Kenneth Foster

In another case of what continues to be an endless stream of instituional racism in the criminal justice system, a 33 year old black man from Texas, named Kenneth Foster, will be executed two weeks from tomorrow. The facts of the case and the law used to sentence Foster to death are particularly ridiculous. The following is a short exerpt from a transcript of the show Democracy Now:

Foster is scheduled to be executed under a controversial Texan law known as the law of parties. The law imposes the death penalty on anybody involved in a crime where a murder occurred. In Foster's case he was driving a car with three passengers, one of whom left the car, got into an altercation and shot a Michael LaHood dead. At the time of the shooting, Kenneth Foster was 80 feet away in his car. Since Foster's original trial, the other passengers have testified that Foster had no idea a shooting was going to take place.

The shooter in the case has been executed. Now, texas wants to continue the vengence. It is not disputed that Foster was not ivolved in the actual shooting.

Foster has become something of a Death Penalty activist during his time on death row. Foster has vowed to non-violently protest his death sentence up until the execution is carried out or commuted. At this point, Foster's legal appeals in Texas have run their course. The last step is the Governor. IN order for the Governor to be able to step in and grant clemency to Foster the state Board of Pardons and Paroles must vote to recommend clemency to the Governor.

Here are some links for more info:
http://www.freekenneth.com/
a petition - sign it!
http://savekenneth.blogspot.com/