tagged w/ abolition
-
The death penalty in Connecticut, after several previous attempts, was abolished today by the Senate in a 20-16 vote. The House is certain to pass the abolition bill, and Governor Dannel Malloy has pledged to sign it into law. Senator Edith Prague, who voted in favor of abolition before she voted against it, this time voted to abolish the death penalty prospectively. A prospective rather than a retrospective abolition of the death penalty, it is said by proponents of abolition, will leave untouched the death sentences of eleven inmates awaiting execution on death row,.The death penalty in Connecticut, after several previous attempts, was abolished today... more
-
-
A group of protesters including ProfessorD.us from The Dope Poet Society gathered at the steps of the Travis County Courtroom to speak out against the death penalty.
An inquiry into whether Cameron Todd Willingham was wrongly executed was postponed today after state District Judge Charlie Baird announced that he needed some time to review a motion for his recusal from the case and to allow lawyers for Willingham's family to respond.
Baird reset the case for a week from Thursday in his Travis County courtroom.
The recusal motion was made by Navarro County District Attorney Lowell Thompson, whose office successfully prosecuted Willingham in 1992. Thompson was in court and said he would return next week.
Baird said that prior to the hearing he was delivered a letter form Caren Burbach, general counsel for Gov. Rick Perry, declining Baird's invitation for the governor or someone from his office to participate in the Willingham hearing.
In the letter, Burbach questioned whether Baird had the jurisdiction to hear Willingham's case and noted that multiple levels of state and federal court upheld Willingham's conviction.
"The petition and hearing appear to be improper collateral attacks upon a final judgment against a man found guilty of murdering his three children," Burbach wrote.
Baird said from the bench that "these were pretty much exactly the same proceedings that we engaged in on behalf of Mr. Timothy Cole, who the governor later recognized and who was posthumously pardoned by the governor."
After a hearing last year, Baird issued the first posthumous DNA exoneration to Cole, who died while serving a prison term for a rape he did not commit. The Dope Poet Society is a politically charged hip hop group from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Their music is characterized by clever and sometimes controversial lyrics. ProfessorD.us (formerly Professor D) is the lead vocalist of the group, known for his tongue twisting, "rapid fire" rap style. The group has been active since 1995 and has toured around the world. They have also performed and collaborated with some of the most influential artists in Hip Hop including Public Enemy, Dead Prez, Jeru the Damaja, and Boot Camp Click.
Professor D changed his name to ProfessorD.us with the release of his 2008 album, Third World Warriors Vol.1, which lists the artist as "ProfessorD.us - The Dope Poet Society".
To hear more music by The Dope Poet Society please visit: http://ProfessorD.us
This is a zgraphix production. Produced by Jeff Zavala. http://zgraphix.orgA group of protesters including ProfessorD.us from The Dope Poet Society gathered at... more
-
-
Regina is a Brazilian writer living with her husband in Gainesville, Florida. She came to veganism at a later age, and has been at it for over ten years. Learn more about Regina and her reasons for being vegan by clicking play. Visit vegandocumentary.com for more information and videos.Regina is a Brazilian writer living with her husband in Gainesville, Florida. She came... more
-
-
Vegans in Omaha, Nebraska? It's true. John is an everyday guy from the Midwest who made the connection between his beloved cat, Rocket, and the animals he had thought of as food. His story and more, when you click play. For more info and videos, visit vegandocumentary.com.Vegans in Omaha, Nebraska? It's true. John is an everyday guy from the Midwest... more
-
-
Julia is an 11-year vegan living in Springfield, MO at the time this profile was shot, where she studied social work at a Christian college. She's 26 years old.
In this video, Julia discusses her relationships with others as a vegan, gives advice to people considering veganism, and talks a little about her reasons for being vegan.
Better know a vegan! Press play. For more information and videos, visit vegandocumentary.com.Julia is an 11-year vegan living in Springfield, MO at the time this profile was shot,... more
-
-
Born in India, Minku started out vegetarian but started eating flesh products in the U.S. He has been vegan for several years now, and currently lives in Chicago, IL. He works as a pedicab driver and does animal rescue with his girlfriend, Emelda, and he would like to open a vegan co-op some day. To better know a vegan, press play! For more information and videos, visit vegandocumentary.com.Born in India, Minku started out vegetarian but started eating flesh products in the... more
-
-
This short segment was cut from Risa's final profile. In this bonus clip, Risa recalls when she used to eat KFC, and how "distancing" worked to keep her from thinking about what (or who) we are eating.This short segment was cut from Risa's final profile. In this bonus clip, Risa... more
-
-
Risa has been vegan over a decade. She works at a raw restaurant in Vancouver, where she lives and also works as a singer/songwriter. To learn more, and to hear one of her tracks, press play. For more info and videos, visit vegandocumentary.com.Risa has been vegan over a decade. She works at a raw restaurant in Vancouver, where... more
-
