The Impending Execution of Michael James Perry

I may be a little late in getting this news to anyone who has been following Texas v Michael James Perry but its better late than never. Michael has been given an execution date of July 1, 2010. This came after the United States Supreme Court refused to hear his case back in December. Those of us who support and believe in Michael are devastated and terrified.

I find that Texas and, for that matter, the United States courts have a slimy way of doing business when informing others of their decisions. Let me give you an example; when Michael was shot down by the U.S.S.C., no one was notified yet the High Court's decision was posted on the internet. I was sent an email by an AP reporter (thank you Michael Graczyk...I mean that) who told me that Michael had been turned down. I immediately called Michael's parents to see if they were OK and if I could help in anyway, assuming that they were told by Michael's attorneys. They had no clue what I was talking about. So I was given the unpleasant task of telling them about the Courts decision. A few days later, I spoke with Michael's mother and she told me that it was a blessing that I had called them because about 10 minutes after I told them, it was broadcast on the nightly news. Now imagine, for a moment, that you were waiting to hear anxiously what the future holds for your son, whether he will live or die, turning on the news and hearing it from a smiling reporter. I find this disgusting that it could happen and Mr. and Mrs. Perry deserve better than this. Myself, I believe that immediate family members should be notified before any public statement is made.

Now let me move on to Texas and Tuesday, January 12, 2010. I get a phone call from Michael's girlfriend, Kari, who just received an email from our very dear friend Marco Bragazzi who lives in Italy. He tells Kari that Michael has a date and she, in turn, tells me. So I go on to the TDCJ (Texas Department of Criminal Justice) and check it out for myself. Yep, there it is under scheduled executions...07/01/2010 Michael Perry. I have now gone into full mode panic. It is very real that the State of Texas is going through with their plans to kill my little brother. My thoughts turn to Michael's parents and what they must be going through so I called them to offer my assistance. Once again, THEY HAD NO CLUE!!! I felt horrible. I felt anger...no, I felt pure rage that they were not told about this.

Forgive my ignorance and stupidity but it seems to me that if a court is going to set an execution date for an inmate, there should be, at least, a hearing on the matter. Is this why so many death row inmates get executed in Texas because no one informs them or anyone else that they have a date? What's that? Oh, I forgot to mention the fact that no one told Michael about his date until 2 weeks after it was set. I'm sorry but that's just plain cruel. I plan on asking Michael's attorneys to get his execution stayed just for that very reason. It is 2 weeks of time that we could have used to work on his appeals for a stay.

Let me make one thing perfectly clear, this matter is far from over and I don't care who I piss off. As a matter of fact, I am going to make it my mission to severely piss some people off. I want them to go into a blind rage and feel screwed over just like I do, Michael's parents, and Michael himself and I'm going to start with the trial/sentencing judge. She is the one that did this behind everybody's back without even telling Michael's attorneys. TDCJ will be on my list also. The system needs to be changed so that innocent people are not hurt in the process. Like I said before and this doesn't pertain just to Michael's parents, it involves all the families of the offenders on death row; these people deserve much better from our system. A more compassionate and cautious court system would go along way to ease the pain of the friends and family who are left behind.