Introduction
Welcome to Death Watch Speaks – a forum where death row prisoners from all over the
US on death What watch blog entries through ALIVE – Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, which chronicles their day to day existence as they face an execution date.
Many times people wonder “what do death row inmates go through” as they face an up-coming execution
date. We know that some people on death watch have protested, refused to go willingly, some have taken their own lives in defiance of vengeance and state sanctioned murder. Others have walked
alone in different ways. Few have walked with them or in their shoes. Words alone cannot express these trials and tribulations they endure and walked while on death
watch.
What were their motivations? What were their thoughts, the process they contemplated, their various
struggles? Hopefully now, people who hold or held misconceptions can have the truth exposed with eyes wide open.
Death watch speaks is not intended to be a voyeuristic view into the sick practice of legalized
homicide by the state executing human beings. All we hope is that you can see beyond the crime. Beyond the number of condemned, viewing them as people with families, lives – fellow human beings.
Come to see these people in their own words – expressions. They are brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles – friends – loved ones – they are your average Joe or
Jane.
Come to know as we at ALIVE believe: No matter the crime, justice is never served when states kill
people. The death penalty creates a whole set of victims of new generations. It is an injustice to think justice is served by killing in the name of vengeance.
We move you to get involved – embark on a journey of real peoples’ struggles and step out of your
comfort zone – we encourage you to get involved. Each person can make a difference in life’s journey.
In Solidarity
ALIVE – Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
