Execution

As I sit here watching the clock ticking down, feel the hours pass ever so slowly through my mind. My brain tries to grasp onto anything other than the hurt and pain on seeing another brother executed.

In less that 24 hours Alabama is scheduled to execute Gary Brown in the electric chair. Unless there is a stay of execution or clemency by the Governor, Gary will be the 24th brother I have lost to Alabama’s electric chair.

To my brothers John, Arthur, Wayne, Michael, Horace, Herbert, Arthur, Norrell, Larry, Cornelius, Willie, Varnel, Edward, Billy , Walter, Henry, Steve, Brian, Victor, David, Freddie, Robert and Pernal; I remember you.

To their families, loved ones and friends. I remember your strength, your courage, and your love for my brothers and theirs for you.

To all victims of crime and their loved ones. I remember you.

There are many arguments as to why the death penalty is immoral, legally wrong, unChristian, and cruel. Those who support it would come back to say that the acts committed were immoral, Illegal, unchristian and cruel, in justification of their support for capital punishment.

I have heard witnesses and reporters who have viewed an execution use the term ”clinical” to describe it. Supporters of the death penalty feel there is no method of execution in place that comes close to equaling the crime committed, no suffering too great, no torture too draconian for the condemned. His or her actions have inflicted wanton anguish, torture and pain upon a completely innocent person. His or her actions have destroyed a family. There are no possible amends he or she could ever make in reparation of the acts committed. His or her execution in itself cannot even the score, cannot make things whole again.

It seems apparent that those of American society who support the death penalty have concluded that the condemned bare sole responsibility for the consequences of the death penalty.

Having personally known 23 brothers who were executed I question if society itself has a real understanding that, the execution of the condemned, in itself, is wantonly torturous, inflicting anguish, pain and suffering on many innocent victims. Those victims are the family, loved ones, and friends of the condemned.

There is nothing “clinical” about a mother or father loving their child, nothing “clinical” about their begging for the child’s life to be spared. There is nothing “clinical” about a wife or husband pleading for the life of their spouse. Nothing “clinical” about a son or daughter begging for the life of their parent. Nothing “clinical” about a brother or sister pleading for the life of their sibling, which is what happens at every execution.

There is nothing “clinical” about knowing the exact date, place, time and the instrument of death that will end the life of someone you love, knowing that you are completely helpless to stop its occurrence.

While the condemned began this cycle of destruction and bares responsibility for his or her actions, does society truly believe that the subsequent murder of the condemned by the state, will end their pain, will make things right. This action only serves to create further pain and suffering.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

There are alternatives to the death penalty.

Tim Davis Z-399
Cell 3-D-2

Written April, 2002

NOTE... (Gary Brown's execution was stayed on April 4, 2002 at 3:57pm.)

A year later on April 24, 2003 Gary Brown was executed by lethal injection .

Something to think about

Words from death row......

For a full list of articles written by Juveniles on Alabama's Death Row, go to the complete list of titles at Stories.