A multi-racial standing-room only crowd of 70 people packed a classroom in Gregory Hall at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Feb. 24 to hear from Marvin Reeves and Mark Clements, two victims of Chicago police frame-ups who were both released last summer after nearly 50 combined years behind bars for crimes they did not commit. Marvin spoke of being snatched away from his several children in the middle of the night more than 21 years ago based on testimony from a jailhouse snitch, while Mark spoke of his severe beating and subsequent confession at the hands of Chicago police, which at age 16 led to a life without parole sentence. “Speaking here to you all is like therapy,” Marvin said. “When I see all of you here, I know there are a lot of people out there who care. When you’re in prison, you forget that.”
Brian Dolinar, an organizer from Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice, and Marlene Martin, with the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, rounded out the panel. Brian spoke of the Champaign police’s murder of unarmed 15-year-old Kiwane Carrington, the struggle to win justice for Kiwane’s family, and the campaign to get charges dropped against Kiwane’s friend, Jeshaun Manning, who was at the scene. As Brian said, “There’s the lynching of Kiwane Carrington. But now there’s the legal lynching of Jeshaun Manning that we’re fighting to stop too.”
Marlene spoke of the racism at the root of all of these cases of injustice. “We may no longer hang people from trees. But now, those who do the lynching have traded in white robes for black ones”, she said.
During the discussion, many people asked about what they could do to fight for justice. Activists circulated petitions to drop the charges against Jeshaun Manning, and many people stayed well after the meeting was over to talk to the panelists and network with each other. The Champaign-Urbana tour stop was sponsored by Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice, the International Socialist Organization and the Prairie Greens.
Contributed by Julien Ball at University of Illinois.
A National Speaking Tour of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Presenting the CEDP's National Speaking Tour for 2009 - 2010. Join this teach-in tour in cities around the country this fall and spring. This year's tour looks at the historic link between the death penalty and lynching in the United States. Hear from those who have been freed from death row, activists and scholars on the role of racism in our criminal justice system and why the death penalty and unjust sentencing need to be abolished.
For More Information
If you are interested in hosting a tour stop at your school or in your community, or if you have any questions please contact:
UPCOMING TOUR STOPS
Exciting events are in the works for this spring.
Highlights include:
San Jose, California - Tuesday, May 25th at 7PM at the San Jose Peace and Justice Center. Speakers include Cephus Johnson, uncle of Oscar Grant, who was murdered by the BART police in Oakland. Also featuring Jack Bryson, whose sons were with Oscar during the shooting, and Veronica Luna, whose uncle is on CA death row.
North Carolina. In conjunction with the North Carolina Coalition for a Moratorium— Two dates left:
NC A&T University (NC Agricultural and Technical State University), Greensboro - April 16 with Guilford County Public Defender David Clark and Rep. Alma Adams.
Campbell Law School, Raleigh - Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, Spring 2010, co-sponsored by Juvenile Justice Program.
Texas. One date left:
University of North Texas, Denton - April 29th. With Alan Bean and Rodrick Reed.
Rutgers University, Newark, New Jersey - April 16th. In conjunction with Rutgers Law Review 2010 Symposium: "Righting the Wronged: Causes, Effects and Remedies of Juvenile Wrongful Conviction". With Bryan Stevenson, Yusef Salaam and others.
Illinois. One date left:
Chicago - April 28th at Harold Washington Library Center. With Mark Clements, Marvin Reeves and Marlene Martin.
New York -
City College of New York - April 21.
John Jay College/Cuny - April 22
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
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