VOL IX ISSUE 7 November 20, 2019
MY TRUTH Cheryl Smith Publisher
Help Us All EDITOR’s NOTE: The Court of Criminal Appeals in Texas, on Nov. 15, halted the execution of Mr. Reed, granting an indefinite stay and calling for the consideration of new evidence by the court where he was originally tried. While this temporary reprieve is being celebrated, we believe we must still share information and keep this case in the public eye and on everyone’s mind. Lest we forget!
“The law holds that it is better that 10 guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer.” Jurist William Blackstone Laws of England, 1760s Have you ever been wrongly accused? Have you had to suffer because someone who was guilty actually got away with a crime, infraction, bad act? I met Joyce Ann Brown, shortly after she was released from prison after spending nine years, five months and 24 days in prison for a crime she
QUIT PLAYIN’ By Vincent L. Hall “These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” – Thomas Paine, an English-American writer, and
Services Trump – An American Crisis! planned for
political pamphleteer. When Thomas Paine penned; “The Crisis” on Christmas Eve in 1776, he sensed that the experiment we know as “American democracy” would eventually come to a crossroads. Paine could not have known that his
Christmastide treatise would resurface on Halloween 2019, but the truth is tailor-made for all times. “Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the See QUIT, page 5
IT IS NOT OVER!
While indefinite stay was granted, we must stay focused and vocal EDITOR’s NOTE: Sen. Royce West wrote this piece prior to the Appeals Court decision. This message is important because there are so many more Rodney Reeds and while an indefinite stay was granted, he has not been exonerated. By Sen. Royce West
Next week, November 20, 2019, Rodney Reed could become the next person to be put to death by the State of Texas. But there are enough circumstances and facts - old and new - surrounding the case
Sen. Royce West
that I, along with a number that's growing daily, believe strongly that Nov. 20 should
come and go while Rodney Reed remains alive. In a case that has now attracted national and international attention, Reed was convicted of abducting, sexually assaulting and killing 19 year-old Stacey Stites, whose body was found road-side in Bastrop County, on April 23, 1996. Reed was sentenced to death two years later. Aspects See WEST, page 2
BBBS hosts Military Mentoring Gala
Rodney Reed
didn’t commit. She changed my entire outlook as I realized that everyone in prison is not guilty. Then when former Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins started putting faces to more of the wrongfully incarcerated, I realized we definitely had an issue. You have to ask yourself, “If people are getting out of jail after being wrongfully imprisoned, doesn’t it stand to reason that someone who was executed was probably innocent, too? In one of the scariest movies of all time, to me, I saw someone suffer and I’ve always thought of how I would feel in the same predicament. The movie was from Edgar Allan Poe’s novel, “The Pit and the Pendulum,” and featured Vincent Price. In the end, a door closes and a woman is left behind to die because no one knows she is there and she is gagged and trapped in a Chamber, unable to move or make a sound. I believe the feeling that woman had as the door closed, “never to be opened again” would be the same feeling an innocent person would have as they were about to be put to death, paying for a crime they didn’t commit. Which brings me to my truth. There were times that I felt wrongfully accused and punished. For the life of me, I couldn’t see why my mother didn’t see that my brother was the guilty party. But sometimes, we both got a whipping. No matter how much I professed my innocence, I ended up paying, either with a whipping or a chore, and my brother wouldn’t blink an eye. I wonder if Mother wanted me to snitch. Hmmm… Rodney Reed is scheduled to be put to death on November 20, 2019. He has always maintained his innocence in the rape and murder of 19-year-old Stacey Stites on April 23, 1996, in a small Texas town. According to his attorneys, evidence exonerates Mr. Reed. Actually the evidence See MY TRUTH, page 4
The Big Black Tie Ball, Big Brothers Big Sisters’ largest annual fundraiser, highlighted Military Mentoring recently at the Hilton Anatole. The event, hosted by returning Ball Chairs Dr. Field and Sabrina Harrison, raised over $510,000 and brought out nearly 600 guests who were there to support one-to-one relationships and the vision for all children to achieve success in life. The Great Defender Award was presented by Little Brother Roger to his Big Couple of 11 years, Dennis and James. The award recognized a key individuals in the local community who have exemplified and heightened the mission of mentoring. “When I was five years old, my life changed forever,” said Little Brother Roger. “My dad passed away and health issues began to arise from internalizing grief. Then my mom signed me up for BBBS. I’m not sure I can even begin to capture in words the extent to
Dr. Wesley From Staff Reports
Services have been set for Dr. Karry D. Wesley, who after battling cancer, died last week. The founding and current Senior Pastor of Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, Dr. Karry D. Wesley a progressively expanding congregation of more than 5,500 members. Delivering his first sermon at the age of 15 at the Zion Hill Baptist Church in his hometown of Camden, Arkansas, Pastor Wesley’s vision is to reach, teach, and preach to those who are a part of the Christian faith as well as those outside of the Body of Christ. Pastor Wesley’s journey in the ministry led him to study religion and psychology at Bishop College in Dallas. He received his BA degree in 1984 and just two years later, on that very campus, he began the trek that would lead to the founding of Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. After meeting with others who were concerned
Friday, November 22, 2019 Lying In State Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church 12:00-6:00pm Wake Antioch Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church 6:00-8:00pm Saturday, November 23, 2019 Celebration of Life 10:00am -celebration service will be live streamed
Big Brothers Dennis
and
James
which you both have changed me and made me a better person. You guys made a commitment for one year, but now you are my brothers for life. I love you guys!” Following the Great Defender Award, BBBS Greater Dallas Market President Jenny Harper welcomed USAA to the stage to present a $30,000 check to BBBS
saluted at
Black Tie Ball
for military mentoring. “Tonight we are celebrating the most selfless in our communities, our Military families. Big Brothers Big Sisters is proud to work with active Military members and Veterans who continue their service at home as Big Brothers and Big Sisters,” said Market
about the trials facing Christians, he began assembling with other like-minded Christians who shared his vision. Within one month, those worship experiences led to a unanimous decision to officially organize a church. He and his wife Cheryl accepted the call as Pastor and First Lady, and prepared to move forward in the name of the Lord. In just two years, membership grew from 500 to 1,000 while worshipping at the campus. It also led to finding a permanent home for the church.
See BIG, page 3
See WESLEY, page 4
Sharing Harriet - the Woman has been my secret North Star since I was a clueless little Black girl in a South By Dallas grade Norma Adams-Wade school. I’m pretty possessive about I did not tell many people about Harriet – the women. Always have Harriet. I did not want to share. been. I have not seen Harriet, the Now, I have to share, like it or not. movie – yet. You see, my heroine Harriet, the But I plan to, when I get over my woman is getting her due attention, jealousy. You see Harriet Tubman at least a better portion of it, belongs to me. At least, she always has in my mind. This towering through the movie whose title is figure of strength, tenacity and simply her name. ‘Nough said. Secretly, I feel my seeing the endurance, gutter smarts, and movie Harriet should be a privatealmost superhuman achievement
I WAS JUST THINKING...
showing, just me in the theater exclusively. I feel I deserve a privateshowing, considering the adulation I’ve internalized about my heroine over the years. But know this, my esteem for Harriet does not diminish my immense regard for my other heroine – Ida B. Wells-Barnett, the great crusading Black journalist. Ida inspired my profession and motives. Harriet - the woman inspired the essence of my being. Yes, I’m jealous to share Harriet – the woman; and at the same time, thrilled that she is getting overdue acclaim. But I was just thinking..., Harriet,
the woman deserves so much more glory. Like fulfilling the elusive federal promise to put her face on the $20 bill. The Feds promised in 2016 to substitute her face for Andrew Jackson’s by the year 2020. Then, the Trump administration reneged and with blatant reluctance and glaring lack of enthusiasm said the change would come nearly 10 years down the road – around 2028. Harriet - the woman, though, would be used to the snub and would handle it were she here. She handled tons more grief than a government entity could shovel out and she kept on going. See THINKING, page 5