April 4 is the 42nd anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination. I always advocate that justice-loving people acknowledge the day by remembering Dr. King’ true legacy, reflecting on the preponderance of violence in this country and recommitting to the fight against injustice, poverty and tyranny.
April 4 is also the 19th anniversary of the Chain of Rocks Bridge tragedy. Three teens and one young man were subsequently charged with the murders of Julie and Robin Kerry.
Marlin Gray was executed in 2005; Antonio Richardson is serving life without the possibility of parole; and Reggie Clemons is on death row. Daniel Winfrey, the only white youth of the group, was released from prison in 2007 after serving 15 years.
There’s a certain irony that the two tragic events share the same date.
Dr. King was vehemently against the death penalty. His widow, Coretta Scott King, took license to reaffirm her staunch opposition after his assassination:
“As one whose husband and mother-in-law have died the victims of murder assassination, I stand firmly and unequivocally opposed to the death penalty for those convicted of capital offenses. An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. Justice is never advanced in the taking of a human life. Morality is never upheld by a legalized murder.”
Coretta’s articulate appeal flies in the face of most prosecutorial justification that families want and need revenge in order to bring “closure” to their lives after the violent loss of loved ones.
I’m thinking Dr. and Mrs. King would be pleased by the arduous work of organizations that have brought about the exonerations of 126 totally innocent people. Three of these were exonerated in Missouri. Many more executions of possible innocent people will eternally haunt our society.
The Kings would be deeply troubled by that as well as how long it has taken this country to go the way of most industrialized countries: to put the barbaric and inhumane practice of execution in the dust bin of history.
Missouri seems to be proving that it is more Southern in its application of justice than Midwestern. For the last couple of years, over 60 legislators on both sides of the aisles have supported state Rep. Bill Deeken’s bill to study how the state administers the death penalty, but have not gained the traction needed to get it passed. We must put pressure on our state legislators to get serious about passing HB 1683 and SB 930 during THIS legislative session.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch continues to appeal the worst of those Southern traditions and values by calling Reggie Clemons a convicted rapist. He is no such thing. Neither Reggie nor any of his co-defendants were ever convicted of rape. Former prosecutor Nels Moss made sure the notion of rape hovered over the juries and permeated media stories so that he could use it to strengthen his call for the death penalty. He got his wish easily.
Whenever the Post cries “rape” on this case, a litany of readers foam at the mouth at the thought of black men involved in the rape of two young, white women. These intentionally misinformed readers demand lynchings and wonder out loud why Reggie is still breathing. You can feel the heat from their comments; you can almost see them tying the noose. After reading the comments, you wonder if you’re in Missouri or Mississippi.
The Justice for Reggie Campaign is encouraging places of worship to talk about the need to abolish the death penalty starting on April 4 (also Easter Sunday) and ending on Mother’s Day. It is part of the build up to the May 10 hearing on Reggie’s case by the Special Master, Judge Michael Manners.
April 4 is a day of reconciliation. May 9 is a day of appreciation for the sacrifices and unconditional love of mothers. May 10 will be a day of reckoning for Missouri.