Angola 3 Urgent Action: March 11, 2013
Amnesty International launches a new online action campaign for Albert Woodfox declaring:
After decades of injustice, let the Angola 3 ruling stand!
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International Coalition to Free the Angola 3
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Below is the full text of the email to AG Caldwell:
On February 26, Albert Woodfox's conviction for the 1972 murder of a prison guard was overturned once again, this time on the basis of racial discrimination in the selection of the grand jury foreperson. I know that you have already indicated that you intend to appeal the ruling, but I write to you today with one simple request - make history. Let the federal district court's ruling stand.
The court's ruling lends weight to widespread concerns that there have been significant flaws in the legal processes that have kept both Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace behind bars. These flaws include inadequate legal counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, lack of physical evidence, potentially exculpatory evidence lost by the State, evidence that the key eyewitness testimony was paid for in bribes by the State, other eyewitnesses retracting their testimony, and now racial discrimination. To appeal this latest ruling would compound injustice and delay the legal process by years, as the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals would have to rule before justice could be served.
I am also deeply concerned that, since his conviction, Albert Woodfox has been held in conditions that can only be described as cruel, inhuman and degrading. He has been denied access to work, group activities and rehabilitation programs. The negative physical and psychological effects of these conditions have taken a heavy toll on the 66 year old.
The State should move to either retry Albert Woodfox, or to release him. To delay the legal process by appealing this ruling would be both cruel and unnecessary. Please break the cycle of injustice and cruelty. Let the ruling stand.
Please take action now!
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Keep in Touch with Herman and Albert |
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Albert Woodfox #72148 Herman Wallace #76759
David Wade Correctional Center Elayn Hunt Correctional Center
N1 A3 CCR D #15
670 Bell Hill Road PO Box 174
Homer, LA 71040 St. Gabriel, LA 70776
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