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| News on Napoleon - Execution Day |
CNN Presents: "Scheduled To Die" Texas has executed more people since 1982 than any other U.S. state. But the case of Napoleon Beazley troubles even the judge at his trial, since he was a juvenile when he committed murder. CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour examines the life-and-death struggle over one man. - May 25, 2002 |
| News on Napoleon Beazley 2002 |
The act I committed to put me here was
not just heinous, it was senseless.
But the person that committed that act is
no longer here -- I am.
I'm not going to struggle physically against
any restraints, I'm not
going to shout, use profanity, or make idle
threats. Understand though
that I'm not only upset, but I'm saddened
by what is happening here
tonight. I'm not only saddened, but disappointed
that a system that is
supposed to protect and uphold what is just
and right can be so much like
me when I made the same shameful mistake.
If someone tried to dispose of everyone
here for participating in this
killing, I'd scream a resounding, "No."
I'd tell them to give them all
the gift they would not give me ... and
that's to give them all a 2nd chance.
I'm sorry that I am here. I'm sorry that
you're all here. I'm sorry that
John Luttig died. And I'm sorry that it
was something in me that caused
all of this to happen to begin with.
Tonight we tell the world that there are
no second chances in the eyes of
justice ... Tonight, we tell our children
that in some instances, in some
cases, killing is right.
This conflict hurts us all, there are
no SIDES. The people who support
this proceeding think this is justice. The
people that think I should
live think that is justice. As difficult
as it may seem, this is a clash
of ideals, with both parties committed to
what they feel is right.
But who's wrong if in the end we're all
victims?
In my heart, I have to believe that there
is a peaceful compromise for
our ideals. I don't mind if there are none
for me, as long as there are
for those who are yet to come. There are
a lot of men like me on death
row -- good men -- who fell to the same
misguided emotions, but may not
have recovered like I have.
Give those men a chance to do what's right.
Give them a chance to undo
their wrongs. A lot of them want to fix
the mess they started, but don't
know how. The problem is not in that people
aren't willing to help them
find out, but in the system telling them
it won't matter anyway.
No one wins tonight. No one gets closure. No one walks away victorious.
NAPOLEON BEAZLEY
1976 - 2002
SEND CARDS TO NAPOLEON'S FAMILY:
Dear Abolitionists,
The best way to send cards or flowers for
Napoleon Beazley's family is to send them to the funeral home. This is what
the family has requested. Even if cards arrive late, they will be forwarded
to the family.
There will be a Celebration of Life on Saturday at the Emanuel Funeral Home at 1 PM.
The address is:
Emanuel
Funeral Home
906
North 6th Street
Crockett,
TX 75835
Their phone at the funeral home is: 936-544-2863
The family expressed their gratitude to
every one who protested the execution.
They had planned to join us but arrived
in Huntsville late and didn't finish their
prayers in time to get to the Walls Unit.
There was a host of family and friends
of the Beazleys at the Hospitality House.
Rena and Ireland both spoke with reporters
from CNN who did the hour piece that
aired last weekend. They were sad,
of course, but they were angry also, at the injustice of executing their son.
At 11 AM they were in
the radio studio at KPFT, Pacifica Radio in Houston. Gloria Rubac and
Njeri Shakur, co-hosts of "Fight Back!" interviewed the Beazley's and then
opened the phone lines for questions and comments. The hour was lively
and gave the Beazleys the opportunity
to open their hearts to
the listeners in this area. Most callers were very supportive.
One woman reported that she had phoned the governor to leave a message about
stopping the execution and couldn't do it as his mail box was FULL!
Hopefully both he and the Board of Pardons and Paroles have so many messages
that they will be forced to read and consider them.
After the KPFT show, Ireland Beazley and Gloria Rubac did an extensive interview with the BBC in London.
Then the family attended the 27th Annual Pan African Festival in Herman Park, sponsored each year by the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center. Njeri introduced Rena and Ireland, who spoke about their son and asked for help. Then SHAPE director Deloyd Parker took the microphone and urged the hundreds of people within earshot to sign the post cards to the Board of Paradons and Paroles. Members of the Abolition Movement were swamped with signers. Many folks went up and hugged Rena and told her to be strong and that they would keep the Beazleys in their prayers. The young woman chairing the music part of the festival took the microphone and said she was from Conroe and remembers the Clarence Brandley case and had marched for Clarence in Conroe. She told the crowd that we have to unify and stand up and fight for what is right.
The Abolition Movement had already mailed in over 400 postcards and today faxed about 250 that were signed in the park.
The Beazleys drove back to Grapeland late this afternoon, thanking us for all the support and feeling good about doing all they could to help Napoleon. When Njeri told Rena that her son had learned to be a warrior during his years on death row, Rena responded, "Yes, he has and I think we are learning to be warriors too!"
Both Rena and Ireland are still hoping for a miracle from the Parole Board. Let's hope they get it!! If anyone ever deserved clemency, it is their son.
If not, join us at the Walls Unit at 5:30 tomorrow as we stand by the yellow crime scene tape put up by prison authorities, and protest the crime they are committing. Cars will leave the Abolition Movement office at SHAPE, 3903 Almeda Rd. at 3:30 PM. If you can drive others or need a ride, eMail, or phone 713-523-8454.
Mr. Beazley asked to address the court after
being sentenced and expressed regret that members of Mr. Luttig's family were
not there to hear him. He then stood weeping in chains as he asked "for everybody's
forgiveness.":
"I wanted to
say something to certain people. As I see, it was, first and foremost, to
Mrs. Luttig and her family. As I see, none of them are in the courtroom today.
I want to say it
anyway, and hopefully, maybe, they will hear it.
8 years ago,
I involved myself in a crime I instantly regret. I knew it
was wrong. I know
it is wrong now. I've been trying to make up for it
ever since that
moment. I've apologized ever since that moment, not just
through words,
but through my acts. If I didn't care about what happened
to John Luttig,
then I wouldn't have cared enough to change. Nobody is
going to win in
this situation, and if we all lose, then I know all of
those losses start
with me. There's a lot of people involved in this --
not just me. The
Luttig family, the DA's, Tyler, Grapeland, my family,
whole bunch of
other people involved. People against the death penalty,
for it, everybody
involved.
I want everybody
to know, those people, the reason ya'll are here is
because of me.
It's my fault. I violated the law. I violated this city,
and I violated
a family -- all to satisfy my own misguided emotions. I'm
sorry. I wish I
had a 2nd chance to make up for it, but I don't."
Courtroom spectator: "You don't have to be sorry, Napoleon."
Mr. Beazley:
"But I don't. And if nothing else, I ask for everybody's
forgiveness. That's
all."
Napoleon Beazley - TDCJ Photos
Photo of Napoleon from CNN Presents
Photo of his Mom and Dad
Social Summary:
Offense Charged
in the Indictment: Capital murder, murder/armed
robbery
Plea:(5th Amendment right was taken) Court enters a plea of Not
Guilty.
Date Offense Committed: April 19, 1994
Attorney for Defendant:
Jeff Haas/Tom McClain
Attorney for State: Jack Skeen/David Dobbs
Court Trial Held
In: 114th District Tyler, Texas (Smith County)
Judge Presiding: Cynthia S. Kent
Trial Began (Jury
Selection): January 26, 1995
Day of Judgement:March 17, 1995
Verdict: Guilty/Capital Felony
Punishment: Death sentence
Prior Criminal
or Violent History: Nil
Date of Birth: August 5, 1976
Level of Education:High School Graduate, 1994
Place of School; Grapeland, Texas
Place of Birth:Grapeland, Texas
Parent/Guardian: Ireland and Rena Beazley/married
Siblings: Elder sister, Younger brother
Occupation/Trade:Artist, poet, philosopher, Brother, friend.
Talents: Stunning people via Stone Cold Steve Austin style.
Napoleon Beazley (999141)
Polunsky Unit D.R.
3872 FM 350 South
Livingston, Texas
77351 USA
| The ECADP set up an online petition for Napoleon -
Please sign the online petition at: http://www.PetitionOnline.com/ab17an77 |
Contact The Governor:
Texas Governor Rick Perry
State Capital
P O Box 12428
Austin, Texas
78711-2428 USA
Phone: 512-463-2000
Fax: 512-463-1849
Email: http://www.governor.state.tx.us/acgPERRY2001/e-mail.html
Criminal Justice Division - (Same Address as above):
Phone: 512-463-1919
Fax: 512-475-2042
Gerald
Garrett - Chairman of the Board of Pardons and Paroles
Executive
Clemency Unit - Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles:
Price Daniel Sr. Bldg
P.O. box 13401
Austin, Texas
78711-3401 USA
If you would like to read more about deathrow in America and Napoleon, call or fax:
Globen
Magazine
Tel. + 46-159-12900
Box
150
647
24 Mariefred
Fax. + 46-159-10860 Sweden
(Langgatan
13)
|
CNN Presents: "Scheduled To Die" Texas has executed more people since 1982 than any other U.S. state. But the case of Napoleon Beazley troubles even the judge at his trial, since he was a juvenile when he committed murder. CNN Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour examines the life-and-death struggle over one man. - May 25, 2002 |
|
Read Napoleon's Essay "Caged Animals" Caged Animals |
|
Read an Interview With Napoleon Interview With Napoleon |
| News on Napoleon - Execution Day |
| News on Napoleon Beazley 2002 |
| News on Napoleon Beazley 2000 - 2001 |
| Europe Condemns America for Violating International Law |
| American Bar Association Information on Napoleon |
| Too young
to vote, old enough to be executed Texas set to kill another child offender "If he lived in China, or Yemen, or Kyrgyzstan, or Kenya, or Russia, or Indonesia, or Japan, or Cuba, or Singapore, or Guatemala, or Cameroon, or Syria, or almost any other of the diminishing number of countries that retain the death penalty, Napoleon Beazley would not be confronting this fate." - Amnesty International - July 2001 |
Legal expert Mary Cheh: Beazley case (Includes Video) - CNN |
VIDEO:
The BBC's Nick Bryant |
|
AUDIO:
Houston Chronicle's Jane Elliott |
