Remember the West Memphis 3?

In 1994 the HBO documentary "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills" evoked a national outrage in the story of three teenagers who were arrested for the brutal murders of three 8 year-old boys. More than twelve years later, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley are still serving life sentences. And Damien Echols sits on death row, sentenced to die by lethal injection.

June 3, 2007 marks the 13-year anniversary of the arrests of the teens who were dubbed "The West Memphis Three" by the media. And Kansas City, like other cities across the nation, will be ready.

"This is absolutely a group effort," says Jennifer Schwertfeger, director of the Lawrence, Kansas chapter of the Free the West Memphis Three Organization (www.wm3.org), in an early February e-mail to her fellow volunteers. "These guys need all the help they can get."

Many people assumed that, after the injustices brought to light by the pair of documentaries and extensive media coverage, Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley would be set free. But so far their appeals have gone nowhere, and the results of DNA tests ordered by Echol's lawyers are still pending after two years. As June 3 approaches once more, the need for fund raisers to maintain the Three's legal defense and educate the public becomes more apparent. However, all year long, celebrities, musicians, and countless equally passionate people join the fight to see the three men released.

In June of 2006 volunteers from the Lawrence branch of the organization held a concert in Olathe, Kansas to raise awareness about the case. Local bands Dora Dank, Double Crossing Guard, and Occam's Razor were among the several that played sets. About 150 people were in and out during the show's roughly eight-hour duration. Local businesses even got involved, such as Lawrence's Blue Collar Distro, who donated glow-in-the-dark pins and printed flyers, and King City Music, who lent a PA system for the evening. But even with all the advertising, and the notoriety of the documentaries, volunteers say, not enough people know about the case.

Which is why this year getting the word out is starting early. A location for the live music show to be held is already being discussed. Bands are being booked. And every effort will be made to make sure people in Kansas City don't forget about the case. "June 3^rd is the official Awareness Day, but there is a year round vigil going for these guys," says one volunteer. At the organization's official website anyone can purchase T-shirts, bumper stickers, jewelry, or simply donate money at any time. A new auction website, Skeleton Key Auctions (www.skeletonkeyauctions.com), was created by Anje Vela, Tammy Adin, and Evan Eckard as a way for celebrities sympathetic to the case to auction items to raise money for the defense fund.

Kansas City bands have been involved in Worldwide Awareness Day from the beginning. The very first event, spearheaded by journalist Adin, was held in Columbia, Missouri and featured musical acts from both Kansas City and Saint Louis. This year more bands will get a chance to be featured as the show expands from one night to an entire weekend. The date of the events will be June 1-3, and the location is still to be announced. Check myspace.com/wm3benefit for updates on ticket prices, bands, raffles, and other information.