Race, Reasonable Doubt and Reggie Clemons
The ACLU often provides examples of the problems with the capital punishment system in the United States. Reggie Clemons is scheduled for execution on June 17, 2009. Clemons, a black man, was convicted of the murder of two young white women in St. Louis in 1991. Clemons and two other black men were sentenced to death while a fourth person, a young white man was offered a plea deal and is out on parole. That is not the only race issue in the case. The original suspect, a white man and the cousin of the women, confessed to the crime after failing a lie detector test and changing his story several times. Clemons, the original suspect and another defendant all complained that the police beat them into confessions.
Redditt Hudson, Racial Justice Associate with the ACLU of Eastern Missouri, has written a piece published last week in the St. Louis American which explains the other issues in the case.









Jun 17th, 2009 at 5:07pm
It appears that Mr. Clemons has received a stay of execution pending an appeal. See
http://www.stlamerican.com/articles/2009/06/11/news/local_news/loca lnews01.txt
Jun 21st, 2009 at 12:19pm
i hope Reggie sexc ass don't sie soon cause I would ove to meet hi mand be his everything. But, it all depends on if he dies soon or not. And if he do die I want to die with him so our souls can be in heaven together
Jun 25th, 2009 at 7:32pm
While not specifically on point, I hope that the two below links and press release may be of some assistance.
In Peace and Justice,
Lawrence J.Gist II, Esq.
http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/local/son_of_beaumo nt_trial_judge_crusading_for_new_method_of_executing_prisoners.html
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Let-There-Be-Life-by-Lawrence-Gi st-090623-145.html
IS THERE A MORE HUMANE WAY TO KILL?
LOS ANGELES, CA – June 22, 2009 – Does strangulation offer a better way to kill those on death row awaiting execution? This is the question being asked by Lawrence Gist, a professor and human rights attorney with the International Humanitarian Hypoxia Project. Following in the steps of professor Guillotin, who in 1789 proposed a "mechanism" that “beheads painlessly," Gist proposes utilizing the latest research findings to ensure humane executions, not by beheading, but medical strangulation. Gist said that the proposed execution protocol is humane, and unlike other execution methods currently being used in the United States, this protocol maintains the viability of the corpse's organs and tissue. The bodily remains of those executed, says Gist, “may then be used to offer hope to some of the estimated 55,000 people currently waiting for life-saving transplants.”
The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of lethal injection, the most common method used for executions by the federal government and 36 states. However, it has been documented that the three-drug lethal injection protocol is frequently negligently administered, causing extreme pain and suffering. In Gist's pending law review article, he advocates giving those on death row the option to choose between the potentially painful lethal injection protocol, or this new protocol which offers a humane and pain-free execution.
Gist notes that the “protocol does not involve the type of slow painful strangulation most people imagine when thinking of strangulation – in fact the protocol is far more humane than any previous method designed to end human life.” Hypoxia it's called, when someone is deprived of the oxygen required to sustain life. So how can it be humane to deprive someone of oxygen to the point of death? Gist answers this question by stating the execution protocol he is advocating “requires that the inmate to be executed wear a standard medical face mask and breath in pure nitrogen, devoid of any oxygen. Nitrogen is an odorless and tasteless gas which, without oxygen, will lead to asphyxiation without any feeling of suffocation.” Gist said that the new protocol “is inexpensive and could be easily preformed by prison guards without the need for a physician's supervision (other than to pronounce death), an allegedly violation of the Hippocratic oath to 'do no harm.'”
While Gist is an opponent of capital punishment, he believes that “pending it's abolition, hypoxia is the perfect method for conducting humane executions.” Gist went on to say that “because the corpse of an asphyxiated prisoner does not contain toxins left over from lethal injection or the gas chamber, nor physical trauma from electrocution, the bodily remains are fully available for life-saving organ and tissue donation.” It would be highly unethical to use organs and tissue without voluntary consent, but Gist stated that his research suggest many of those awaiting execution would like the opportunity to redress a little of the harm they have done to society and give some meaning to their death by donating the gift of life to those awaiting life-saving transplants. Gist's proposal would allow death row inmates the option to choose execution by lethal injection or hypoxia – and if hypoxia is chosen, giving them the additional option of making their body available for organ and tissue donation.
The International Humanitarian Hypoxia Project, founded by Gist, is calling on governors across the country to grant a temporary moratorium on all executions, allowing time for debate and legislative consideration of this new execution protocol. Of particular interest to Gist is the upcoming July 16th execution of Kenneth Mosley, the 201st person scheduled to be executed during the tenure of Texas Governor Rick Perry. Gist said during a recent interview that he doubts Governor Perry will be persuaded to grant Mosley a stay. The political reality, Gist said, is that “lethal injection has been held to be constitutional, and most politicians won't consider a new execution protocol, even if better, if subject to a new round of legal challenges.” However, Gist remains optimistic, “groups on both the left and right share a common value, the respect for human life, and once the public becomes aware of this protocol, and it's incidental benefits, I believe previously divergent groups will join efforts and petition their state leaders for an immediate temporary moratorium on executions.” Gist said that “there is really nothing to lose, and much to gain - a humane execution protocol offering life to the terminally ill – it's really a classic win-win proposal.”
Lawrence J. Gist II
Attorney at Law
4105 Exultant Drive
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
www.gistprobono.org or www.gistprobono.org/ihhp/
Jul 15th, 2009 at 11:44am
there is a more humane way for reg to die, rape him and push him off a bridge!
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