Hope, mercy and justice on Alabama’s death row
Bryan Stevenson, Just Mercy p. 241
Bsociety “we are indifferent to the plight of poor people. We tolerate unfairness in a way that burdens me. “Just Mercy” is an effort to confront this burden.” National statistics bear out the truth of his burden: The United States of America incarcerates more of its citizens than any country in the world.
With 5 percent of the world’s population, we have 25 percent of the world’s prison population. Currently, for every nine death penalty executions, one inmate from death row is released from prison after new evidence finds him to be innocent.
One in three black men aged 18 to 30 is in prison, jail or on probation or parole.
We have been the only country in the world that condemns children to life imprisonment without parole. Nearly 3,000 juveniles have been sentenced to die in prison.
Women are going to prison these days at a faster rate than men. The effect on children is devastating.
Nearly 80 percent of the women in jail are mothers; 67 percent are mothers of minor children; 82 percent are imprisoned for nonviolent offenses. Families are being shattered. Once, while fighting for a 14-year-old sentenced to life in prison without parole, Bryan noticed the court janitor watching him closely. At first opportunity, the man came into the courtroom and sat close behind Stevenson. At break the sheriff challenged the janitor, an African-American, “Jimmy, what are you doing in here?”
Jimmy slowly rose from his seat, and spoke directly to the sheriff, “I came in here, Sheriff, to tell this young man to keep his eye on the prize. Hang on.”
Remarkably, after experiencing the worst of what our legal system has to offer, Bryan Stevenson is still hanging on.
He brings a message of hope, mercy and justice.
As he encourages us to seek liberty and justice for all, we can join Jimmy and offer him encouragement as well.
That’s reason enough to grab a seat in The Cage Center on Sept. 12. For maximum convenience, Berry officials advise attendees to come early.