TEXAS COALITION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY
3400 Montrose Blvd., Suite 312
Houston, TX 77006
For immediate release
November 9, 2004
Contact: David Atwood
(713)529-3826 (office) or (713)962-3838 (cell)
RACISM SEEN IN HARRIS COUNTY DEATH PENALTY CASES
A review of the executions coming out of Harris County during 2004
reveals that 90% of the people executed and scheduled to be executed are
minorities. Five executions have already occurred and five more are
currently scheduled. Seven of the ten are African-American, two are
Hispanic and one is white.
According to David Atwood of the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death
Penalty, racism has always been a factor in who does and doesn't get
executed in Texas. 40% of the people on Texas death row are
African-American vs. 12% in the general population. However, for Harris
County, 54% of the people on death row are African-American vs. 18% in
the general population. "I don't think you can explain that large a
discrepancy by just saying that African-Americans are involved in more
crime", says Atwood. "Besides, nationwide studies as well as studies
by the Texas Defender Service have shown that race is clearly a factor in
who does and doesn't get the death penalty. Race enters into decisions
on whom to charge with capital murder and in the selection of juries. A
number of African-Americans have been found guilty and given the death
penalty by juries that were all white or nearly all white."
This evening and tomorrow evening at 5:30 pm (November 9 and 10),
opponents of the death penalty will be protesting the execution of
Demarco McCullum and Frederick McWilliams at the corner of Shepherd and
Westheimer in Houston. Next week (November 17 and 18) they will be
protesting the executions of Anthony Fuentes and Troy Kunkle at the same
time and location. And on December 1, they will be protesting the
execution of Frances Newton, an African-American woman.
A number of anti-death penalty protesters from Texas and other places in
the world are also fasting on the days of execution.
Says Atwood, "Racial and economic biases, as well as the arbitrary and
capricious nature of the death penalty, clearly show that the death
penalty is unconstitutional under the 8th Amendment to the U.S.
Constitution. In addition, it is totally unnecessary for societal
protection. Long-term incarceration of dangerous criminals can protect
society".
