"No justice in death penalty," is the title of Rick Halperin's letter to the editor in the Dallas Morning News. He's the Director of the Embrey Human Rights Program at SMU and a former Chair of the Board of Directors of Amnesty International, USA.
DA Craig Watkins is on record as saying he is “conflicted” about the death penalty, but nothing is further from the truth. Recent Dallas Morning News articles indicating that Dallas County leads the state in producing new death sentences make a mockery of Watkins’ claim. He should have the courage to simply admit that he is pro-death penalty and that he has no problem whatsoever in seeking that penalty against various defendants.
As usual, Texas led the nation last year in executions, carrying out 16, more than double that of second-place Florida. There are currently six executions scheduled in Texas between Jan. 9-April 16.
The rest of the nation (and world) is overwhelmingly slowing or ending its usage of executions. The Dallas DA seems proud to continue this state’s trend of adhering to an outdated, racist, error-prone and barbaric practice, all in the outrageous name of “justice.”
Earlier coverage of Dallas County death sentences begins at the link.
Comments