Texas Set To Execute Kenneth Foster
The death penalty is one of those loveless travesties of our civilization that I generally avoid thinking about. It's like playing Madden on the Pro setting. Yes, I know I'm going to win 99% of the games and that if I want a real challenge I should play on All-Pro, but I'd just assume live in a bubble of bliss where everything functions smoothly.
On Thursday, an African-American man named Kenneth Foster is scheduled to be executed by the State of Texas. Kenneth and another man, Mauriceo Brown, were convicted of the 1996 murder of Michael Lahood.
In that incident, Kenneth was driving a car containing three of his friends. He pulled the car near a home where Mr. Brown, and Mr. Brown only, exited the car, got into a confrontation on the front lawn with a man and his girlfriend, pulled a gun, shot, and killed the man. This was not a premeditated murder, but rather, a crime of passion. All the while, Kenneth was sitting in the car.
Texas is a bad state to be a criminal who is both black and poor. No one knows this as well as Kenneth Foster. For the murder of Mr. Lahood, the gunman, Mr. Brown, and Kenneth Foster, were tried in the same case. Both were convicted of the same crime, murder, and both were given the same punishment, execution. Last year, Mr. Brown was executed by the State of Texas. Prosecutors argued that Kenneth either intended to or "should have anticipated" murder. For that lack of foresight, Kenneth will be executed on Thursday.
Allowing Texas the right to capital punishment is like giving a bunch of middle schoolers alcohol. They're not responsible enough to play such a high-stakes game. If you let them, travesties are inevitable.
Links about this:
Dallas News Opinion Article
Amnesty International: Foster Execution a Shocking Perversion of the Law
Protestors Gather In Austin
If you'd like, you may e-mail Texas Governor Rick Perry here:
On Thursday, an African-American man named Kenneth Foster is scheduled to be executed by the State of Texas. Kenneth and another man, Mauriceo Brown, were convicted of the 1996 murder of Michael Lahood.
In that incident, Kenneth was driving a car containing three of his friends. He pulled the car near a home where Mr. Brown, and Mr. Brown only, exited the car, got into a confrontation on the front lawn with a man and his girlfriend, pulled a gun, shot, and killed the man. This was not a premeditated murder, but rather, a crime of passion. All the while, Kenneth was sitting in the car.
Texas is a bad state to be a criminal who is both black and poor. No one knows this as well as Kenneth Foster. For the murder of Mr. Lahood, the gunman, Mr. Brown, and Kenneth Foster, were tried in the same case. Both were convicted of the same crime, murder, and both were given the same punishment, execution. Last year, Mr. Brown was executed by the State of Texas. Prosecutors argued that Kenneth either intended to or "should have anticipated" murder. For that lack of foresight, Kenneth will be executed on Thursday.
Allowing Texas the right to capital punishment is like giving a bunch of middle schoolers alcohol. They're not responsible enough to play such a high-stakes game. If you let them, travesties are inevitable.
Links about this:
Dallas News Opinion Article
Amnesty International: Foster Execution a Shocking Perversion of the Law
Protestors Gather In Austin
If you'd like, you may e-mail Texas Governor Rick Perry here:
www.governor.state.tx.us/contact
Or call his opinion hotline here:
1-800-252-9600
posted by Cory Albertson at
1:16 PM
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