Keith LaMar Speaks From Death Row as Movement Grows to Save His Life

We communicate with demise row inmate Keith LaMar stay from the Ohio State Penitentiary, after the discharge of The Injustice of Justice, a brief movie about his case that simply gained the grand prize for greatest animated quick movie on the Golden State Movie Pageant. “I needed to discover out the arduous approach that to ensure that my life to be mine, that I needed to arise and declare it,” says LaMar, who has at all times maintained his innocence. LaMar was sentenced to demise for collaborating within the homicide of 5 fellow prisoners throughout a 1993 jail rebellion. His trial was held in a distant Ohio neighborhood earlier than an all-white jury. On January 13, 2027, the state intends to execute him, after subjecting him to a few many years in solitary confinement. LaMar’s lawyer, Keegan Stephan, says his authorized staff has “found a number of new proof supporting Keith’s innocence” that ought to necessitate new authorized avenues for LaMar to overturn the conviction.

TRANSCRIPT

It is a rush transcript. Copy is probably not in its last kind.

AMY GOODMAN: That is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman.

We finish immediately’s present with an unimaginable new animated quick movie. It’s known as The Injustice of Justice. It’s illustrated by the world-renowned artist Molly Crabapple and is narrated and written by a person on Ohio’s demise row, Keith LaMar. Keith LaMar will be part of us stay from demise row in a second.

He has lengthy maintained he was wrongfully convicted, and is preventing his pending execution. The Injustice of Justice simply gained the grand prize for the perfect animated quick movie on the Golden State Movie Pageant. Keith LaMar made historical past by being the first-ever demise row prisoner to name in to talk at his personal movie premiere and to interact the viewers.

That is the complete quick movie, wherein LaMar describes how he discovered himself sentenced to demise after the 1993 Lucasville jail rebellion on the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, the place he was being held. That is The Injustice of Justice.

KEITH LAMAR: My title is Keith LaMar. I’m a poet, writer and musician. For the previous 31 years, I’ve been in solitary confinement, buried underneath the unending agony of sensory deprivation. On January the thirteenth, 2027, the state of Ohio intends to kill me. I’m harmless. 1000’s of individuals across the nation and the world have rallied round my trigger, becoming a member of me in my demand for justice. Right here’s my story.

After I was 19 years outdated and promoting medication, a bunch of would-be robbers in the hunt for cash compelled their approach into my condominium. A shootout ensued, and, regrettably, I took somebody’s life and was myself shot twice within the legs. Dealing with a protracted jail sentence and on the recommendation of counsel, I pled responsible to homicide and was sentenced to serve 18 years to life. Decided to redeem myself and make good on my potential, I accomplished my GED, enrolled in school and have become a voracious reader in an try to restore myself to society.

I used to be within the fourth 12 months of my sentence when, in 1993, a riot erupted contained in the jail. Apparently, a bunch of Muslim prisoners on spiritual grounds refused to undergo obligatory tuberculosis testing and got an ultimatum: Take the check or else. Amid rumors of a compelled inoculation, the Muslims took over the jail in protest, releasing some 400 prisoners from their cells and setting into movement an 11-day standoff that may additionally reclaim the lives of 1 guard and 9 prisoners.

I used to be on the recreation yard when all of it started. A guard got here working out of the constructing with blood streaming down his face, adopted by a masked prisoner who was carrying a weapon and yelling, “We taking on!” In opposition to my higher judgment, I went inside to verify on my private belongings. A deadly mistake. It was full chaos. After I made it to my assigned location, I found that it was getting used as a holding space for hostages, each guards and prisoners. I used to be thereafter approached by a masked prisoner, who gave me the choice to both take part or depart. I selected to go away.

Lots of of us gathered on the yard, ready because the Nationwide Guard and Freeway Patrol took up watch outdoors the perimeter fence. Later, when useless our bodies have been dumped into the yard, they stood by and did nothing. It was as if I used to be trapped inside a nightmare.

Round 2 a.m. the next morning, we have been rounded up and herded into the gymnasium, the place we have been stripped bare after which violently compelled in random teams of 10 into cells meant for one particular person. Harassed and stretched to the restrict, a struggle broke out over meals. Tragically, I stood again and watched as a person named Dennis Weaver was held down by three prisoners and choked to demise. It was a cowardly factor to do. And I can now see and admit that. However on the time, I used to be frightened about my very own life. After I was later questioned by authorities, I claimed to have been asleep. It was my approach of telling them that I didn’t need to be concerned.

But it surely was too late. As a result of I had gone into the hostage space with out carrying a masks, my title can be talked about among the many huge array of potential topics. Despite the fact that the state concedes that I used to be by no means affiliated with any of the gangs stated to have presided over the riot, the truth that I used to be already serving time for homicide would play large half of their choice to indict me.

Finally, I used to be charged with 9 counts of aggravated homicide. I couldn’t imagine it. Thoughts you, it was by no means anticipated that I might really demand a trial. “He copped out as soon as. He’ll cop out once more” was the prevailing perception. The truth is, no prior to I used to be indicted, I used to be supplied a deal: “Plead responsible, and we’ll run the time concurrent with the time you’re already serving.” In different phrases, I might have gotten off simpler had I really killed somebody.

However why me? Why was I singled out for this undeserved retribution? It’s an excellent query, one which I’ve spent the higher a part of three many years making an attempt to clarify. Right here’s what I can let you know. When the riot got here to an finish, overzealous officers rushed into the jail with out first securing the huge crime scene, rendering inadmissible some 22,000 items of proof. So there was completely no proof to hyperlink anybody to crimes. This meant the state needed to rely solely on the uncorroborated testimony of jailhouse informants, probably the most unreliable witnesses of all.

What to do? Effectively, the very first thing the state did was enlist the assistance and experience of the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Workplace. This was not a random choice. Hamilton County has the doubtful distinction of convicting and executing greater than half of all demise row prisoners in the US. And the way have they been so profitable? The reply is easy and lethal: via the impaneling of all-white juries, the usage of paid jailhouse informants and the intentional withholding of exculpatory proof. I’ve now in my possession the assertion of an precise perpetrator who admitted to murdering somebody for whom I used to be sentenced to demise. And that is solely the tip of the iceberg. They withheld a lot extra.

It’s over three many years later now, and I’m nonetheless in solitary confinement being tortured as a result of I refused to plead responsible to one thing I didn’t do. I’m harmless. Look, we child ourselves once we communicate of justice. Till we now have a course of that holds everybody equally accountable for his or her actions, this technique will stay what it has at all times been: a punishment system. And as everyone knows, those that don’t have the capital get the punishment.

AMY GOODMAN: That’s the brand new, award-winning quick movie The Injustice of Justice, illustrated by the world-renowned artist Molly Crabapple, narrated and written by Keith LaMar, who’s preventing to boost consciousness about his case on demise row. He faces execution January of 2027. The movie The Injustice of Justice simply gained the grand prize for the perfect animated quick movie on the Golden State Movie Pageant.

Keith LaMar has been held in jail for 36 years, 32 years in solitary confinement, 30 years on demise row. His self-published memoir is Condemned: The Complete Story. He’s becoming a member of us now stay from demise row at Ohio State Penitentiary.

Welcome to Democracy Now!, Keith LaMar.

KEITH LAMAR: How are you? It’s such an honor and pleasure, I can let you know. And I’m not simply talking for myself, however for thus many people who find themselves inside. Now we have been listening to you for many years. And so, it’s fairly an honor. Fairly an honor. [inaudible]

AMY GOODMAN: Are you able to discuss in regards to the making of this movie, explaining your case, and what you’re hoping to perform proper now? You’ve got made this movie. You do stay concert events which might be carried out world wide, remarkably, the place you’re becoming a member of from demise row. You’ve got guide golf equipment, the place your personal guide is learn, however the place you additionally lead in dialogue of different books, as nicely, with excessive colleges and different locations. Discuss your message, Keith.

KEITH LAMAR: Effectively, I, you recognize, from the very starting, simply wished to face on my innocence. You understand, it was by no means actually a matter of me not wanting to talk out, to face up for myself, however that was the entire level of me demanding the trial. However the entire system, I quickly came upon, is centered round look round working inside prescribed parameters and whatnot. And I used to be suggested to stay quiet throughout my trial and the day after, and I did. You understand, I went together with it. You understand, that’s what we do. And, you recognize, different smarter, extra discovered individuals would communicate on my behalf, would arise and struggle for my life, you recognize, and I believed that. And I simply stored going deeper and deeper into the darkness, till I discovered myself on this actually, actually determined place the place I used to be actually standing on the point of my existence. You understand, I needed to discover out the arduous approach that to ensure that my life to be mine, that I needed to arise and struggle it. You understand, in order that was actually the factor that was the catalyst that pushed me to begin talking up and reaching to make the most of my very own company. And all of this stuff that you simply simply talked about is a product of that common thrust, you recognize, that factor that’s simply coming to the conclusion that if I don’t arise proper now, then I’d lose my life.

And so, that was the factor that type of began the film. You understand, I first began — I wrote the guide that you simply talked about, Condemned, and that was over 200 pages. And never lengthy after that, a pricey pal of mine, Lorry Swain, produced a documentary, which was half-hour. And so, we was making an attempt to determine a method to condense it much more, as a result of, you recognize, after all, individuals have quick consideration spans. We perceive — I perceive that folks have their very own issues, have their very own lives to stay out. And so, you recognize, it’s asking so much to ask somebody to take a seat down and browse a 200-some-page guide or a 30-minute documentary. However we thought that if we may condense the story right into a seven-minute quick, then probably that might garner extra consideration. So, that was the entire impetus behind creating the film.

You understand, my pal, my marketing campaign supervisor, Amy Gordiejew, was at a museum [inaudible] in Alabama and noticed a film that Molly Crabapple had produced. And she or he had the thought from that that perhaps this could possibly be utilized to my story and we will, you recognize, put forth an analogous mission. And we contacted Molly and her staff, and, you recognize, was capable of elevate the funding via this very variety particular person named David Roush. And, you recognize, subsequent factor we all know, we had a film on our palms. And so, yeah, I’m actually, actually grateful for the entire course of, for positive.

AMY GOODMAN: Keith LaMar, in your guide Condemned about Bobby Sands, for those who can clarify who he’s —

KEITH LAMAR: Yeah.

AMY GOODMAN: — his starvation strike, and the way it impressed you to go on a starvation strike, which led to your case being identified? I imply, you’ve been written about in The New York Occasions. You’ve got jazz greats taking part in with you, supporting your trigger.

KEITH LAMAR: Yeah. Considered one of my associates, who I feel you would possibly know, named Staughton Lynd, was a well-known historian, social activist. He, at first, after I was first sentenced to demise, was despatched to demise row, he someway discovered his approach into my life. And he despatched me that guide about Bobby Sands, Nothing However an Unfinished Tune, written by Denis O’Hearn, who has since grow to be a really shut pal of mine. He despatched me that guide. And as I used to be studying it, it felt as if I used to be being despatched a message. You understand, I had been pleading with these individuals — it was happening 18 years — in a civil go well with that was 18 years, all to no avail. And, you recognize, I used to be studying this guide, and it was virtually a last-ditch effort earlier than I used to be about to surrender.

And Bobby Sands and his comrade — Bobby Sands, for individuals who don’t know, was an Irish prisoner who, together with a number of of his comrades, went on a starvation strike in Eire. And, you recognize, a few of their calls for have been very fundamental, simply to be handled as human beings, which, after all, resonated with me. And never lengthy after I completed that guide, I reached out to the writer, Denis O’Hearn, and I wrote him. We struck up a correspondence. He got here in to see me. We turned actually shut associates.

And I made a decision to bear a starvation — enact a starvation strike myself. I, together with a number of different prisoners right here on the supermax, went on starvation strike. And after 18 years of not having the ability to break via court docket instances and all that, in 12 days of being on a starvation strike, I used to be sitting in a customer room with my household. And that was like a seminal second in my journey. It type of taught me that if something goes to vary, it’s important to arise and communicate out by yourself. And, you recognize, one in every of my literary heroes, Richard Wright, he wrote in his guide Black Boy that for those who communicate out who you might be, you’ll uncover that you’re not alone.

AMY GOODMAN: Keith LaMar —

KEITH LAMAR: And, you recognize, being in solitary confinement — mm-hmm?

AMY GOODMAN: I wished to usher in your lawyer, Keegan Stephan. In one in every of Trump’s —

KEITH LAMAR: Sure.

AMY GOODMAN: — first govt orders, January twentieth, was to revive the demise penalty, Trump stated, which incorporates the order that attorneys common — the legal professional common ensures all states have obligatory medication. That is Keith’s second execution date. What’s it? January thirteenth, 2027. If you happen to can clarify what occurs proper now in court docket, the place the case stands in court docket, and the position of the Ohio governor, Mike DeWine, the place he has taken, since he, not Trump, would determine what occurs, finally, to Keith LaMar?

KEEGAN STEPHAN: Sure. Hello, Amy. And thanks for elevating Keith’s case.

You understand, Keith, sadly, exhausted his direct appeals way back. The state courts and federal courts checked out his trial and decided, incorrectly, that there have been no constitutional deficiencies, and upheld his conviction and his demise sentence. I do suppose that any fair-minded jurist taking a look at his trial now would deem it unconstitutional and overturn his convictions.

Sadly, the one approach again into court docket is to search out newly found proof. So, me and a staff of attorneys have been reviewing all of the information in his case and speaking to witnesses for the final two years, making an attempt to show up newly found proof. Now we have found a number of new proof supporting Keith’s innocence. You understand, I began as a skeptic. I’m a jail abolitionist, positively an abolitionist of the demise penalty. It doesn’t matter to me if he’s responsible; he shouldn’t be put to demise. However I can let you know, after wanting on the report, speaking to witnesses, there isn’t a doubt in my thoughts that he’s really harmless.

And we’re working to place collectively a movement based mostly on the brand new proof to get again into court docket in order that we will show his innocence earlier than his execution date. Sadly, you recognize, there’s little or no justice within the justice system, as Keith has famous, so it’s going to take far more than simply litigation. We’d like mass actions of individuals, you recognize, talking out, performing out and pushing the governor to pause his execution as soon as once more to relitigate.

AMY GOODMAN: Let me give the final phrase to Keith LaMar. Keith, you’re scheduled to die January thirteenth, 2027, second execution date. First was for lack of medication to inject into you. Your last message as — what’s it? Could thirty first, you’re anticipated to have a live performance at Joe’s Pub right here. It’s your 56th birthday then.

KEITH LAMAR: Sure, that’s proper. You understand, I’ve been residing underneath the dread of demise, as you famous on the outset, for over three many years. So, it’s not dying. You understand, I’ve already made peace with the truth that I’m going to die sooner or later and a few day. All of us are. However the factor that actually drives me is, I’m right here: How can I stay? You understand, you referenced all of the issues that I’ve achieved since being on demise row. And all these issues come from a want simply to stay, as a result of I’m alive. You understand, I’ve these actually wonderful musicians come into my life: Albert Marquès, Arturo O’Farrill, Caroline Davis, Elsa Nilsson, you recognize, Samora Pinderhughes — all these stunning individuals.

AMY GOODMAN: Keith, we’re going to have to go away it there, however we’re going to proceed the dialog and submit it on-line at democracynow.org. Keith LaMar, artist, instructor, author, demise row prisoner, talking to us from the Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown. I’m Amy Goodman.