Texas governor nearing his 200th execution


By Jesse Muhammad
Staff Writer
Updated May 28, 2009
HOUSTON, Texas (FinalCall.com) - On June 2, the 200th execution under 
Texas Governor Rick Perry is scheduled to take place and protestors 
from across the state are synchronizing their plans to speak out 
against it.

Since becoming governor in December 2000, Mr. Perry has surpassed any 
governor in U.S. history in the number of executions under their 
watch. The date of the 200th execution could change if any prior 
scheduled executions are halted, but the outcry will never stop, 
according to Gloria Rubac.

“We're never going to stop protesting these killings” Ms. Rubac told 
The Final Call. She also heads the Texas Death Penalty Abolishment 
Movement in Houston.

“The prison system has never been about reform, especially in Texas. 
They are taking innocent lives so we are asking everyone around the 
country to call Gov. Perry, march in your city and let your voice be 
heard,” she added.

Ms. Rubac has been involved in the abolishment of the death penalty 
since it was reinstated nationwide in 1982. Every week she and other 
members can be found visiting prisoners in Huntsville, Texas, 
attending sessions at the state capitol and hosting grassroots 
planning meetings at local venues.

In total, Texas has executed 437 people since 1982, including 152 
under former Texas Governor George W. Bush. His highest number of 
executions took place in the year 2000, the year he became President. 
The 199th execution by Gov. Perry is scheduled on May 19 for an 
offender in Tarrant County. The 200th is slated to be a Black male by 
the name of Michael Lynn Riley.

According to the latest statistics released by the Texas Department 
of Criminal Justice, there are presently over 300 offenders on death 
row. Out of that population, 130 of those are Black males, 101 White 
males and 99 Hispanic males. Black women make up 40 percent of the 
female gender on death row and White women represent 50 percent.

Since 1982, Blacks have made up 32 percent of those put to death, 
second only to Whites (40 percent). Harris County leads all Texas 
counties with the most death row sentences over the past 27 years 
with 280. The second ranked county is Dallas with 96. Both counties 
also lead in the number of present offenders on death row with 114 
and 40 respectively.

“It is a shame how many lives are being taken and most of them may 
have been innocent,” said Reginald Gordon, who served 16 years in 
prison. “People don't recognize how these killings have served the 
political ambitions of these government officials. There are a lot of 
inmates being released now based on witnesses falsely identifying 
them, so who knows how many of those that have been executed were 
truly innocent.”

Upon his release from prison, Mr. Gordon launched OG1 Operation 
Outreach to initially help former prisoners make a smooth transition 
back into society and now has extended to tours at state prisons 
along with workshops for at-risk youth.

“Along with protesting, (we) have to go into the communities and 
teach our people responsibility to avoid entering that system which 
is a dead end,” said Mr. Gordon. “We have to start caring about 
ourselves. Black men are being shot daily and there is no outcry but 
when the swine flu hit, people (started) going crazy. We have to 
value our own lives.”

N.O.I. Student Minister Robert Muhammad, who witnessed the execution 
of Gary Graham in 2000, said “it is better to be rich and guilty in 
Texas than it is to be poor and innocent. Texas will have to answer 
to the God of Justice for these killings. I cringe at the thought of 
what will be brought down on this state. Perry has become one of the 
most prolific killers in the country.”

In terms of community responsibility, Mr. Muhammad recommends that 
“we as leaders have to get from behind our rostrums, pulpits and 
office desks to start engaging our people. Most people on death row 
have less education, have been hooked on drugs, and have not had a 
lot of opportunities. We must unify to change that landscape and save 
our people from entering that system by pooling our resources.”

Grassroots organizers in Texas are even calling on international 
groups to organize a protest at their nearest U.S. embassy or 
consulate. In Houston, the protest will take place at the Old Hanging 
Tree in the downtown area. Protestors in Austin will march at the 
state capitol and Huntsville residents will gather outside The Walls 
Unit.

Organizers are also asking people to do one or more of the following 
proactive tasks:

• On the day of the 200th execution, call Gov. Perry's Office at 
512-462-1782 and share their opinions on the death penalty.

• Send Gov. Perry a letter of protest to: Texas Moratorium Network, 
3616 Far West Blvd, Suite 117, Box 251, Austin, Texas 78731

• Sign the online petition and add your name to the list of people 
who are raising their voices to protest the 200th execution.

• Donate a symbolic 200 cents towards organizing against the Texas 
death penalty. That is one penny for every execution under Rick Perry.

This campaign is sponsored by the Texas Moratorium Network, Texas 
Death Penalty Abolition Movement, Campaign to End the Death Penalty—
Austin, Students Against the Death Penalty, Texas Death Penalty 
Education and Resource Center, and Abolish the Death Penalty Project 
on Amazee.

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