Sister Helen on Social Media
Family members of death row prisoners are often treated terribly by the prison and legal systems. The least these systems could do is allow families a chance to grieve however they see fit after the state-sanctioned killing of their loved ones: https://www.newsweek.com/billy-wardlow-fiancee-church-employee-ruined-goodbye-1516682
Murder victims’ families shouldn’t be forced to sue @TheJusticeDept in order to avoid COVID-19 infection at an execution they don’t support. If AG Barr actually cared about victims’ families, he would have considered their safety before scheduling executions during a pandemic.
DOJ appealing a stay of execution issued in favor of the family of the victims shows how morally bankrupt this drive to resume federal executions is. And how morally bankrupt this DOJ is.
"By commuting this death sentence, you would help stem the tide of anger and revenge that threatens our country," Cardinal Joseph Tobin wrote to President Donald Trump, asking him to commute the death sentence of an Indiana inmate. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/cardinal-tobin-asks-president-donald-trump-for-clemency-in-death-row-execution-case-82991
.@TheJusticeDept and @OfficialFBOP purchased lethal injection drugs from a secret compounding pharmacy: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-executions-specialreport/special-report-how-the-trump-administration-secured-a-secret-supply-of-execution-drugs-idUSKBN24B1E4
Compounding Pharmacy Mogul Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Health Care Fraud and Conspiracy to Commit Money Laundering https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/compounding-pharmacy-mogul-pleads-guilty-conspiracy-commit-health-care-fraud-and-conspiracy
And @TheJusticeDept disrespected murder victim family members by completely ignoring their wishes while arguing that victims’ families have no rights under federal death penalty law. #ThisWeekAtJustice
#ThisWeekAtJustice AG Barr announced Operation Legend, held roundtables with @SenatorTimScott on issues in policing; DAG Rosen spoke to Fraternal Order of Police in Philadelphia; @FBI Dir Wray discussed Chinese espionage threat; Prolific hacker “fxmsp” charged with computer fraud
Prosecutors constantly depict themselves as champions of “their victims,” but as soon as victims want something other than “tough on crime” prosecutors completely disregard what victims want. Here prosecutors are seeking to overturn the judge’s order. https://twitter.com/markberman/status/1281705889322369027
The first federal execution since 2003 was planned for Monday. A federal judge just blocked it after relatives of the victims in the case asked for it to be delayed — saying that due to the coronavirus, they couldn’t attend without risk of infection
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/judge-blocks-federal-execution-after-victims-relatives-oppose-carrying-it-out-during-pandemic/2020/07/10/a204daca-c2f0-11ea-b4f6-cb39cd8940fb_story.html
.@TheJusticeDept’s contradictory statements:
June 15 – “We owe it to the victims of these horrific crimes, and to the families left behind” to carry out executions.
July 10 – Victims’ families “are not within the ‘zone of interests’ protected by the Federal Death Penalty Act.”
.@TheJusticeDept is appealing a federal district court order that blocked the planned execution of Danny Lee. The DOJ’s latest filing in the case reveals that the planned executions aren’t about justice for victims and their families at all.
Good. Executions are always wrong, but holding one in the middle of a pandemic is dangerous and irresponsible.
We hope the court makes a similar ruling in the case of Wes Purkey and our client, Wes' spiritual advisor. https://twitter.com/AP/status/1281702927585939456
BREAKING: A judge has delayed the first federal execution in 17 years because the victims' family members want to attend but feared traveling during the coronavirus pandemic. Daniel Lee had been scheduled to die by lethal injection Monday in Indiana. http://apne.ws/whiwns4
IMPORTANT: This family OPPOSES the execution. The last time there was a stay, in December, they celebrated. They were filled with dread at the thought of witnessing, but felt it was important to bear witness. https://twitter.com/AP/status/1281702927585939456
BREAKING: A judge has delayed the first federal execution in 17 years because the victims' family members want to attend but feared traveling during the coronavirus pandemic. Daniel Lee had been scheduled to die by lethal injection Monday in Indiana. http://apne.ws/whiwns4
NEWS: A court just temporarily blocked the federal government’s plan to execute Danny Lee on Monday. Victim family members had filed a lawsuit seeking to block the execution so that they would not be forced to travel across the country to attend as witnesses during a pandemic.
The EU strongly opposes the decision of the @TheJusticeDept to resume the federal death penalty after a 17-year hiatus. We urge the US administration to reconsider and not proceed with the federal executions due to take place starting on 13 July: https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/82677/United%20States:%20Statement%20by%20the%20Spokesperson%20on%20the%20resumption%20of%20the%20federal%20death%20penalty
The nation’s top court ruled Thursday that a large chunk of eastern Oklahoma remains tribal land. Here are some key things to know about what that means. https://indiancountrytoday.com/news/q-a-what-does-mcgirt-ruling-mean-AAs4U3ot2E2JAsNk2cxjKA
It's time to abolish the death penalty in Nevada and re-invest in social services: https://thenevadaindependent.com/article/its-time-to-abolish-the-multi-million-dollar-death-penalty-and-reinvest-in-nevada
San Quentin prison in California is the site of one of the country’s worst COVID-19 clusters. 1,300 prisoners and 184 staff have tested positive. At least six prisoners have died. Sick people are being put in isolation or treated in tents: https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2020/07/san-quentin-prison-coronavirus-california/
While AG Barr and @TheJusticeDept attempt to restart federal executions next week, new research reveals that the vast majority of people on the federal government's death row have significant cognitive and functional impairments: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar-and-criminal-law/insight-vast-majority-on-federal-death-row-have-significant-impairments
As the number of COVID-19 cases rose in the Texas prison system, @GovAbbott and the parole board failed to act, leading to unnecessary and preventable deaths: https://www.texastribune.org/2020/07/07/texas-prison-coronavirus-deaths/
I have 10 hardcover copies of Kendi’s deeply rewarding “How to be an Antiracist”. If you would like a copy, donate at least $50 to a bail fund of your choice and send your receipt plus mailing address to rachael@sisterhelen.org. We’ll send a copy to the first 10 people to do.
Want to meet me on a Zoom call AND support a great cause? You can even bring along 3 of your friends! Bid now on @Charitybuzz and help @ACLU_SoCal defend and preserve the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution and US laws. Search “Sister Helen Prejean” on Charitybuzz.com. Thanks for your support of this incredible organization!
This Thursday, I'll be in conversation with Tessie Castillo and Lyle May on Crimson Letters: Voices from Death Row. The topic is "Why is it so hard to hold criminal justice actors - law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges - accountable?" There are three following events. Please join us! Link is in my bio.
A Message from Sister Helen’s Staff:
Here’s some Zoom humor for your enjoyment!
Here I am – live from my apartment in New Orleans! My team's got me all set up with Zoom.
I'm sequestered here in my house in New Orleans, so I thought I'd show you a bit of what's going on here.
A postcard from me to you! To cook Cajun, you always start with a roux like you see here in my skillet. Heat three big tablespoons of oil until very hot, then slowly add flour and stir, stir, stir until the mixture browns. A roux is different from Yankee gravy. Then add seasonings: yellow onions, scallions, garlic, bell pepper, parsley - and cook, adding water as needed.
My ticket to the Academy Awards from 24 years ago today – March 25, 1996. Dead Man Walking was well-represented. @susansarandon won Best Actress for playing a nun who was in over her head. @timrobbinshere was nominated for Best Director, Sean Penn for Best Actor, and Bruce @springsteen for Best Original Song. That night helped till the soil for a national conversation about the death penalty.
Congratulations, Colorado!
Today is Sr. Helen’s birthday! This past year has been full of surprises and moments of grace. It’s good people like you who share Sr. Helen’s hope to see a world without executions that keep her going. Please share any birthday wishes in the comments and we’ll make sure they get to her.
This is my writing desk. My Daddy sits with me when I write. The desk was his in his law office.
The statue is St. Joseph – patron of my community, the Sisters of St. Joseph. That cross is made of wood from an oak tree I played under as a child.
You can see St. Luke, writer of one of the Gospels, in the icon as well as a picture of Mary Magdalene's big surprise at the tomb on Easter morning.
The braid of grass across my desk is "sweet grass" from a Northern Cheyenne friend.
I made me some good chicken stew in this roux. First, I baked the chicken in the oven to give it a head start.
Cajun cooking doesn't mean pepper hot. The secret is tasty seasoning and slow cooking. Add Tony Chachere's seasoning to taste. Yum. I first learned to cook when I was writing Dead Man Walking. Been devouring my good stew with rice for the last three days.
