New Haven Independent

Posted by: bill | October 1, 2009 9:01 AM

There would seem to be more pressing issues for a black representative to be concerned with than the death penalty in Connecticut. There have been 127 executions in Connecticut and only 6 have been black. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_individuals_executed_in_Connecticut)

Unlike abortion that kills over 14,000 unborn babies in Connecticut every year and over a million in the U.S.

Posted by: Joe | October 1, 2009 11:31 AM

Ben Stango!

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | October 1, 2009 1:51 PM

I would like to think that one can focus on more than one issue at a time. Also, does my being Black necessarily indicate a set of issues (as your statement implies) that I should be concerned with? If so does it then follow that those are not issues White reps should be concerned with?

Posted by: Concerned Citizen | October 1, 2009 1:57 PM

I applaud Rep. Holder-Winfield for his courage to take on this issue notwithstanding the advice of the veterans. The reason we are in the condition we are as a country is exactly because too many people are afraid of looking outside of the “experience or tradition” box.

We need more courageous people in govt/politics. There are a number of reasons why the death penalty should be abolished. State-sanctioned or not- murder is barbaric. If the state says it is wrong for people to kill each other, how can the state justify killing murderers? In what ways are the state, society, or the people elevated?

Normally, once the state carries out it murder the records are closed; sealed. However, partial reviews of some records have shown that over 350 innocent people have been executed. Going back to when race was more visibly a target for guilt, if the records of thousands of executed blacks (and some poor whites) were to be all reviewed the number of innocent people murdered by the “State” would be staggering. Of course, we will never know because there are those who will fight to prevent disclosure. Besides for the few resources being dedicated to this now, there are still hundreds of cases to be reviewed while prisoners are still alive.

Thanks to the Innocence Project and some law school programs we are now learning about ongoing cases. For those interested, here are just a few listed in the records. Texas is famous for its very active state death machinery.
1. Experts Question Conclusions in Texas Arson Investigations
www.fdnntv.com/Texas-Arson-Investigations-Under-Scrutiny
Texas State Forensic Science Commission to review case of possible wrongful execution
Posted: August 18, 2008 5:00 pm – “Willingham went to his death assuring his parents that he did not kill his children; his ex-wife testified that he would not hurt his children.” My quotes.

The Texas State Forensic Science Commission agreed Friday to investigate possible negligence or misconduct in the Cameron Todd Willingham case. Willingham was executed in 2004 for allegedly murdering his three young children by setting his Corsicana home on fire in 1991. An independent panel of arson experts subsequently found that the fire was not arson. In May 2006, the Innocence Project formally submitted a request to the Commission to review arson convictions statewide—particularly in the Willingham case. The Commission’s investigation marks the first time that a state has reviewed a possible wrongful execution. However, it is too late for Mr. Willingham. Another reason to abolish the death penalty.

"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate, contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive, and unrealistic. Belief in myths allows the comfort of opinion without the discomfort of thought." ~ John F. Kennedy 35th president of US 1961-1963 (1917 - 1963)
There are prosecutors in Texas & elsewhere who prefer to protect their egos and reputations than to advocate for justice. More reason to abolish the death penalty and institute a societal reparative program for the guilty.

FIVE TEXAS ARSON CASES UNDER SCRUTINY
Five men charged with crimes that never happened. Five men's lives ruined. Two men freed. One man executed. Two innocent men still locked up. This doesn't just happen in Texas. It happens everywhere. It can happen to anyone. It can happen to YOU.

DNA Tests Prove Justice Has Failed – by Alberto Cremonesi (Sept. 21, 2006 - by the Inter Press Service

NEW YORK - When we talk of capital punishment there is no room for mistakes; no allowances for doubt or indecision. There is definitely no mechanism for review of guilt or innocence after someone has been killed.
Yet, consider these people:
Jeffrey Mark Deskovic, 33, spent nearly half his life in a New York prison for a rape and murder he did not commit. DNA testing cleared Deskovic and he was released Sep. 20 from prison.
"I was supposed to finish out my education…begin a career," Deskovic, choking up, told reporters when leaving the court room. "Marry, have a family, spend some time with my family…share the last years of my grandmother's life with her." Deskovic was 17 years old when he was ordered to spend his life in prison.

In 2004, Ryan Matthew, convicted for the murder of a local convenience store owner in Louisiana, escaped the death penalty after prosecutors dropped all charges on the basis of DNA testing results.
There are other stories of executions conducted too fast, trials completed too quickly and mistakes too easily made. And yet, the state-sanctioned killings continue. Now, DNA testing is helping to prove that innocent people continue to be killed or placed on death row. It proves that the U.S. judicial system is flawed; it sends innocent people to jail and, worse, puts them to death.

Northwestern University School of Law's Centre on Wrongful Convictions (CWC) documented at least 38 executions carried out in the United States in spite of compelling evidence of innocence or serious doubt about guilt since capital punishment was restored in the mid-1970s. When careers are advanced based upon successful prosecutions without regard for the guilt or innocence of people, the death penalty should never be a part of the equation. Let us as a society engage in the discomfort of thought; this should be about all things important to our advancement as a society. Peace

Posted by: The Professor | October 1, 2009 4:23 PM

Bill, I think what you're missing here is that nobody would dispute whether the prisoners who have been executed are, in fact, living and breathing human beings.

Also, the statistics that you cite are actual execution statistics, not death sentence statistics, which would be more relevant. The fact of the matter is that our system of capital punishment is broken; at this point the only question is whether it is broken beyond repair.

Posted by: Bill | October 1, 2009 9:25 PM

The Professor,
I'm still waiting for you facts that show the system is broken in Connecticut. Using other states statistics, or countries for that matter, is irrelevant to Connecticut's death penalty.

Posted by: anon | October 1, 2009 9:32 PM

Recent NYT op ed on the subject http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/opinion/28mon3.html

Posted by: Bill | October 2, 2009 7:58 AM

Mr. Holder-Winfield, you mention racial disparities in the system, so you are making it a racial issue. I dispute your conclusion and posted statistics to prove it. I challenge you to use Connecticut statistics to show that Connecticut's death penalty system is somehow broken. The death penalty is rarely used is Connecticut and is NOT a pressing issue. Since you have a large black constituency, I would suggest that black on black crime might be in need of some of you multi-tasking attention.

Posted by: Edward_H | October 2, 2009 9:24 AM

He told a crowd of 20 students at Yale’s Afro-American Cultural Center Tuesday how he came very close this year to passing a bill that would have ended the execution of convicted criminals.

I have not heard the term "Afro-American" in a very long time. Does Alderman Shah know about this? Can someone inform him that Yale is using this outdated term. Getting Yeal to change the name of this center sounds like something right up his alley.

Posted by: streever | October 2, 2009 12:01 PM

Bill,
Gary's an easy target because he's an accessible legislator, as you clearly know, by the way you're abusing his accessibility. This is why more public figures don't talk to the press or comment here.

Posted by: Gary Holder-Winfield | October 3, 2009 4:57 AM

Bill:
We are dealing with CT's current death penalty scheme here which is to say that since the Supreme Court decision of '76 has resurrected the death penalty in the US what has happened. In CT there has been one execution. If you look at those who are on death row in the state there is an overwhelming presence of minorities. I am not going to go into why it works out that way in this forum but would be happy to refer to John Donohue's (Yale professor) study outlining the issue or sit and speak with you in person. Yes, I believe in being accessible.

As for my multitasking abilities - you are correct I could be working on other things. I am. Just because you aren't seeing the press on those doesn't mean I am not. And, I am working on the issues that underly black on black crime and more importantly crime in general.

By the way, I used to live downtown which is in the district. I chose to move into Newhallville closer to the issues I talk about so that simply talking about them was less of an option for me. So, thank you for your interst and rest assured that the concerns you mention here are being addressed

Posted by: Leonidas | October 3, 2009 5:41 PM

Keep up the fight Rep Holder-Winfield! There are many people behind you from all parts of the state -- Black, white, young, old, wealthy, poor.