Thursday, May 31, 2007
Remember the West Memphis Three
My friend, Mara Leveritt sent this important reminder of an event this weekend.
What: "Standing for Justice," a peaceful gathering to express concern
When: Saturday, June 2, 2007, from 1 to 3 p.m.
Where: Crittenden County Courthouse, Marion, Arkansas
The event will consist of brief statements about concerns that justice has not been achieved for Christopher Byers, Steven Branch and Michael Moore, who were murdered in 1993 in West Memphis.
Speakers will include: Mara Leveritt, author of Devil's Knot, a book about the case; Rebekah Kennedy, a Fort Smith attorney and Green Party candidate for the U.S. Senate; Kelly Duda, a Little Rock documentary film maker; and Lanette Grate, a writing professor at the University of Central Arkansas.
Their statements will be followed by a 14-minute segment of silence, representing the 14 years that Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. have been imprisoned, following their convictions for those murders. Many of those in attendance believe that the investigation and trials in the case were inadequate, raising concerns that the verdicts were groundless.
After the silence there will be an open-mic session, during which supporters of the murder victims and the men convicted may symbolically "tell the court" why they believe the case should be re-examined.
All attending are asked to park respectfully, to bring drinking water for their own use, and to remember that the courthouse will be closed, so bathroom facilities will be limited.
