Post by MXB on Sept 15, 2006 23:17:49 GMT -5
Kenny Richey: The Principle
There appears to be some confusion amongst anti and pro death penalty supporters about why I still fight for Kenny and his freedom.
I want to lay to rest this confusion once and for all.
People need to remember one basic thing. This is about principles not personalities. And the principle is the same today as it was at the begining for me. That has never changed. And it never will.
I began this campaign because I believe in Kenny Richey's innocence. I have looked at every document there is on this case. Not just once but many, many times
Not once have I ever seen anything that suggests my belief is misguided in any shape or form.
My belief in Kenny's innocence is unshakeable.
All the scientific evidence proves that the fire which tragically took the life of little Cynthia Collin's was an accidental house fire.
The defence have destroyed the case totally.
I believe in my heart that one day, some time in the future, (I don't know when) that Kenny will be a free man. And rightly so.
Kenny has endured much emotional and some physical torture in all these years.
Being wrongfully convicted is a terrible thing.
To take someone's freedom with the threat of taking their very life is an unthinkable thing to endure.
Every single one of us know what it feels like to be blamed for something we didn't do or say. Even on small matters. We get indignant and angry that we are being falsley accused of something. Think then on how Kenny and people in his situation must feel day in and day out. Year in and year out as it drags on and on and on.
When we know something is wrong, it is our moral duty to stand up and shout loudly for the people who have no real voice. It is our duty to protect and fight for the vulnerable people in society, wherever they may be. And Kenny Richey is counted in amongst the people to shout loudly for. He has no real voice of his own because they won't listen and have not listened to what he has been saying all along.
Once I heard and saw the facts of this case and many other cases, I could not close my eyes and ears and pretend I didn't know. I did know and I do know.
I cannot pretend I do not know about this injustice and neither should any of the supporters or the media.
Injustice is wrong. Plain and simple. And what has happened in the Kenny Richey case is very wrong.
The State of Ohio have robbed him of 20 years of his life for a crime that never even happened. 20 years that are lost forever. His youth gone, his health is deteriorating and it can never be given back to him no matter how hard he wishes it.
The State of Ohio still want to kill him. They will continue to appeal as long as they can get away with it, just so they do not have to admit that yes they sometimes get it wrong. They will kill him if they can.
Can anyone imagine the torment and torture this is? To be rendered helpless and without a lot of hope of the nightmare ever ending?
Not really being able to help yourself and having tabloid media write whatever they like because its "a story". Many forget that this is not just a story, this is Kenny's very life. But some take advantage of this situation and use it for their own ends. After all isn't an innocent man sitting on death row for 20 odd years something to ridicule and make fun of? That's how it looks to me in some of the media articles I have read of late.
To be in the pits of despair and alone is the most horrible feeling. Because at the end of the day thats Kenny's reality. He may have support but he is still basically alone. Only he can endure the life he is being forced to lead against his will. No one else can do it for him.
Kenny's reality is that he wants this over with, one way or another. Either kill him or let him free.
What a terrible situation to be forced into but this is exactly the situation he is in. No human being should be forced to exist like this. I cannot even say live, because this is not living. This is merely existing in a nightmare and hoping like hell you survive it.
The pressures, stresses and strains are tremendous. Enough to drive even the strongest of people to feel like they are losing their minds at times.
So if anyone ever wonders again, this is all exactly why I continue to fight for Kenny Richey and others like him.
I believe in his innocence. I believe he was wrongfully convicted and I believe that he will be freed one fine day. I know it will not be easy but then again I always knew that.
Nothing worthwhile ever is easy but the fight for justice is always worthwhile. Never doubt or forget that.
We should start once more to write to Tony Blair and the Governor of Ohio. Addresses are on this website.
It is time that the injustice Kenny endures is what media and supporters concentrate on and not all the rubbish and "publicity stunts" or whatever you would like to call them.
I understand that people are unhappy and disappointed in him but that has to be put to the side and the focus needs to be on what is important.
I know I can count on supporters to continue to write letters of protest and to continue to support Kenny's innocence. That's what is important after all.
Take care
Karen x
There appears to be some confusion amongst anti and pro death penalty supporters about why I still fight for Kenny and his freedom.
I want to lay to rest this confusion once and for all.
People need to remember one basic thing. This is about principles not personalities. And the principle is the same today as it was at the begining for me. That has never changed. And it never will.
I began this campaign because I believe in Kenny Richey's innocence. I have looked at every document there is on this case. Not just once but many, many times
Not once have I ever seen anything that suggests my belief is misguided in any shape or form.
My belief in Kenny's innocence is unshakeable.
All the scientific evidence proves that the fire which tragically took the life of little Cynthia Collin's was an accidental house fire.
The defence have destroyed the case totally.
I believe in my heart that one day, some time in the future, (I don't know when) that Kenny will be a free man. And rightly so.
Kenny has endured much emotional and some physical torture in all these years.
Being wrongfully convicted is a terrible thing.
To take someone's freedom with the threat of taking their very life is an unthinkable thing to endure.
Every single one of us know what it feels like to be blamed for something we didn't do or say. Even on small matters. We get indignant and angry that we are being falsley accused of something. Think then on how Kenny and people in his situation must feel day in and day out. Year in and year out as it drags on and on and on.
When we know something is wrong, it is our moral duty to stand up and shout loudly for the people who have no real voice. It is our duty to protect and fight for the vulnerable people in society, wherever they may be. And Kenny Richey is counted in amongst the people to shout loudly for. He has no real voice of his own because they won't listen and have not listened to what he has been saying all along.
Once I heard and saw the facts of this case and many other cases, I could not close my eyes and ears and pretend I didn't know. I did know and I do know.
I cannot pretend I do not know about this injustice and neither should any of the supporters or the media.
Injustice is wrong. Plain and simple. And what has happened in the Kenny Richey case is very wrong.
The State of Ohio have robbed him of 20 years of his life for a crime that never even happened. 20 years that are lost forever. His youth gone, his health is deteriorating and it can never be given back to him no matter how hard he wishes it.
The State of Ohio still want to kill him. They will continue to appeal as long as they can get away with it, just so they do not have to admit that yes they sometimes get it wrong. They will kill him if they can.
Can anyone imagine the torment and torture this is? To be rendered helpless and without a lot of hope of the nightmare ever ending?
Not really being able to help yourself and having tabloid media write whatever they like because its "a story". Many forget that this is not just a story, this is Kenny's very life. But some take advantage of this situation and use it for their own ends. After all isn't an innocent man sitting on death row for 20 odd years something to ridicule and make fun of? That's how it looks to me in some of the media articles I have read of late.
To be in the pits of despair and alone is the most horrible feeling. Because at the end of the day thats Kenny's reality. He may have support but he is still basically alone. Only he can endure the life he is being forced to lead against his will. No one else can do it for him.
Kenny's reality is that he wants this over with, one way or another. Either kill him or let him free.
What a terrible situation to be forced into but this is exactly the situation he is in. No human being should be forced to exist like this. I cannot even say live, because this is not living. This is merely existing in a nightmare and hoping like hell you survive it.
The pressures, stresses and strains are tremendous. Enough to drive even the strongest of people to feel like they are losing their minds at times.
So if anyone ever wonders again, this is all exactly why I continue to fight for Kenny Richey and others like him.
I believe in his innocence. I believe he was wrongfully convicted and I believe that he will be freed one fine day. I know it will not be easy but then again I always knew that.
Nothing worthwhile ever is easy but the fight for justice is always worthwhile. Never doubt or forget that.
We should start once more to write to Tony Blair and the Governor of Ohio. Addresses are on this website.
It is time that the injustice Kenny endures is what media and supporters concentrate on and not all the rubbish and "publicity stunts" or whatever you would like to call them.
I understand that people are unhappy and disappointed in him but that has to be put to the side and the focus needs to be on what is important.
I know I can count on supporters to continue to write letters of protest and to continue to support Kenny's innocence. That's what is important after all.
Take care
Karen x