Campaign update for week of June 16

Missouri Supreme Court Opinion on Reggie’s Case
We have been watching for the court’s ruling and so far there’s been no decision on Reggie’s case. Reggie remains cautiously optimistic as he counts away the days, weeks and years. He is very grateful for the longevity of support by the St. Louis Community and beyond.

Execution of John Winfield
As public opinion for the death penalty wanes, the determination of the state of Missouri to kill its citizens at all costs continues to persist.

Recently a federal judge stayed the execution of John Winfield, scheduled for execution on June 18. This case is rife with contradictions, perhaps the saddest one being between family members who are being torn apart by the execution. When prison officials intimidated a prison staffer who came forward to talk about Winfield’s rehab during his incarceration, the judge was compelled to look deeper into the situation.

There’s also other problems claimed by the defense such as a juror coming forward who now says she was pressured by the prosecution to vote for death in the Winfield case. And there’s still the lingering secrecy around the lethal injection drugs.

Your efforts do count–for Reggie and for others on Death Row. We are winning the war to abolish the death penalty but there are still scrimmages and battles to fight. Let’s stay vigilant in our resolve to bring an end to the death penalty in Missouri and in the U.S.