To Friends and Supporters;
I know it has been a while since many of you
have heard from me personally. Please do not worry. I’m fine. I am
strong. However, unforeseen situations seem to pop up, which I have had
to deal with.
As many of you may know, the Supreme Court
of the United States has turned me down. While this is a tremendous
disappointment, it does not end my legal battle to save my life. And, as
my lovely wife reminds me, this set back only strengthens my – our –
resolve.
I am still in protest mode although I have
not personally demonstrated in a while. Protesting does not depend on the
number of times one(s) demonstrate. Rather, it depends on the
individual(s) standing by their convictions in all adversities. Thus, I
am not broken. The administration worked hard in the beginning to do just
that. To break me. So, they threatened and retaliated – and I remained
steadfast. I would not give up protesting my unjust imprisonment and
sentence of death. Furthermore, my D.R.I.V.E. brothers also remained
steadfast in their solidarity to stand with me in protesting not only
executions, but also the inhuman prison conditions in which we live.
Thus, the administration did not – and will not – find a crack in the wall
to eventually break us. Now, the administration “tries” to be more
cordial, all the while delaying and holding mail, barring “certain” people
from visiting us, unscheduled shakedowns (cell searches), random denials
of meals, restrictions of showers, etc… And when these things, and more,
are brought to their attention, they react with, “Oh! I didn’t know
this/that happened! I’ll make sure it won’t happen again…” Of course,
this is all staged. It is done to ensure that we go to them to “solve”
problems. It is an “ego power” trip. They have to feel they are
in control. So, I don’t go to them for anything. And anything they do to
me, I bring to the people – you. And it is your pressure
upon them that really makes them “act right”, or not as “bad” as they wish
to act towards us. So people, stay diligent. Struggle is a long, hard
road. All we need is for you to stand with us, and above all, be
patient. Change does not happen overnight. But as Sam Cooke sang,
“A change is gonna come…”
Over all thought: The administration is
trying to work with us. Actually just 2 people. I won’t give their names
because I don’t want to cause them undue stress. But I will say this.
Warden Hirsch, Major Nelson – they change with the weather – and both are
behind many of the harassments we face, especially with mail.
Major Nelson, I have found out, is the person responsible for re-opening
our incoming mail. She has a stack of mail on her desk. And since she is
not here all the time, it sits there. Keep in mind, the mail has
already been screened. Her purpose is just to delay “certain” letters
reaching us. It is harassment. Also, Major Nelson is keeping our special
purchase stamps. Why? Only she can answer that.
Anyway, March 14th looms ever
closer. This means, that without another modification of my execution
date or a stay, I may be murdered by this state. If that is to be
the case, I ask and appeal to the power of the people to not let this be a
“normal” execution. I stand in opposition of state sanctioned murder.
You – people of conscience – likewise do. But what good is protest if I
don’t bring action? Protest is action geared. I’m not for
violence. But people, I’ll tell you this. Unless anti death penalty
activists turn to peaceful civil disobedience, we will have a death
penalty for years to come in America. State sanctioned death is
murder! It can be viewed no other way. But the problem I see is
that so called national leaders are not directing their sole attention to
ending this madness. Their politico party or organization may have an
“anti death penalty” platform. But they are not active against the
death penalty. And many anti death penalty groups, while meaning well,
continue to play the “kick me” bag for death penalty proponents. What
politico has paid a political price for supporting the death penalty?
What prosecutor or police officer has been fired or jailed for sending
innocent people to their deaths?
Ok, I will bring this to a close. But keep
this in mind: Marion Dudley was killed yesterday by the state of Texas.
He sat in protest and made them carry him to the van that was waiting to
take him to the murder house in Huntsville. Is our protest in vain? Last
year on November 16th, Shannon “Big Tank” Thomas likewise sat
in protest on his execution date. I ask again. Was his protest in vain?
Is our protest in vain? We are showing with our actions that we protest
to the highest degree that we are not OK with this state saying
they will kill us on a certain day at a certain time. It is not OK.
Let the world know. If people don’t know then what we do down here will
be as if our actions didn’t take place at all. Don’t let our
actions be in vain.
Always
In Strength and In Spirit!
Tony Egbuna Ford
