Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 30 June 2000 — Page 4

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DEBATE Continued from A1 mine justice has been served with those persons on death row. “Indiana is a very conservative state, thus there is an assumption that the majority of people in Indiana are in favor of the death penalty,” he added. “That may not necessarily be true. We believe otherwise because there is a vocal voice out there in support of the death penalty. This issue of an eye for an eye is not working and is somewhat barbaric and archaic.” Traditionally, the voices in favor of the death penalty have come from families and friends of murder victims. However, a new voice of abolition is being heard locally and is beginning to contribute to the political dialogue. On Wednesday, Indiana Citizens to Abolish Capital Punishment held a death penalty forum with the goal of creating a community wide call for “compassion for human life.” One of the most vocal opponents of capital punishment, Mmoja Ajabu, said the Sankofacase should serve as an indication that, despite the national strides toward multiculturalism, hidden racism still looms in the American fabric. “Regardless of guilt or innocence, it appears someone has to pay,” said Ajabu, a coordinator for Indiana Citizens to Abolish Capital Punishment and author of The Racist Origin of the Death Penalty in America. “If you’re Black, and you’re at the scene of the crime, then you will pay,” he said. “With this penalty, it is really an issue of justice versus fairness,” Ajabu added. “The racial implications of this penalty are there. Politicians appear to be using it to say they’re tough on crime, but that is ’ really not the message that is going out. What is being said with the continuation of this penalty is they will continue to be tough on Blacks.” According to Ajabu, in looking at the Sankofa case, death did not come for him as the result of the 1981 murder of Bobby Lambert. And, while his guilt is still a matter of national debate, Ajabu said that it couldn’t be ignored that Sankofa’s admittance of raping a white woman may have contributed to the rejection of clemency, despite several discrepancies. “More Blacks have been executed for taking liberties with white women than for killing each other,” Ajabu said. “They scrutinize and convict Black men for even being consensual (with white women), so you know the penalty is worse for non-consensual relations. It’s still a message to Black folks to know our place. It’s a les-

Sankofa’s casa reviewed Special to The Recorder hour appeals.

While police traced 22 crimes

Convicted killer Shaka to Sankofa during his crime sprM Sankofa (formerly Gary Gra- in 1981, Sankofa pleaded guilt^ ham), 36, was strapped to a gur- to 10 aggravated robberies. He ney and executed last week in was sentenced for murder when'' Huntsville, Texas, for the 1981 he was 17 years old. murder of an Arizona man out- Experts found that the gun'’ side a Houston grocery store. found on Sankofa could not hayp J Sankofa’s case had been re- fired the bullet that killed Latflr viewed more than 20 times by bert state and federal courts. On the day of Sankofa’s eit-. He claimed innocence to his ecution the 18-member Pardons' q death, claiming that the eyewit- and Parole Board voted 14-^ ness who said she saw him shoot against reprieve, 17-0 agairisj' Bobby Lambert during a crime pardon and 12-3 against corn/ spree, was mistaken when she muting Sankofa’s sentence. ' T

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identi fied him as the gunman who struggled with the victim before

the shooting.

The witness never wavered in

her testimony.

Sankofa had survived five other execution dates with 11th-

Supporters of Sankofa argue that his defense counsel was incompetent, being that it chose noj to call witnesses that may havg exonerated him. , r> - In Texas, 130 people have beep executed in the past five years,

son we need to understand, so that we wont become second class citizens.” But too many dynamics attribute to the disproportionate numbers of Blacks being penalized by death, according to Steven Jackson, executive director of the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males. Jackson, whose commission has conducted and released several studies dealing with issues pertinent to African-Ameri-can males, said that the condition of society, culminated with the systematically disproportionate numbers of Blacks in adverse conditions contribute to a problem that appears to be growing. The Sankofa case, in fact, merely lends to the argument in favor of a more intense look at problematic conditions such as Black men in the criminal justice system. What may be worse, however, is the fact that while the numbers don’t lie, the community is not as engaged in the debate as its leadership would hope. “(The case) certainly lends merit to the argument for a moratorium on reviewing this issue,” said Jackson. “But there are no clear answers. African-American males should not put themselves in the position to receive this treatment, but on the other hand, they are systematically incarcerated. “The problem is that this has been happening in the Black community so long, a lot of apathy seems to exist,” Jackson added. “Ultimately, due to the familiarity and frequency of this occurring, many in the community have become immune to it. How else can we explain the lack of outcry when Black males are being imprisoned at a rate of 11 to 1?” For many African-American males currently on death row, the

overwhelming majority lacked the resources to gain adequate legal representation; a fact Sankofa sup-, porters believe contributed to big sentencing. Because of this fact. Greater Indianapolis NAACR President Roderick Bohannon sai4 that the application and sentencing to death would continue to occur,at disproportionate rates. The local chapter supports oa,-; tional NAACP President Kweisi Mfume’s call for a moratorium pit all further executions in the country. “There’s no doubt that when it comes to who gets to make the death penalty decision, the statistics are very clear,” Bohannon said, “If there is an African-Americjaq male and a white male with money, the white man will not get the death penalty. If you’re an Africanr; American male facing a capital murder they are more likely to give him the death penalty.” This opinion is one that is shared by Black leaders, who assert th^ discrepancy can’t feasibly be ig; nored. According to George H. Neal, director of communicatioh and development of the Indianapolis Urban League, the disparities l1i the overall legal system have lohjg needed to be addressed. 1 ^ “There were studies 10 yCaifc ago that showed disparities in the system,” said Neal. “Obviously, it’k important when there is a life tli stake, there is no room for mistakes. “The state of Indiana has to ste)) to the plate and really begin to tpke a good look at everyone who h'gS been convicted and sentenced 't6 death row,” said Neal, who added that lady justice doesn’t seem tobfe color blind. “If you’re a person cif color or poor, chances are you’re going to have a terrible time mlhe justice system.”

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