7-24-07, 9:56 am
We the undersigned are shocked that the state of Texas aims to execute Kenneth on August 31 for the 'crime' of driving a car. His 10-year-old daughter will live without a father because of a law obscene in its existence, and repellent in it's application.
In Texas, under a statute called the 'law of parties,' a person can be sent to the death chamber even if they didn't kill anyone.
Kenneth was 80 feet away in a car with the windows rolled up when another person, Mauriceo Brown, shot and killed Michael LaHood. The shooter then got in the car, and Kenneth drove off.
Kenneth doesn't deny driving the car. He also doesn't deny having driven around with Mauriceo and two other men earlier in the evening, when two other robberies occurred, but no one was harmed. But Kenneth faces death for being behind the wheel. No more. No less.
He has been on death row since 1997. That's 10 years, locked up for 23 hours a day, with only one 5-minute phone call every six months.
We the undersigned call for a reexamination of this case, and hope that the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, where Kenneth's final appeal rests, will see that justice would be served by granting Kenneth a new trial.
Kenneth, in addition to being the father of a beautiful 10-year-old girl who he adores, has become a writer, poet and activist on death row. And he understands that the wheels of justice at times need some pushing to move in the right direction.
'It's my belief that if this does not become a political issue,' he says, 'then I have no chance.'
Therefore we lend our voice and our support to stopping the impending execution of Kenneth Foster.
John CARLOS 1968 Olympic Bronze Medalist. ½ of the immortal Black Power Salute Olympic Project for Human Rights
Lee EVANS 400 Meter Olympic Champion Gold Medalist 1968 Olympics Olympic Project for Human Rights
Etan THOMAS Washington Wizards Author, More Than an Athlete
Jeff “Snowman” MONSON Ultimate Fighting Championship
Toni SMITH Former member of Manhattanville College Women's Basketball Team Famous for her 2003 on the court stand at the start of the Iraq War.
David MEGGYESY Western Regional Director Retired; NFL Players Association (NFLPA) Former NFL Linebacker Author, Out of their League
Dennis BRUTUS Former Director of SANROC (the South African Non Racialist Olympic Committee)
Leonard MCNEIL Councilmember, City of San Pablo, CA Former draftee Philadelphia Eagles 1968 Olympic Boycotter
Phillip SHINNICK, PhD Ambassador of UNESCO US Olympian World Record Long jump
Julio PABON President/CEO Latino Sports Ventures, Inc.
William GERENA-ROCHET Editor of LatinoSports.com
Neil DEMAUSE Co-writer Field Of Schemes
Bobbito GARCIA Co Founder Bounce Magazine
Doug HARRIS Executive Director Athletes United for Peace
Lester RODNEY Oldest Living Sportswriter Sports Editor Daily Worker 1936-1958
Rus BRADBURD Former Assistant Basketball Coach University of Texas El Paso Author Paddy on the Hardwood: Journey through Irish Hoops
Mike JAMES Athletes United for Peace
Dave ZIRIN Columnist Slam Magazine, author Welcome to the Terrordome: The Pain, Politics, and Promise of Sports
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