Hispanic and one is white.

According to David Atwood of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, racism has always been a factor in who does and doesn't get executed in Texas. 40% of the people on Texas death row are African-American vs. 12% in the general population. However, for Harris County, 54% of the people on death row are African-American vs. 18% in the general population. "I don't think you can explain that large a discrepancy by just saying that African-Americans are involved in more crime", says Atwood. "Besides, nationwide studies as well as studies by the Texas Defender Service have shown that race is clearly a factor in who does and doesn't get the death penalty. Race enters into decisions on whom to charge with capital murder and in the selection of juries. A number of African-Americans have been found guilty and given the death penalty by juries that were all white or nearly all white."

This evening and tomorrow evening at 5:30 pm (November 9 and 10), opponents of the death penalty will be protesting the execution of Demarco McCullum and Frederick McWilliams at the corner of Shepherd and Westheimer in Houston. Next week (November 17 and 18) they will be protesting the executions of Anthony Fuentes and Troy Kunkle at the same time and location. And on December 1, they will be protesting the execution of Frances Newton, an African-American woman.

A number of anti-death penalty protesters from Texas and other places in the world are also fasting on the days of execution.

Says Atwood, "Racial and economic biases, as well as the arbitrary and capricious nature of the death penalty, clearly show that the death penalty is unconstitutional under the 8th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. In addition, it is totally unnecessary for societal protection. Long-term incarceration of dangerous criminals can protect society".