Why is that people are too ignorant to look up the facts? Are we still so backward that we still believe in 'witches' and 'devil worshipers'? We have come so far in the last century. It amazes me the things we have accomplished: computers, internet, cellular telephones, satellite television, everything is digitalized now...and then the fact that we have backtracked hundreds of years to go "witch-hunting" once again...What is the world coming to when a country we fled to for freedom and equality becomes a country of conformity? I admit, we have come a long way since 1993, but there is still places in ARkansas and other "Bible Belt" states that are centered around the Protestant Churches. Damien Echols was a Catholic, although not devout. Many blamed the Catholic faith for the crimes that they accused him of. What century are we living in people?Shortly after three eight-year-old boys were found mutilated and murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas, local newspapers stated the killers had been caught. The police assured the public that the three teenagers in custody were definitely responsible for these horrible crimes. Evidence? The same police officers coerced an error-filled “confession†from Jessie Misskelley Jr., who is mentally handicapped. They subjected him to 12 hours of questioning without council or parental consent, audio-taping only two fragments of the error-filled "confession" totaling only 46 minutes. Jessie recanted it that evening, but it was too late— Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols were all arrested on June 3, 1993, and convicted of murder in early 1994. Although there was no physical evidence, murder weapon, motive, or connection to the victims, the prosecution pathetically resorted to presenting black hair and clothing, heavy metal t-shirts, and Stephen King novels as proof that the boys were sacrificed in a satanic cult ritual. Unfathomably, Echols was sentenced to death, Baldwin received life without parole, and Misskelley got life plus 40. For over 13 years, The West Memphis Three have been imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit. Echols waits in solitary confinement for the lethal injection our tax dollars will pay for. They were all condemned by their poverty, incompetent defense, satanic panic and a rush to judgment. But there’s still hope for them, and you can help. Please visit wm3.org to find out how.
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