Death Penalty Opponents at Ohio State Penitentiary : Cleveland IMC (((i)))

"Stop the Executions" Rally in Youngstown, Jan. 14, 2007
Eye Wittness Report, Sharon Danann <pfcenter@sbcglobal.net>

On Sun., Jan. 14, in spite of drenched clothing and the state's videocameras, a crowd of about 80 people maintained their high spirits at the driveway into the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown, OH. As a protest against the death penalty in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday (Jan.15), it seemed appropriate that the sounds of "We Shall Overcome" rose up from the group, led by the activist community group Black on Black Crime from Cleveland which had brought a large contingent. They also led the crowd in their trademark chant of "No truth! No justice! No peace!" Soon after that, additional chanting started up around the huge "Stop the Executions!" banner, "What do we want? To end the death penalty! When do we want it? Now!"

In addition to the local groups strongly represented, Youngstown Prison Forum, LOOP (Loved Ones Of Prisoners), and Youngstown Peace Action, Cleveland organizations were there in force. The Cleveland Lucasville Five Defense Committee, one of the sponsoring organizations, arranged for a van and coordinated a car caravan. The Cleveland Coalition Against the Death Penalty brought people and signs. And Black on Black Crime provided not just many carloads, but all of the energy to match. Look out, State of Ohio, here they come!

Many people were there because of a prisoner letter campaign in which prisoners did outreach to other prisoners and to family and friends to bring people to the rally. As relatives held up signs with their loved ones' names, it became a way to network for future organizing to cement a coordinated strategy for success. Some of the mothers have set up a website of their own, http://www.ourfight4justice.com. Check it out.

Sunday's rally was a kickoff to a new campaign and a new era. We have a new governor in Columbus. We have a new level of coordination and energy. We will be challenging the barbaric, racist death penalty which targets the poor and murders the innocent. And we will be making our case for the overturning of all Lucasville rebellion-related convictions which were false and unjust in the first place. Thirteen years in solitary confinement is way more than long enough for crimes these men did not commit in the first place. We're on the move!

Cleveland Indy Media Center