What You Can Do To Help WM3 Get Justice

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The Refugees Unleashed Forum Index -> West Memphis Three case

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Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 3:58 pm
What You Can Do To Help WM3 Get Justice SIGN THE PETITION TO THE ARKANSAS GOVERNOR! http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/319147984/sign		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:18 pm
From the Main Website... 10 Easy Ways To Help 1) Donate Money To The Defense Fund This is easily the most important way to help; unfortunately it is also the most difficult for some. The important thing to remember is no amount is too small! With the savvy technical advances of PayPal, you can send any amount via your credit card, debit card, or even your checking account. Think about the two bucks a day you spend on coffee; make a pledge to give up one fast-food meal a week. Every time you donate, you are directly helping to gather the information and evidence that will eventually free Damien, Jason and Jessie. 2) Write To The West Memphis Three Take some time out to write each of the WM3 -- the direct impact you will make is immeasurable. Most of us have never been in jail, let alone a maximum security prison so you can only imagine how Damien, Jason and Jessie look forward to every contact they have with the outside world. Tell them where you're from. Print pics of the view from your apartment onto standard sheets of paper. Be creative. Your letters needn’t be too heavy or case-related, they also enjoy hearing about your life and circumstances. If you don’t get a timely response, be advised they get LOTS of mail! 3) Educate Yourself In Order To Educate Others This case is immense, and the main ammunition of true supporters is knowledge. Familiarize yourself with the case by reading Blood of Innocents and Devil's Knot; take advantage of the huge document/evidence archive available here. Watch Paradise Lost and Paradise Lost: Revelations, read courtroom transcripts. Stay focused and help turn the tide from rumor and fear to facts and knowledge, and eventually, freedom. 4) Say It With A Shirt Get yourself a WM3 tee shirt and wear it, especially to public events! When people ask you what it means, you can inform them about the injustice of this case. There are also WM3 dog tags and POW bracelets to remember them every day until they are free. If you're looking for something different -- larger sizes, shirts for kids, hats, and more -- visit Alex's CafePress WM3 Store, where proceeds benefit the commissary funds. Fill your pockets with business cards in case someone wants to know where they can learn more about The West Memphis Three. 5) Find Other Supporters You'd be surprised how many of us there are, not just in the U.S.A. but internationally! If you're new to the case, it's important that you find others to talk to and learn from. See the Contact page for links to discussion groups, bulletin boards and chat rooms dedicated to the WM3. Find us. We're waiting. 6) Add To The Great Postcard Project Find a postcard, preferably with a picture of your hometown on it. Write "Free the West Memphis Three" on the back and sign it with your name and address, just as you would a petition. Send your postcard to: Free the WM3 Support Fund, 1626 N Wilcox PMB #423, Los Angeles CA 90028. When your card is collected, it will be added to our already enormous postcard banner. Its last unveiling at the Arkansas State Supreme Court in Little Rock was as long as the building itself! 7) Make Business Cards Business cards are mini-protest signs. Most word processing programs have templates built into the software. Pre-scored cardstock and a good font go a long way. Once you fill your pockets, leave them anywhere people might be interested! How about throwing stacks on the tables at your favorite bar or coffee house? Visit the library— leave a few bookmarks in selected books of your favorite genre. Here are some cards you can save and use, or just get an idea of what is out there: Kevin's cards, Scary's card designs and this one created by David A.. Make Flyers Like a business card, only easier to read! Find flyers to download here, or make your own. Become familiar with your city’s laws on distributing and posting flyers. Play by the rules and be respectful of others’ property! 9) Link From Your Website If you've got a website or a discussion board, put up a direct link between your website and wm3.org. Here are some great banners, including independent supporter banners that are free to use. 10) Create An Email Signature Line Adding a sig line at the bottom of your email with a link to WM3.org generates interest with minimal effort. "Free the West Memphis Three!" and/or "Know the Truth: www.wm3.org" are great examples to perhaps entice your friends and associates to familiarize themselves with the truth about this case.		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:19 pm
Some Government Officials/Contacts-- 1. US Senator Blanche L. Lincoln Arkansas Address(s): 912 West Fourth Street, Little Rock, AR 72201 Federal Building, Suite 315, Jonesboro, AR 72401 Drew County Courthouse, 210 South Main St., Monticello, AR 72401 Miller County Courthouse, 400 Laurel St., , AR 71854 Arkansas Phone Numbers: 501-375-2993 \| 870-910-9696 Washington DC Address: 355 Dirksen, Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 Washington DC Phone: 202-224-4843 Email: info@lincoln.senate.gov 2. US Senator Mark Pryor Arkansas Address(s): 500 Clinton Ave., Suite 401, Little Rock, AR 72201 Arkansas Phone Numbers: 501-324-6336 Washington DC Address: 255 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510 Washington DC Phone: 202-224-2353 Email: http://pryor.senate.gov/email_webform.htm 3. Governor's Office (Mike Beebe) Email: http://governor.arkansas.gov/contact/index.php (goes through website email) General Information 501-682-2345 Chief of Staff 501-682-3607 Boards and Commissions 501-682-3570 Communications 501-682-3642 Constituent Services 501-682-2613 Corrections 501-682-8184 Legal 501-682-3613 Agency and Legislative Affairs 501-682-3687 Scheduling 501-683-6461 Fax 501-682-1382 TDD (hearing impaired) Only 501-682-7515 Executive Management Team Chief of Staff 501-682-3607 Deputy Chief of Staff 501-683-6406 Director of Communications 501-682-3642 Chief Legal Counsel 501-682-3613 Executive Office Staff Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff 501-682-3607 Executive Assistant to the Governor 501-683-6400 Receptionist 501-682-2345 Administrative Staff Office Manager 501-683-6445 Governor's Mansion & First Lady 501-324-9805 Governor's Mansion Administrator 501-324-9805 Assistant to the First Lady 501-324-9805 Administrative Assistant 501-324-9805 Legal Staff Chief Legal Counsel 501-682-3613 Scheduling Staff Director of Scheduling 501-683-6461 Communications Staff Director of Communications 501-682-3642 Press Secretary 501-682-3642 Proclamations 501-683-6416 Staff Photographer 501-683-6415 Boards and Commissions Staff Director of Boards and Commissions 501-682-3570 Corrections Staff Counsel for Clemency and Corrections 501-682-8184 4. Arkansas House of Representatives Room 350 State Capitol Little Rock, AR 72201 In Session Phone: 501-682-6211 Out of Session Phone: 501-682-7771 5. Office of the Lt. Governor (Bill Halter) State Capitol, Suite 270 Little Rock, AR 72201-1061 Phone: 501-682-2144 Fax: 501-682-2894 6. Charlie Daniels (Secretary of State) Main Offices State Capitol, RM 256 Little Rock, AR 72201 501-682-1010 7. Crimes Against Children Division Administrator Pam Davidson One State Police Plaza Drive Little Rock, AR 72209 501-618-8900 8. Arkansas Supreme Court (and court of appeals) Email (through website): http://courts.state.ar.us/contact.cfm 9. Senators and Representative for West Memphis, Arkansas Senator Blanche Lambert Lincoln (D- AR) 202-224-4843 202-228-1371 http://lincoln.senate.gov/webform.html Senator Mark Pryor (D- AR) 202-224-2353 202-228-0908 http://pryor.senate.gov/contact/ Representative Marion Berry (D - 01) 202-225-4076 202-225-5602 http://www.house.gov/berry/zipauth.shtml 10. West Memphis, Arkansas Police Chief/ Bob Paudert: chief@westmemphispolice.com (870) 732-7652 West Memphis Asst. Police Chief/ Mike Allen: allenm@westmemphispolice.com (870) 732-7652 11. Sgt. Andrew Clarksenior Internal Affairs Division (870) 732-7518 ClarkseniorA@westmemphispolice.com 12. West Memphis Police Department 626 East Broadway West Memphis, AR 72301 (870) 732-7555 13. Criminal Investigations/WMPD Captain Donald Oakes Division Commander (870) 732-7546 OakesD@westmemphispolice.com 14. Dee Mathews Evidence Officer (870) 732-7684 Evidence@westmemphispolice.com		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:19 pm
West Memphis Three Active Petitions 1. To: Arkansas Judicial Courts We the undersigned agree that a great injustice has been done to three young men, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley by the courts of Arkansas and ask that they each receive new trials in efforts to overturn their convictions which are based on absolutely NO evidence against them. The saying is "innocent until proven guilty", but these young boys were found guilty before being given a fair chance to prove their innocence. LET THE PEOPLES VOICE BE HEARD! FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE! Sincerely, The Undersigned http://www.petitiononline.com/WM32002/petition.html 2. (For Arkansas Citizens) To: Arkansas Governor, legislators, & Arkansas Judiciary We, the undersigned, all are Arkansas citizens. We believe that the trials of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, Jr., were unfair and constitute an on-going disgrace to our state. We herewith speak out publicly, calling upon our governor, legislators, and members of the Arkansas judiciary to either give these men fair trials or Free the West Memphis Three. In signing publicly, we acknowledge that our names will be published and displayed in a written publication. Sincerely, The Undersigned http://www.petitiononline.com/ARforWM3/petition.html 3. To: Arkansas Government Officials Petition to vacate the convictions of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. (the West Memphis Three) based on new evidence presented in federal and state appeals filed on the behalf of these men. In light of strong new evidence that Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. were wrongfully convicted of murdering three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993, we, the undersigned, call on the Arkansas Attorney General to join efforts to vacate these convictions. Some of us believe Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley are, in fact, innocent and that a tragic miscarriage of justice must be reversed immediately. We believe all three should be released and fully exonerated. Some of us are not sure whether the three are guilty are innocent, but we believe the overwhelming new evidence casts substantial doubt on their convictions. We believe they should get new trials at the very least. When the Attorney General responds to this new evidence, he speaks on behalf of the state, on behalf of the public. We do not believe anyone's interests are served by fighting to uphold these convictions. These convictions and efforts to defend them, in light of the overwhelming new evidence in the case, erode public confidence in Arkansas' criminal justice system. In the interest of justice, public safety and trust in the system, we respectfully ask the Arkansas Attorney General to consider the new evidence in this case carefully and thoroughly; to refrain from opposing efforts to overturn these convictions based on the evidence; and, instead, to join efforts urging the court to vacate the convictions immediately. Sincerely, The Undersigned http://www.petitiononline.com/wm3ata/petition.html 4. (Expired... maybe I should start a new one for the new governor ) Petition Target: Mike Huckabee, Govenor, Arkansas This petition was started to support a continued investigation of the case of The West Memphis Three and support them in their fight to get a new and fair trial. The three, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley, Jr. were tried for a triple murder in 1993 in West memphis, Arkansas. The evidence suggests that there is a clear possibility that these three are innocent of these terrible crimes. It is our responisbility to either prove BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT that these three are guilty, or release them. Sign now and support due process of the law, and the respect for the civil liberties of these three men. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/319147984		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:21 pm
City of West Memphis (Contacts and Info) Mayor William H. Johnson--- Dorothy Wallace Administrative Assistant to Mayor Phone: 870-732-7500 Fax: 870-732-7504 ........................................ Phillip Para City Clerk Mr. Para has been the City Clerk for over 7 years. He is completing his second term. He is a native West Memphian and a lifelong resident. He graduated from WMHS and Arkansas State University. He is employed by Mid South Community College. *Cindy Greenwood Senior Deputy City Clerk Phone: 870-732-7510 E-Mail: cgreenwood@citywm.com .........................................................		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:21 pm
WM3 Defense Fund Damien Echols Defense Fund PO Box 1216 Little Rock, AR 72203 PayPal: LDavis11@hotmail.com --Damien's wife's email address (kindly include your name and address in the notes box)		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 4:58 pm
One of The Tee Shirts Available... http://www.cafepress.com/teesed.29528807?CMP=CJ-CLICK-10463747		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 5:04 pm
ARWAR http://www.arwar.org/ ARWAR is a growing Arkansas based reform project focused on exploring human rights and civil liberty issues, and vocalizing concern when instances of injustice arise. Attacks against our civil liberties occur regularly and in a variety of areas. Failures in our criminal justice system, unjust legislation, corruption in leadership, and unequal treatment of entire segments of the population are all areas that call for citizen involvement. There is a dire need for momentous change in our state. This change is dependent on the efforts of each citizen. Be aware of injustice and react accordingly. Regardless of your age, race, gender, education level, or socioeconomic status, you too can work to create a better society with more choices and less fear. --- Our goal is to use this site as a vehicle in creating a citizen alliance. By connecting various individuals with common ideals, and examining possible efforts and actions, we hope to perpetuate progress in reforming our state. ARWAR,org serves a network for those who wish to protest injustice and unfairness on a grassroots level. Although Arkansas based, contributions to our efforts are not limited to Arkansas residents and participation is nationwide. We hope to educate people with the facts on important issues and open minds that have been closed far too long.		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 5:06 pm
Arkansas Take Action March 14, 2008 Friends of Arkansas Take Action Points That Prove The West Memphis Three are Innocent Dear Friends and Supporters: DNA evidence completely exonerates all three men. There was no DNA testing done during the trial 15 years ago. As this technology has become more available and accurate, several pieces of evidence from the crime scene have been tested. All tests failed to link Damien, Jessie or Jason to the crime scene in any way. DNA testing did, however, place other individuals at the crime scene. This new evidence proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Damien, Jessie and Jason are not guilty. The lack of their DNA alone proves the WM3 are innocent. Jessie Misskelley’s “confession” is a textbook example of a coerced, false confession. Even though he recanted his “confession” within hours, it was a major factor in all three convictions. Jessie is mentally challenged with a low IQ of only 72. Knowing he was mentally challenged, the West Memphis police still interrogated Jessie for 12 hours without his parents or an attorney present. Only 46 minutes–a mere 6%–of this entire hostile interrogation was recorded or videotaped. It is a proven fact that Jessie did not know key details of the crime, including the time of the murders and the materials with which the boys were bound. He simply wanted the $30,000 reward. Since he did not know real details, in his attempt to falsely accuse Damien and Jessie so he could get the money, Jessie ended up saying he was present during the murders to make his made-up story believable. Damien and Jason were not even high school friends with Jessie. They barely knew each other. Satanic ritual, the only purported motive in this case, is utterly baseless. Scientific evidence proves that knives were not involved in this crime, effectively debunking a large part of the prosecution's theory about how and why the crimes were committed. Some of the nation’s leading forensic experts, including a former chief of the Investigative Support Unit of the FBI for twenty-five years, agree that the wounds on the victims were caused by animal bites – not by knives, as the prosecution claimed. This discredits the prosecution's theory that the motives were part of a satanic ritual, and exposes it as a baseless, fictitious claim. Further highlighting the mishandling of the evidence in this case, the knives presented as evidence were never owned by Jason, Damien or Jessie and were never linked to them as part of any witness’s sworn testimony. Literally every piece of evidence or testimony that was used to convict the three has now been flatly refuted, either by science or through statements from actual witnesses. Substantial, irrefutable evidence shows that they had nothing at all to do with the tragic deaths of the boys. This is a lengthy and complicated case. Please review these Frequently Asked Questions to help clarify the facts and falsehoods surrounding the wrongful convictions of the Damien, Jason and Jessie. What were the WM3 convicted of doing? Three eight-year-old boys were found murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993. Shortly thereafter, local newspapers stated the killers had been caught. The police assured the public that the three teenagers in custody were responsible for these horrible crimes. Yet there was and is not a single piece of evidence linking any of these teenagers (now men) to the crimes. Why are WM3 supporters confident these men are innocent? Damien, Jason and Jessie all have strong alibis. There is not a single piece of evidence indicating they were involved --- not one. In fact, recently tested DNA evidence and physical evidence has shown that others were with the boys at the time of their murder. Although there was no physical evidence, murder weapon, motive, or connection to the victims, the prosecution resorted to presenting black hair and clothing, heavy metal t-shirts, and Stephen King novels as proof that the boys were sacrificed in a satanic cult ritual. For over 14 years, the West Memphis Three have been imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. Echols waits in solitary confinement for the lethal injection. They were all condemned by their poverty, incompetent defense, satanic panic and a rush to judgment. With all the other causes out there, why are all of you involved with the WM3? The right to a fair trial and being judged innocent until proven guilty are cornerstones of a free nation. When our legal system actively prosecutes innocent people, our system of government is badly damaged. We love our country and seek to protect the constitutional rights of all Americans. Some supporters have also stated that they relate to Jason and Damien’s curiosity-filled teen years and feel a “there by the grace of God” kinship. Why were Jason and Damien arrested in the first place? To respond to pressure from the community for a prompt arrest, a large reward was offered for information about the crime. Being young and poor, Damien and Jason were easy targets for a set-up. A mentally challenged young man (Jessie Misskelley) was sent to false witness against these two teens who were not friends, but mere school acquaintances. His interrogators enticed Jessie with the prospect of reward money and the promise that he would be sent home a free man just as soon as he told them what they wanted to hear. In short, Jessie just wanted the money. Why did Jessie get charged and convicted? After a 12-hour hostile interrogation (of which only 46 minutes were video taped or recorded), without legal or parental counsel, Jessie Misskelley ended up implicating himself in order to satisfy his interrogators and get the reward money for his family. Court records show that Jessie knew little about the crime. He was coached and coerced by police detectives to rectify the multiple inconsistencies in his confession, which proved Jessie simply did not know the facts of the crime. I heard Damien changed his name as part of his devil worshipping. Is this true? No, this is totally false. Damien Echols changed his name when he converted to Catholicism at age 13 as a way to honor Father Damien, who selflessly worked with a leper colony until his own death from leprosy. This is recorded in the Catholic church Damien attended in West Memphis. One of Damien’s most ardent supporters is a member of the Catholic clergy. It is correct, though, that Damien’s name worked against him due to a popular horror movie’s demonizing of this name. How could a jury of our peers convict three men of murder without any evidence? Due to prosecutorial misconduct, the jury was misled and misinformed. Jessie’s coerced confession was legally inadmissible. Despite this fact, the confession was highly publicized in the media and the jury was not sequestered so they saw and read all the inflammatory stories being published during the trial. The jury was assured that the prosecution had irrefutable evidence proving the boys’ guilt. For example, Prosecutor Fogelman gave illegal and false information to the jury in his closing stating that he was able to duplicate the marks on Byers’ body by cutting into a grapefruit with the knife in question. Fogelman was not under oath and this proven false statement concerning injuries to the victims was never even admitted into evidence. What about Damien’s seemingly bizarre behavior and statements during interviews and during the trial? Damien Echols was an immature 17-year-old boy from a tragically poor family. He was being treated for depression to help him get through an abusive home life. He also fully trusted in our legal system. He believed he had a right to a fair trial and, like anyone would, he believed that an innocent young man would never go to prison. Out of disbelief, frustration and fear, he made many comments that were totally inappropriate. These words and actions reflect a scared kid who became defensive and angry at how unfairly he was treated simply because he was poor and from the wrong side of the tracks. An easy target for a police force out of ethical control with huge community pressure for an arrest---any arrest, at any cost. It is sad beyond words what bigoted, ill-informed people did to three innocent young men. Damien, Jason and Jessie have spent their entire adult lives (15 long years) in prison enduring untold physical and mental abuse. Their only crime was being young, naive and members of very poor, uneducated families. It is tragic that the actual murderer(s) of the three little boys have not been punished. What started the satanic ritual theory in the first place? A completely false forensic conclusion of the crime created mass hysteria in this delta community. During his sworn testimony, the prosecution’s “forensic scientist” who came to a completely wrong conclusion of the murders admitted he had no formal medical training. The prosecution’s “forensic scientist” testified he received a mail order degree from now defunct Columbia Pacific University without spending a single classroom hour learning the science of forensic medicine. Yet, the jury was told repeatedly that this man was an expert by the prosecution. Further more, no DNA testing of any crime scene evidence was done before or during the trial. How was the satanic theory dispelled? Qualified forensic scientists, several of whom have authored textbooks used by the FBI, have proved there was no satanic ritual involved in this crime whatsoever. These expert scientists have proven the postmortem injuries (incorrectly identified during the trial as part of a ritual) were the result of animal bites. It was nature, not a satanic ritual that abused these dead boys. As often occurs when a victim is outside, animals scavenging for food will take advantage of the opportunity. These experts also established that no genetic material of the defendants was present on the victims’ bodies, as it would have been if the crimes occurred in the manner hypothesized at Echols’ trial. There was, however, genetic material on the penis of Steve Branch that did not come from any of the defendants or victims. Of equal importance, new forensic evidence has established that most of the wounds suffered by the victims, and particularly those to the genitalia of Byers, were not inflicted with a perpetrator’s knife, but resulted from post-mortem animal predation. That analysis and conclusion, reached by more than half a dozen leading forensic pathologists and odontologists who reviewed the autopsy tests, photos, and reports, were shared months ago with the state’s prosecutorial team. These new findings have gone without prosecutorial rebuttal. The presence of animal predation exposes the falsity of practically the entirety of the state’s case against Echols, putting the lie to: (a) Dale Griffis, a “witchcraft expert” with a fraudulent Ph.D., who claimed the wound pattern of the victims reflected satanic motivation; (b) Michael Carson, the jail-house informant who testified that Baldwin admitted drinking Byers’ blood and putting the victim’s testes in his mouth, a horrifying but wholly perjured assertion-relied upon by Griffis to support his theory of Satanists at work; and (c) the state’s claim that during a pre-arrest interview, Echols had displayed knowledge of Byers’ injuries available only to one who witnessed his castration. What do the victim’s family members think? Years before the DNA link between Hobbs and the crime scene was discovered, Pam Hobbs, the mother of Stevie Branch, came forth with evidence that she believed linked Terry, her former husband, to the murders. John Douglas, former chief of the Investigative Support Unit of the FBI for twenty-five years, has done an offender analysis of the murders, which applies to Hobbs. Mr. Douglas wrote that accepted profiling practices do not support the guilty verdict of the WM3. Was there prosecutorial misconduct? Yes. The new forensic evidence also exposes the misconduct of prosecutor John Fogelman in closing argument when he conducted an experiment, which he claimed proved that a knife recovered from a lake behind Baldwin’s residence was the instrument that maimed Byers. No evidence in the record permitted the conclusion that the lake knife was used in the crime, yet Fogelman informed the jury in closing that he was able to duplicate the marks on Byers’ body by cutting into a grapefruit with the knife in question. The prosecutor’s un-sworn testimony in this regard violated petitioner’s Sixth Amendment right to confrontation. Berger v. United States, 295 U.S. 78, 88 (1935) (holding that prosecutors have a “special obligation to avoid ‘improper suggestions, insinuations, and especially assertions of personal knowledge’”). Was there police misconduct? You judge for yourself. West Memphis police officers coerced an error-filled "confession" from Jessie Misskelley Jr., who is mentally handicapped. They subjected him to 12 hours of questioning without counsel or parental consent, audio taping only two fragments totaling 46 minutes of the entire 12-hour interrogation. Jessie recanted it that evening, but it was too late— Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols were all arrested on June 3, 1993, and convicted of murder in early 1994. Jessie Misskelley refused to testify against Jason and Damien even when offered a deal for significant reduction in jail time. How can you get involved in the release of three innocent men from prison? 1. Donate to the defense fund. The DNA testing and legal procedures that will eventually set these three innocent men free are themselves not free. Any amount, big or small, that you can spare will go a long way. Please make checks payable to: Damien Echols Defense Fund PO Box 1216 Little Rock, AR 72203 You can also donate online, through PayPal. It's easy, free and allows you to use your credit or debit card. We also suggest that International Supporters use this option. Please use LDavis11@hotmail.com as the recipient address and kindly include your name and address in the notes box. The button you can click to include your address does not always work. 2. Write to Damien, Jason and Jesse. Each letter they receive provides a little more hope and encouragement, knowing they are being supported by total strangers from literally all over the world. 3. Spread the word! Tell your friends, family, neighbors…anyone who will listen! The more people that know about this case, the more pressure will be put on the powers that be to right this wrong. 4. For comprehensive case information and more ways to get involved, please visit www.wm3.org. Thank you so much! Arkansas Take Action http://www.freewestmemphis3.org/		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 5:16 pm
Who WM3 Supporters Urge Us To Write: 1. The Governor: http://governor.arkansas.gov/contact/index.php 2. The Arkansas Supreme Court: http://courts.state.ar.us/supremecourt/index.cfm 3. The Attorney General of Arkansas: http://www.ag.arkansas.gov/contact_us_form.html 4. Circuit Court of Craighead County (and Judge Burnett): http://www.craigheadcounty.org/contact_us/index.html		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 6:33 pm
'Dear Governor Huckabee' http://www.arktimes.com/articles/articleviewer.aspx?ArticleID=293207b5-01a4-4d6c-af5a-132ea86492ba Letters from around the world support convicted killers. In mid-April, I helped cook up a scheme with a convicted killer. My co-conspirator was Jason Baldwin, one of the three young men who became known as the “West Memphis Three” after their convictions in 1994 for murdering three 8-year-old boys in that city. In 2002 I wrote a book, “Devil’s Knot,” about the case. It ended, as had the trials, with Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr., at ages 16 and 17, being sentenced to life in prison, and Damien Echols, 18, being sentenced to death. Twelve years later, appeals for all three continue. I wrote my book as a journalist. But researching it convinced me that the trials were unfair. Many others share that view and have worked for years to see justice in this case. It represents a mounting disgrace to this state. In the 12 years since the trials, thousands of letters have been sent to Arkansas public officials, only to disappear into the black hole of bureaucracy. So here was the conspiracy: I rented a post office box, and Jason Baldwin wrote a letter, which I forwarded to the Worldwide Web. In his letter, Baldwin appealed to supporters to write letters to Gov. Mike Huckabee explaining their concerns. This time, though, Baldwin asked that the letters be sent to Huckabee in care of the post office box I’d rented. In just over two months, more than 450 people, from as near as Little Rock and far away as Paddington, Australia, took the time to write to Arkansas’s governor. And, per Baldwin’s request, many of them noted on the outside of their envelopes some of the key points they raised within, to publicize what disturbs them about this case. Thirty-two letters came from outside the United States. Here’s a sampling. From Holland: “These young men have been sentenced because of their individuality, because of standing out and being themselves. They deserve a fair trial.” From Norway: “Innocent ’til proven guilty. Not the other way around.” From Ireland: “These men were convicted on hearsay that snowballed out of control and this tragedy rolls on and on.” And from Poland: “I used the case ... with my 18-year-old students as an example of how justice can be violated in a democratic country. Inside this envelope there are letters written by them, asking Mr. Governor to have the case re-examined...” More than 350 letters came from states in the U.S. outside of Arkansas. Some writers demanded, “No more witch hunts!” Others simply asked Arkansas officials, “Got evidence?” A few alluded to Huckabee’s presidential aspirations. From New York: “Is a ‘confession’ from a disabled and challenged youth enough ‘evidence’ in your state to ruin lives?” From Kentucky: “The lives of three young boys were taken in a heinous crime. Hopefully, three more lives will not be needlessly wasted.” From Ohio: “I discuss the difficulty many of us have in high school finding our identity, and I am concerned that if a crime had taken place in my area during my difficult transition, would I have been blamed also?” From Pennsylvania: “If the citizens of Arkansas, or anywhere in this nation, can be sentenced to death solely on the basis of the clothes they wear, the music they listen to, the books they read, the poems they write, and the religion they practice, surely our personal freedom and the underlying principles of our legal system have been severely compromised.” From Oregon: “guilt should be proven, not innocence.” From Illinois: “The use of so-called Satan worship as evidence of crime, supported by an expert witness who had never taken a course in his subject, makes this trial seem like a replay of Salem.” From Arizona: “There are too many inconsistencies in this case, and now that America is over its Satanic Fever Panic, it’s time to help these three men, one waiting to die.” From Colorado: “...no physical evidence, murder weapon, or motive, coupled with the an error-filled confession...” From Virginia: “Show me one piece of evidence that proves these boys are guilty and I’ll never write another letter for their support!” From Utah: “I have admired your willingness to make your struggle with diabetes public. I hope you will show the same openness and ability to admit mistakes in the case of the West Memphis Three.” From Michigan: “Demonstrate that you are a man willing to stand up to injustice, a man unafraid to follow the righteous path this nation has set forth.” From Wisconsin: “This would have never happened in Wisconsin.” And this: “Here in California, we live with our own same [problems] concerning the convictions in the McMartin case and in Kern County, the lives blighted due to a misguided societal hysteria about the sexual and Satanic abuse of children. We have only just begun to try to make amends much too little, much too late. It is with knowledge of the gravity of our mistake that I ask you to take the wider course.” Huckabee has rebuffed calls for him to get involved in efforts to support new trials. He has said he has seen little interest in this case from inside Arkansas. But 52 of the letters–more than 10 percent–were written by Arkansans. From Pine Bluff: “My name is Gunner Lowry. I am 12. The three kids were killed before I was born but I still know about them. I know that the police caught the wrong people. That isn’t right. What can you do about it? Please help before Damien gets the death penalty.” From Mountain View: “Certainly the families of the murdered children deserve to know the truth...” From Fayetteville: “The governor needs to face reality and show the world we are reasonable and fair people.” From Clinton: “Because we are human, we make mistakes. Correct a mistake made years ago; give the boys a trial free of constitutional error.” And from Little Rock: – “If this is how a murder investigation is conducted in Arkansas, then I’m afraid to think of how many other innocent men and women are behind bars.” –“The Constitution gives me the freedom of Speech and Religion. I can wear black, listen to heavy metal music and worship anything I want to! God, Satan, a goat or even a stop sign! It doesn’t matter and it doesn’t make a person a murderer.” –“Stop Satanic Panic in Arkansas. It’s wrong.” –“Please educate yourself on this case, Governor, before these innocent young men spend another day in prison or lose thier lives. Please call a halt to the corruption and shameful practices that put them there, by launching your own investigation, or granting clemency.” And finally, this succinct statement, also from Little Rock: “There was no physical evidence linking any of the accused boys to the crime–absolutely none–and no plausible motive. More importantly, the state’s principal ‘evidence’–the ‘confession’ of a mentally challenged boy who was interrogated for six hours without having a lawyer or parent present–was riddled with errors.” These letters will be delivered to Gov. Huckabee’s office on July 14. Arkansans who want add letters of their own may send them, no later than next Tuesday, to: Write to Freedom Attn: Gov. Mike Huckabee P.O. Box 7406 Little Rock, AR 72217.		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 6:52 pm
Monday, May 19, 2008 (Damien Blog) WM3 Living Petition 2008 WM3 Living Petition 2008 Part 1 http://youtube.com/watch?v=yG45Rx6gCjY WM3 Living Petition 2008 Part 2 http://youtube.com/watch?v=6iUNrymv5dU		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 6:54 pm
May 20, 2008 3:12 PM Subject: Help me get the WM3 noticed - repost Body: more by getting as many people to join this cause. this way more people that don't know about the cause can/will. Damien Echols Defense Fund now on MySpace "causes" Please join via this link: http://www. causes. com/myspace/cause_memberships/recruit?cause_id=87903&recruiter_id=15120360&t=pasted http://bulletins.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=bulletin.read&authorID=41045221&messageID=5828423009&MyToken=527ec648-1337-4d5b-b9b2-de508c9ea508		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Fri May 23, 2008 6:55 pm
20 May 2008 09:32 *update* 50 State Challenge for the West Memphis Three Hello Folks, I get emails constantly from folks asking to help, not knowing what to do and such. Here's a challenge I have for us. I want to get an event in every state by end of October. Will you help me? Damien, Jessie and Jason will go to their hearings Sept. 8 - Oct. 3rd and right now more than ever we need events to raise funds/awareness. I'm asking that you call out to your friends. Many of us know folks that live in different states. Many of us know someone that can and would help us. If you want to do something outside the 50 states, please do join in. We want to show Arkansas we are watching them. We aren't going to allow this travesty of justice to continue any longer. Put together an event for the WM3 in your area. Calling all performers, artists who can help make this happen in your area. I will connect as many folks together in every state possible. What does an event have to be? Anything. You can have a bake sale at your school, kissing booth, live music event, movie night at a local theatre or someones home, church, community center. Have music and roller derby girls, burlesque dancers, mix things up. Special speakers can come from organizations in your area. This case has everything to do with civil rights, human rights and the death penalty so you can definitely call on these organizations to help out and provide speakers for your event. Do you know someone or of someone in your area that has been exonerated? Have them come speak at your event. Always be certain to be clear with EVERYONE that you are raising funds/awareness for the WM3, that no payment is being exchanged. Unless you have something to offer them. Sometimes that exchange can just be the fact they get to be on stage to tell their story to others. Think of other ways of exchange you may be able to provide, if this bothers you so much. It doesn't have to be about an exchange of money. You can email me at velaent@gmail.com and if anyone is in your area I will connect you as soon as I get emails coming in. I will acknowledge all emails unless they are hateful and aren't related. Thanks for all your help. The GREEN states have folks working something or want to work on an event, if you want to volunteer or help email velaent@gmail.com. Are you a promoter and you want to do something, a venue owner? Please email and let us know. I can connect you with other folks in your area. Again, Thanks. Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas (Jonesboro) - needs someone to help co-organize California Colorado Connecticut (Stamford) , (Mystic) - need volunteers for both Delaware Florida - (Orlando) - volunteers needed Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois - (Chicago) - volunteers needed Indiana - (Indianapolis) - volunteers needed Iowa - (Iowa City) Kansas Kentucky Louisiana - (New Orleans) Maine Maryland Massachusetts - event taking place with Mongrel & Scarecrow Hill, both big supporters of the WM3, see profile pic for flyer artwork Michigan (Bay City) - looking for volunteers to help, already has venue and event organizer in place Minnesota Mississippi Missouri - (St. Louis) - volunteers needed Montana Nebraska Nevada - (Las Vegas) New Hampshire New Jersey - looking for volunteers/venue, already has event organizers and other volunteers as well as some talent in place New Mexico (Albuquerque) - volunteers needed New York North Carolina - (Asheville) - volunteers needed North Dakota Ohio - (Cleveland) - volunteers needed Oklahoma Oregon - (Portland) - volunteers needed Pennsylvania - (Philadelphia) - looking for volunteers Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee (Dyersburg) - looking for volunteers Texas - (San Antonio) , (Dallas), (Paris) - looking for volunteers Utah Vermont Virginia - (Clintwood) - volunteers needed Washington - (Seattle) - event coordinator needed, have a band and some volunteers but need more. West Virginia Wisconsin - (Milwaukee) - volunteers needed Wyoming ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Damien Echols Defense Fund now on MySpace "CAUSES" http://www.causes.com/myspace/causes/87903?recruiter_id=15120360		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 10:33 am
Saturday, May 24, 2008 Help us stay in the top, recruit more folks... http://www. causes. com/myspace/cause_memberships/re... Come join my cause: Damien Echols Defense Fund! You'll get a profile badge to show your support! Please help me support Damien Echols Defense Fund! Ranked 1st among all Public Advocacy causes in new members yesterday Ranked 1st among all Public Advocacy causes in new members in the past week Ranked 1st among small causes in new members in the past month 9:05 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=41045221&blogID=398468996&Mytoken=6F6B466E-74EB-4C37-826109065996204030207955		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 11:34 am
This page is for any ways you can support the WM3 spiritually, financially, etc. Also, if there's anything we can do for those three little boys who were killed and would be 22-23 now, it's welcome here... as well as anything to help the parents of the three in prison or the deceased.		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Mon May 26, 2008 7:53 pm
Innocence Protection Act Passed! http://westmemphisthreediscussion.yuku.com/topic/2616 For Immediate Release: Further Information: November 5, 2003 Steve Schwadron (202) 225-3111FULL HOUSE OF REPS APPROVES DELAHUNT INNOCENCE PROTECTION ACTBipartisan Consensus Culminates Five Years of Work Against Wrongful Convictions WASHINGTON, DC The US House of Representatives today passed landmark legislation co-authored by Congressman Bill Delahunt to address the causes of wrongful convictions in capital cases. The 357- 67 vote culminates years of work by Delahunt, a former prosecutor who is profoundly disturbed by the scores of innocent people who find themselves on death row.The bill passed today includes the entire text of the Innocence Protection Act, a measure Rep. Delahunt first introduced several years ago with Rep. Ray LaHood, an Illinois Republican. The bill will help ensure eligible federal and state inmates access to DNA testing to establish their innocence, and will authorize grants to states to improve the quality of legal representation in capital cases for both indigent defendants and the public.For Delahunt, who previously served for two decades as Norfolk County District Attorney, the bill has been a key legislative priority. Excerpts follow from his remarks during House debate today:The criminal justice system is about the search for the truth. Like all human enterprises, it is fallible. Judges, jurors, police, eyewitnesses, defense attorneys and prosecutors are all human beings, and all make mistakes. As a prosecutor for over 20 years, I certainly made my share of them. But we have the means at our disposal to minimize the possibility of errorand, especially where lives are at stake, we must use them. Debbie Smith, a courageous advocate who has done so much to help her fellow survivors of sexual assault, and for whom title I of our bill is named, has said, It gives no comfort to the victims and their families to know that the wrong person is behind bars and the real perpetrator is free to walk the streets. Surely no person in America understands this better than Kirk Bloodsworth, for whom we have named another portion of the bill. Mr. Bloodsworth was the first death row inmate to be exonerated by DNA testing. Not only did DNA establish that he did not commit the terrible crime of which he was convicted, but only a few weeks ago it brought about the identification of the true perpetrator. Debbie Smith and Kirk Bloodsworth are both among the innocent whom we seek to protect. By eliminating the backlog of unanalyzed DNA samples in the nations crime labs, the bill will help ensure that DNA technology is fully deployed to solve past crimes and prevent future ones. And by ensuring that eligible Federal and State inmates have access to post-conviction testing that can establish their innocence, the bill will help correct wrongful convictions when they occur.No one knows whether innocent people have been executed since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976. We do know that there have been some very close calls. Since 1976, 111 people in 25 States have been released after spending years on death row for crimes they did not commit. Some of them came within days or hours of being put to death. Its cases like these that have caused conservative judges like Justice OConnor to express concern that the system, and I quote, may well be allowing some innocent defendants to be executed. Its cases like these that convinced former Governor George Ryana longtime supporter of the death penaltyto suspend executions in Illinois. Many of these miscarriages of justice can be corrected by giving eligible inmates access to DNA testing. DNA was responsible for exonerating 12 of the people freed from death row, and another 126 who were wrongfully convicted of serious crimes. In at least 34 of these cases, the same test that exonerated an innocent person led to the apprehension of the real perpetrator. Yet access to testing is often opposed by prosecutors and must be litigated, sometimes for years. Evidence that might have established innocence has been misplaced or destroyed. If we are to advance justice, we must ensure that biological material is preserved and DNA testing is made available in every appropriate case. The bill takes a significant step toward achieving this goal, by ensuring eligible Federal inmates access to DNA testing to establish their innocence, and establishing the Kirk Bloodsworth Post-Conviction DNA Testing Program, which will help States defray the costs of post-conviction DNA testing. But DNA is not a magic bullet that will eliminate the problem of wrongful convictions. Biological evidence is available in fewer than 20 percent of violent crimes. And even where such evidence exists, post-conviction testing only tells us that the system failedit doesnt prevent the failures from taking place. The best way to do that is to make sure that every indigent defendant who is facing the death penalty has access to a competent lawyer. I was a prosecutor for over 20 years. And I know that the adversarial process can find the truth only when both the prosecution and the defense are up to the job. Our system of justice depends on it.We cannot tolerate a system that leaves capital defendants at the mercy of lawyers who are poorly trained and poorly compensated, who fail to conduct a proper investigation and examine the evidence, or worsewho drink or sleep their way through the trial. We cannot tolerate a system that relies on reporters and journalism students to develop new evidence that was never presented in court. We cannot tolerate a system in which chance plays such a profound role in determining whether a defendant lives or dies. The bill addresses this problem by authorizing grants to the States to improve the quality of legal representation for both indigent defendants and the public in capital cases. Lawyers assigned by the court to these unpopular and unprofitable cases are often inexperienced, overworked or incompetent. It is little wonder that over half of all death sentences are overturned on appeal or after post-conviction review because of errors at trial. We are hopeful that by helping the States to create effective systems for the appointment and performance of qualified counsel, together with better training and monitoring for both the defense and the prosecution, the bill will lead to significant improvements in the 38 death penalty jurisdictions across the country. Ultimately, however, the bill is not about the death penalty. Its not about DNA backlogs. Its about restoring public confidence in the integrity of the American justice system as a whole. That is a goal on which we stand united, and I look forward to working closely with my colleagues to see that this important initiative is signed into law.The bill also contains two other major provisions. First, it authorizes funding for the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program to eliminate the current backlog of unanalyzed DNA samples in the nations crime labs. Second, it authorizes grant programs to expand and improve the capacity of federal, state and local crime labs to conduct DNA analyses, reduce other forensic science backlogs, train criminal and medical personnel in the use of DNA evidence, and promote the use of DNA technology to identify missing persons.The legislation now goes to the US Senate, where Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) lead a bipartisan consensus on its behalf.-30-		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 2:29 pm
Direct Inquiries To: 1. (Jessie Misskelley) Michael N. Burt is a certified criminal specialist in private practice in San Francisco, California and an attorney with the Mexican Capital Case Legal Assistance Program. Prior to entering private practice in January 2003, he was head trial attorney with the San Francisco Public Defender's Office where he practiced for over 24 years. He has specialized in the defense of capital cases for the past 18 years, with an emphasis on forensic science issues. In 1998, he litigated a multi-defendant DNA challenge which resulted in the first successful challenge to STR DNA testing in the country. Although his main focus has been at the trial level, he has also represented capital defendants in post-conviction proceedings and served as a Strickland expert in many state and federal courts. He is the editor-in-chief of the California Death Penalty Defense Manual and he lectures throughout the country on all aspects of capital case defense and forensic science issues. Michael N. Burt Law Office of Michael Burt 600 Townsend Street Suite 329-E San Francisco, California 94103 (415) 522-1508 (voice) (415) 522-1506 (fax) michael.burt@prodigy.net 2. (Jason Baldwin) John T. Philipsborn Law Firm in San Francisco, California Location Civic Center Building, 507 Polk Street, Suite 350 San Francisco, California 94102 (San Francisco Co.) View Map Contact Information Phone: 415-771-3801 Fax: 415-771-3218 Visit Our Website http://www.lawyers.com/johntphilipsborn Main Office) John T. Philipsborn practices in the following areas of law: Criminal Defense, Appellate, Human Rights. Firm Size: 1 John T. Philipsborn (Member) born 1949; admitted to bar, 1978, California; 1985, U.S. Supreme Court. Education: Bowdoin College (A.B., cum laude, departmental honors, 1971); Antioch College (M.Ed., 1975); University of California (J.D., 1978). Fulbright Scholar, Portugal, 1989; Fulbright Scholar, Pakistan, 2001. Recipient: Defenders Inc., 1983, San Diego, Excellence in Defense of the Poor; CACJ Award for Amicus Work, 2003, 2004; Spirit of CEB Award, CEB, State Bar of California/University of California, 2006. Judge Pro Tem, San Francisco Sup. Court, 2004—. Consultant: Legal/Judicial education projects in Cambodia; U.N. War Crimes Tribunal. Coordinator: Intl. Conf. on Adversarial Adjudication in Criminal Cases, Lisbon, 1990; Eval. of Nicaraguan Court System, 1987; Mexican Capital Legal Assistance Program 2005—. Associate Editor, The Forum (CACJ), 1987—; Advisory Board, The Champion, Journal of National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1993—; Editorial Consultant, CEB. Author: Chapters 14, 15, 48 "California Criminal Law Procedure & Practice," 1998-2008; 70 Misc. Journal Articles. Adjunct Professor, New College of Law , 1991—; Faculty, Death Penalty College, Santa Clara Law School, 1992—. Member, Board of Advisors, U.S. Prison History Museum, Alcatraz. Member, Bd. of Dir., CACJ, 1989-1994 and 2002—2005; Chair, amicus curiae Committee, CACJ, 1991-2008; Co-Chair, Governmental Misconduct Committee, 1989-1991; Board of Directors, California Indian Legal Services, 1990-1997; Joint Advisory Committee, Continuing Education of the Bar (University of California/State Bar, 1991-1994); Consultant, Criminal Law Subcommittee, CEB, 1994—; Criminal Law Advisory Committee, California Board of Legal Specialization, 1994-1996; Co-Chair, NACDL Governmental and Prosecutorial Misconduct Committee, 1990-1992; Task Force on Preservation of Adversarial Process, NACDL, 1989-1990; Task Force on Emerging Democracies, NACDL, 1990-1991. Lecturer: Intl. Conf. on Social Justice Research; Amer. Coll. Forensic Psychiatry; Amer. Coll. Forensic Psychology; CACJ/CPDA Death Penalty Seminar; American Psychological Association; California Judges Association; ABA. Member: State Bar of California. (Certified Specialist, Criminal Law, State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization). Practice Areas: Criminal Law; Human Rights. LEGAL SUPPORT PERSONNEL Steven Gray Christine Margle Katherine Pulido http://www.capdefnet.org/fdprc/about_us/who_we_are/michael_burt.htm http://www.lawyers.com/California/San-Francisco/John-T.-Philipsborn-06386BA3DB1547-f.html		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 12:07 pm
WM3 Support Items For Sale http://www.cafepress.com/wmthree_support		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 12:08 pm
EMAIL LISTS DISCUSSION LIST We maintain an Email Discussion List. It's very simple to join. Send a completely blank email to WM3discussion-subscribe@topica.com. If you choose to leave the list, please remember that you can unsubscribe yourself by sending a blank email to WM3discussion-unsubscribe@topica.com. The list often has heavy traffic, averaging more than 20 posts per day. If you don't wish to get that many emails, consider switching your delivery preference (click here) to either 'Using Topica Website Only - No Email' or 'Message Digests - Sent By Email.' If you opt for website only, you will have to log in and read your messages on the topica site. With the digest version, multiple messages come bundled together, leading to fewer emails. UPDATE (ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY) LIST We also have an Email Update List. To join, send a completely blank email to WM3-subscribe@topica.com and to unsubscribe, mail WM3-unsubscribe@topica.com.		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 2:46 pm
Tennessee for Damien Echols http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=91005397		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 2:52 pm
Damien Echols' Wife Speaks About Campaign To Free-- Her Husband The wife of death row inmate Damien Echols is asking for help. Lorri Davis Echols has turned down countless national and local interviews over the years, but Wednesday she spoke on an Arkansas radio program about a campaign to free the West Memphis three. ?It's a big day around here obviously. We have Damien Echols' wife," says Magic 105 radio host. Wednesday in a rare interview, Lorri Davis-Echols agreed to an hour long discussion with the Magic 105 morning crew. She's stood by her husband's innocent plea since they were married in 1999, five years after he was sentenced to death. "I see him once a week for three hours. We talk every day and we write to each other,? explains Davis-Echols. Her husband was sentenced to death for the 1993 killings of three young boys in West Memphis, Christopher Byers, Steven Branch and Michael Moore. The trio played together, disappeared together, and died together. Their bodies found beaten and mutilated. More than 12 years later, Echols along with Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin are still behind bars, still claiming their innocence, still asking for help. ?Are they not screaming? Are they not saying ?Get me out of here? Get me out of here?? Do they have faith that this is going to happen,? asks the radio host. ?Absolutely they have faith. They're so grateful for all the people that have come forward and are their voices," replies Davis-Echols. In October, lawyers filed a petition in Little Rock federal court which included new evidence, like DNA test results that show no link to the three men who were convicted. Davis-Echols says, "Suddenly everything falls away. The state's case falls away. There were no knife wounds on these victims. So you slowly start taking apart the state's case which is what we worked so hard to do." So Lorri Davis-Echols is gearing up with her campaign "Arkansas Take Action" to overturn the convictions. She's hoping a letter writing rally will persuade the state capitol to consider the new evidence in the case. She urges, "We need your help right now more than ever. So write those letters. Go to the website. Watch the press conference, and you will be convinced. Let's make this happen." John Mark Byers, the father of one of the murdered boys, has joined the ranks of thousands who are participating in that. It?s scheduled for Dec. 18 at the State Capitol. You can make checks payable to: Damien Echols Defense Fund P.O. Box 1216 Little Rock, AR 72203 Prosecutors say they still believe they have the right people in prison and that defense attorneys are grasping at straws. http://www.todaysthv.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=57109		"Bratty Mama Leci" Joined: 02 Aug 2006 Posts: 11754 Location: Kentucky



Obscuregawdess Posted: Sat May 31, 2008 4:03 pm
Blogathon Breaking News If you were around last year, you might remember how I originally came to be blogging in support of The Innocence Project: I have been following the case of the West Memphis Three for more than ten years, and my original intention had been to blog on their behalf. There is no registered charity associated with the legal defense funds for Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, though, and after some conversation with the folks at wm3.org, I came up with the idea to blog for The Innocence Project instead–an organization that does exactly the kind of work needed for this case. If you’re not familiar with the story of the West Memphis Three, very briefly, in 1