This Week Injustice- March 17, 2024

St. Paddy's Day edition

Dear friends,

Taking in all the source material for outrage these days feels like playing a game of whack-a-mole. Every time I dive into the churning sea of social media, I see another Alabama horror. It’s hard to know where to land.

Do I write about authoritarian censorship happening at libraries across the country, exemplified by the churlish firing of Prattville’s library director and four employees simply for exercising transparency?

Or do I cover the vicious targeting and bullying of a transgender employee of Huntsville’s U.S. Space and Rocket Center?

Maybe I need to more deeply examine why many Americans and the majority of Alabamians support a man running for president who promises “a bloodbath” if he’s not elected. His defenders are defending the comments, shrieking, “He was talking about the auto industry!” OK. Sure he was.

See what I mean? It’s a lot. As an independent writer focused on human rights, crime and punishment, justice and injustice, the shit storm of “oh my God” headlines is dizzying. This week I have felt paralyzed, unsure of where to settle my energy and utilize my rage.

So I return to Alabama’s criminal punishment bureaucracy, our state’s perpetual open wound, always begging for more attention and deeper examination. This list of headlines is shorter due to lawmakers being on a scheduled break this week, so maybe now is a good time to fill up your coffers with a hopeful essay by the incredible scholar Michelle Alexander who argues, only revolutionary love can save us now.

It’s worth taking a look. Also worthy of seeing—daffodils, tulips, peach blossoms. Have a wonderful week. Take care of your precious selves.

A quick note: I’m speaking at Canterbury Methodist Church Monday at 11:30 about Toforest Johnson and the podcast “Earwitness” that I made about his wrongful conviction.

ADOC/DEATH PENALTY

Rampant deaths are still occurring in Alabama prisons. The Alabama Political Reporter puts the death toll this year at 43 people, including a man who died this week. Laird Sharpe died Tuesday at Fountain prison from a likely overdose. He was only five months into his sentence. ADOC’s death rate is five times the national average. Last year 325 died across the system. 

There is a rally scheduled for Thursday March 21 at 1pm at the AL state house supporting HB 27, which would make the ban on judicial override retroactive, helping the 30 plus people on death row who are there because a judge overrode a jury’s recommendation for a life sentence. The rally will also be for Rocky Myers, a man on death row for 29 years who has claimed innocence. 

RSVP here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLnAqbiAe4NGLgrEQr7mtvYlPJyEwjfPjk5JMThrWBLvaUPw/viewform

Three of the largest nitrogen manufacturers have barred their products for use in executions, implement mechanisms to block department of corrections in death penalty states like Alabama from obtaining their nitrogen cylinders. 

The widow of Kennth Smith is speaking out against the tortuous way the state killed her husband earlier this year. 

Meanwhile Rep. Neil Rafferty has filed a bill that seeks to eliminate nitrogen hypoxia as an execution method in Alabama. HB 248 has long odds of passing. Kudos to Rafferty for filing it anyway. 

LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Mayors of Alabama’s 10 biggest cities support increasing punishment for people convicted of firing into an occupied building. Right now it’s a Class B felony that can get you 20 years. Lawmakers want to make it a Class A, punishable by a life sentence. 

The sponsor of HB 174, Rep. Barbara Drummond (D), cites a terrible Mobile case of shots fired into a home that killed a 9-year old girl while she was sleeping on a couch. The mayor’s wrote, “increasing penalties for criminals is a key part of curbing gun violence in our communities.”

How exactly will imposing longer sentences reduce gun violence? Research shows longer incarceration does not stop violence and actually increases the chances of someone reoffending. I understand the need to address rampant gun violence, of course, no one wants that. But reading about HB 174 reminds me that our leaders need different tools, and more creative ideas on how to address this problem. I don’t know the answer, but I know increasing incarceration isn’t it, especially in Alabama.

In a different story, the family of Lakeith Smith backs HB 32, which addresses “proximate cause theory” in murder cases, the mechanism that allowed prosecutors to charge LaKeith, at 15, with the murder of his friend who was shot by police. LaKeith Smith is serving 65 years in prison, even though police fired the fatal shots that killed his friend. Prosecutors, no surprise, are protesting the bill. 

POLICE

Mobile County Sheriff declares “Operation Up in Smoke,” promising to lock people up for this “purposeful disregard for obeying the law.” Insert eye roll. 

Mayor of Andalusia issues public apology to woman and police officer is disciplined after arresting her for refusing to show her ID. 

THIS & THAT

A recap on the Alabama Supreme Court holding oral arguments at Auburn University. Chief Justice Tom Parker gave opening remarks,and talked about his retirement. No mention of frozen embryos. Nice to read a detailed summary of how the court operates, which is not covered often. 

The Alabama medical cannabis commission voted against pausing the issuing of licenses. Medical marijuana in Alabama is on hold for at least another month as litigation surrounding licenses from the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission continues to play out in court.