Sister Helen on Social Media
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Unless a court intervenes, Missouri will execute Michael Tisius tomorrow, June 6th. When Michael was 19 years old, he committed a terrible crime and killed two jailers while attempting to free a former cellmate. But Michael is not the worst of the worst and does not deserve to die. 8 years ago, Richard Glossip asked me if I would be there to witness his impending execution. I said yes, but I wasn’t going to let this innocent man die without a fight. With a top-notch legal team and bipartisan group of advocates, we’re still fighting for Rich’s life today. Rich has his 9th execution date set on May 18th. Oklahoma Attorney General Drummond acknowledges serious legal errors in Rich’s case that, AG Drummond says, justify a new trial. Oklahoma County DA Behenna says that the death penalty wouldn’t even be pursued in Rich’s case today. What a privilege it is to be able to share this special day of joy with my friends and family, in warmth and companionship. Felony disenfranchisement is a serious issue, especially in the Deep South. This presentation on Dec. 20th will provide valuable information for lawyers and non-lawyers alike on recent Louisiana laws that have changed voting rules for people who may have been disenfranchised before. In-person and virtual options available.
Michael was subjected to extreme abuse and neglect as a child. His mother berated him, his older brother beat him, and his father abandoned him. The second picture is a self-portrait Michael drew to visually reflect what he felt every day during his childhood.
Michael, an extremely immature 19-year-old with serious neurodevelopmental delays, was manipulated by a much older cellmate. Michael killed jail guards Leon Egley and Jason Acton while unsuccessfully attempting to free his former cellmate. Since then, that cellmate has admitted that if it wasn’t for him, Michael wouldn’t have done this. “It only happened because of me,” the cellmate said.
Many of the jurors from Michael’s sentencing trial feel differently about their decision now that they have more information. Michael’s lawyers were woefully unprepared, to the point that one juror said, “It felt like they were just warm bodies, two rocks. It was pitiful.” In light of the new information they never heard, many of the jurors say they would not have voted for a death sentence and now support clemency.
Michael has worked hard to redeem himself during his time on death row. He has committed himself to his artwork and faith. He is deeply remorseful. Not a day has gone by that he hasn’t regretted his actions. Michael does not deserve to die.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll need support from every person who believes it’s unconscionable to execute a man when there are such serious doubts about his guilt and the fairness of his trial. It’s not too late to right this miscarriage of justice.
The first thing you can do to help is contact @governorkevinstitt to ask for a 60-day reprieve of Rich’s execution date. This will allow more time for additional work to happen in the courts and for the Oklahoma Legislature to change the law, if necessary. Please call Gov. Stitt’s office at 405-521-2342 and ask, respectfully and in your words, the Governor to grant a 60-day reprieve for Richard Glossip.
I’ll be coming to you over the next few weeks with more action steps that you can take on behalf of Rich Glossip. We will fight to stop this execution until the very end. Glad to be in this struggle with all of you.
I want to acknowledge all those for whom this day is especially hard. I hold you in my heart.
The photo below was taken at Christmastime, 2009, on death row with Manuel Ortiz. Today, 13 years later, Manuel is still on death row.