AUSTIN, Texas — People from across Texas are calling on the state government to abolish the death penalty.
The event brought together advocates, families, and people who once faced execution themselves.
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‘It still haunts me to death,’ death row exoneree shares emotional story at Texas Capitol. (CBS Austin/Brenna Gibbons)
People gathered here at the Texas State Capitol today, calling for an end to the death penalty.
But for some of those attending, this issue is deeply personal. And their experiences are at the center of today’s march.
“I can’t get those words out of my head,” death row exoneree, Shujaa Graham, said. “‘Mr. Graham, we sentence you to die. December 8 at San Quentin until gas penetrated upon your personhood, and you will no longer in society.’ Bam! 15 minutes later, I was on San Quinton’s death row.”
Graham spent years on California’s death row after being convicted of killing a prison guard. His conviction was overturned, and he was eventually acquitted. (CBS Austin/Brenna Gibbons)
Graham spent years on California’s death row after being convicted of killing a prison guard.
His conviction was overturned, and he was eventually acquitted.
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But more than 40 years later, he said those memories still haunt him.
“After 11 long years, my greatest nightmare had finally come to an end,” Graham said. “But it wasn’t true. It still haunts me to death.”
‘It still haunts me to death,’ death row exoneree shares emotional story at Texas Capitol. (CBS Austin/Brenna Gibbons)
Several people marched from Capitol to Governor’s mansion and back Saturday, demanding an end to the death penalty.
The march comes at a pressing time for Texas inmates on death row.
Earlier this week, the state executed 46-year-old Jamaal Howard for fatally shooting a convenience store clerk in 2000.
People gathered here at the Texas State Capitol today, calling for an end to the death penalty. (CBS Austin/Brenna Gibbons)
And last month, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals refused to accept a lower court’s ruling that death row inmate Melissa Lucio was actually innocent in the death of her daughter.
Dr. Amite Dominick, Founder and President for Texas Prisons Community Advocates, told us the impact goes beyond prison walls.
“These family members are fighting tooth and nail for justice for their loved ones who are on death row,” Dominick said. “They are trying to save their lives”
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For those who marched, the hope is that their stories and message will lead to change. (CBS Austin/Brenna Gibbons)
For Graham, being freed hasn’t erased what he experienced.
“How do you adjust to that,” Graham said. “How do you ever erase those memories? You’re forever scarred. And the only thing I can do is just try to live with it.”
For those who marched, the hope is that their stories and message will lead to change.