Compiled by Larry Fedja
Art & Soul was a small event with a big spirit, and
everyone who attended was touched by the messages of hope and solidarity
that affected all that were present.
The 4WardEver Campaign worked in association with
Migrant Media and the
Free Tony Egbuna Ford Campaign to stage this event in support of the
fight for Justice of Tony Ford, another innocent victim of the Texas
State capital punishment killing machine; and solidarity with all the
other innocent inmates held in US prisons under sentence of death.
This event, which took place on 24th
March 2007 in London , also included a show of solidarity with families
fighting against deaths and abuses in custody in the UK, and screening
of award winning US film
DEADLINE.
For Tony & Mikey
Forward
By Tippa Naphtali
(4WardEver & Mikey Powell Campaign)
Tony Egbuna Ford has been incarcerated on Death Row in the State of
Texas for 14 years based upon flimsy and inappropriately tested
evidence.
He was the unwitting driver for two brothers who went
to a house in El-Paso to collect a drug debt in 1991. The brothers
forced their way in but didn't find the man they were looking for. They
demanded money from a woman at the address then shot each of the four
family members, killing the son, seriously injuring the mother and
wounding two young women.
Since making contact with Tony’s wife almost a year
ago, our passion for Tony’s case and the broader issues concerning the
system of capital punishment in the United States and elsewhere has
grown. This event was the first joint venture with an affected family in
our attempt to get greater international exposure for the case of Tony
and others like him.
Throughout his contact with us Tony has remained
selfless and supportive. This is a remarkable man who can see beyond his
own extreme plight and empathize with others - a rare gift!
When We Come Together
By Tony Egbuna Ford
Often, people from different walks of life cannot see
the commonality they share with each other. People will separate
themselves for any number of reasons. From religion, race, gender,
class… Sadly, such separation has found its way into the struggle
community. The good news however, is that just as different religions,
races, genders and classes have come together to form a collective voice
against societal injustice in all its forms, so too can the struggle
community.
Recently an event was held called ‘Art & Soul: Voices
from Death Row’, which highlighted my fight for Justice and Freedom from
Texas ’ notorious death row. Alongside this was highlighted the
senseless death of brotha
Mikey Powell, who died in police custody. Also in attendance in
support of our cause was a very gifted filmmaker – whose documentary
‘INJUSTICE’ ……… And yes, alongside the people standing solidly and
firmly to find a common cause to unite affected families and friends,
artists of various types. And finally, YOU, the common man and woman.
Because without you, our voices could not find any ground to stand on.
This event, held on March 24th, 2007 brought all these
various voices together showing that we do have a commonality. And that
yes, we do stand together.
When we come together, we not only show that we
support each other’s plight, but also that we empathize with each
other’s sorrow, pain and loss. It has been said that an injustice in one
place is an injustice for everyone. By uniting across the wide spectrum
as we have within the struggle community, we show that we will stand
against injustice and stand with those of particular struggles against
injustice wherever it may be.
The death of Mikey Powell is something that should
resonate with everyone in the UK and abroad, regardless of race, class
or background. Here was a brother who was taken into police custody, and
given an impromptu death sentence. For me personally, this resonates
with me, in that I was taken into police custody, and charged with a
capital offence which resulted in my being sentenced to death. Now,
while my experience and Mikey Powell’s may not be “exactly” the same, we
have both been sentenced to death. But, I am still able to fight to save
my life. Sadly, brother Mikey Powell is not here to do the same… Brother
Mikey should not be dead.
A concerted effort will be made to continue to bring
events such as the March 24th Art & Soul event, to more
cities in the UK, and by extension, cities over here in America, and
other communities in the world where I have support. The goal is the
same. To unite those of us together under a common cause – the need to
see Justice done. No one person, organization or group has exclusive
rights over this. We ALL want to see justice done. And, when we come
together as a collective we strengthen our position to bring about that
which we desire – JUSTICE.
I thank 4WardEver, Ken Fero, Tippa Naphtali, United
Families & Friends, the various artists here on death row who
contributed artwork, the artists & poets who performed and spoke. The
volunteers who helped. And most of all my beloved wife, Rachael Ford ,
who along with everyone mentioned, helped to make the Art & Soul event a
success. Again, this all happens WHEN WE COME TOGETHER.
Always,
In Strength and In Spirit!
Tony Egbuna Ford
Other events (dates to be
confirmed) will be organised in collaboration with agencies and campaign
groups from both Britain and the United States . They will focus on the
combined campaigns against the US death penalty and deaths, killings and
injustices in Britain ’s police, prison and mental health institutions.
Artists Against the Death Penalty
REPORT FROM THE NEW YORK CITY CHAPTER
By Dan Clemente
The New York City chapter had an art show called "Artists Against the
Death Penalty" at the Brecht Forum on March 1, part of other events done
during Awareness Week. The CEDP, the Free Mumia Coalition, and the
Welfare Poets put it together. Campaign members Carolyn Stafford and
Liliana Segura spoke out and did a reading of a letter from Tony,
respectively, to about 50 folks while the Welfare Poets performed some
musical numbers in between other speakers. It was Tony Ford's mother,
Joyce Ford - coming in from Detroit with her son's artwork who had the
biggest impact on the audience when she talked about the horrific
repression Tony has received for his prison activism from inside. Tony
has received much credit for organizing with other inmates to stop the
execution of Tookie Williams, and making them aware of the racism from
inside death row and by taking action. She also discussed how the CEDP
has contributed towards his stay.
We displayed Ford's pieces with Mumia Abu- Jamal's and other inmates,
some of whom were executed, including Tookie Williams. Mumia's colorful
mural had with his face, protesters, and cutouts of paper headlines over
the years spread throughout this piece.
As we observed some of Tony's exquisite pieces, we couldn't help
noticing snippets of every emotion: anger, hurt, but also hope and a
will to fight his way out of death row. Many considered it a success.
There were some new faces there. We all played a part in doing outreach,
by calling, handing out flyers and e-mailing people to come. It sparked
some good conversations about what the death penalty is all about and
what it's like being on "the row," especially if one, like Tony, was
falsely convicted, and to have what little rights he and others remain,
be revoked. By having these discussions, planning, and networking with
other groups, and with each other, it opened the door to explore the
whole criminal "injustice" system, the Iraqi war, and the aftermath of
hurricane Katrina, all of these racist elements that working-class folks
suffer through daily. It was definitely a creative way to bring these
people who become artists behind bars and giving those at the art show a
face and a personality. That's something we rarely get in the mainstream
press. It's a good way to strategize what we need to do if Tony, and
others like him, is to be freed.
