Hear from Jamie Meade (Michigan prisoner #232516) at tomorrow's rally:
Thank you all for attending today's event. This is the largest prisoner organized Criminal Justice Reform Rally Michigan has ever seen. It was organized by lifers from prison belonging to two organizations born inside a prison cell: The National Lifers of America and The Adolescent Redemption Project. I cannot say another word without pausing to remember Reginald C. Williams and David K. Hudson Bey. Those brothers were executed by Michigan's Secrete Death Row: Death By Incarceration. Rest in peace my brothers. You are not forgotten.
I want to thank Constance Garner, Christian Wiesenberg, and Larry Darnell Smith for being our voice during the organizing and planning of this Rally. I also want to thank my mother Pauline Thompson for all her help along with Judge Sharon Tevis Finch, Paster Deborah Conrad, Laura & Joe Eufinger, Pastor Cheryl Burke, Dr. Brad Bushman, Laurel Young, Stephen Silha, Alexandra Bailey of the Sentencing Project, the United Church of Christ Michigan Covenant Association, the Woodside Church of Flint, and the Chicago Theological Seminary for all your support. In addition, I want to thank all the organizations for participating today.
My name is Jamie Meade and I've been incarcerated for 29 years, since the age of 19. I'm convicted of aiding and abetting first degree felony murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The principal defendant who committed the crime received a 12 year sentence.
I'm not innocent. I participated in a robbery that resulted in Jason Thompson's death. I committed this crime because of my arrogance, entitlement, and stupidity. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about Jason and Evelyn. I can't stop thinking about the pain I caused Jason's family. I can only pray that one day they can find it in their heart to consider forgiving me. I am so sorry for causing Jason's death and causing you so much pain.
I work everyday to make my community on the inside better and to help make society safer. This is how I give back for the harm I've caused. I know it may not seem like much to some, but to that one young man I can help change, it is worth it.
Because this Rally is not about me or any one person, I want you to look around at the person near you. You may not see them. Many are present. Some may have spoken already. I want to read some names. I apologize if I miss you. I especially want to apologize to those women I'm missing.
Jose Burgos
Larry Darnell Smith
Pat Bates
Christina Mata
Willis X. Harris
Ronald Simpson Bey
Marvin Cotton
Ray Gray
Rich Griffin
Danny Jones
Eric Hill-El
Rick Speck
Troy Reinstra
Darrell Woods
Pete Martel
Aaron Kinzel
Darrell Seigers El
Demetrius Titus
James Thomas
Rodney Smith
Jamal Tipton
Eric Ball
Mario Bueno
Kenneth Nixon
Martin Vargas
Leon El-Alamin
Victor Diaz
Nate Johnson
Knuckles-El
and
Eladio
Everyone I named has been in prison. Many were serving sentences of life without the possibility of parole. Others life with parole or long indeterminate sentences. Some were juvenile lifers who were given a second chance. Others are exonerees. The point is they are standing next to you. They are not a threat to society as the Governor and Parole Board once deemed them. Jose Burgos works for the State Appellate Defenders Office. Larry Darnell Smith has his own organization. Darrell Woods feeds the homeless in Detroit. Pete Martel graduated law school. Aaron Kinzel is a professor of criminology at UofM Dearborn. Many others do advocacy work trying to reform the criminal justice system so people like myself can have a second chance, as they received.
Now I want to name some more people. Again, I apologize to those I miss. God knows there are many more sisters and brothers worthy of mentioning.
Chester A. Sheppard
Dwight Henley
Joshua Puckett
Eddie "Malijah" Gee
Carlton Banks
Joseph Richmond
Bruce Micheals
Sybil Padget
Tamijin Kensu
Richard Kilbourn
David "Dawoo" McGibbon
Michael "2x" Tubbs
Donald Corbin-Bey
Tony Tard
Paul Davis
Marlow "Wesley" Walker
Rene' "Pito" Rodriquez
Steven Hibbler
Mario Cavin
Demetrias Paul
Julio Martinez
Willie Turner
Oscar Montez
Leon Lippett
Joseph Dixon
Samar Fawaz
Jawan Hayes
Raymond Walen
Titus Wilis
and
Tod Kely Bey
Everyone I just named are either sentenced to death by incarceration, to life with the possibility of parole, to virtual life, or to decades in prison. The point of naming them ... they are the same type of people you are standing next to. Chester A. Sheppard has served 49 years, has a college education, and is a model prisoner. Dwight Henley has served over 25 years, has earned a BA and MBA, and has enough accounting credits to take the CPA. Joseph Richmond is an aider and abettor who has served over 25 years and has also earned a BA and MBA. Bruce Micheals has served over 30 years, is a juvenile lifer, and has earned a BA and a MA in Humanities. Everyone I mentioned are actively involved in their community on the inside and helping others become better men and women.
While the purpose of this Rally is To End Mass Incarceration, our focus is on Second Look Sentencing Legislation. Second Look Sentencing is smart legislation that is science-based, evidence-based, and simply commonsense. It provides an opportunity for those incarcerated to earn a second chance not to merely receive one. It also allows a trial and sentencing judge to correct any injustice that may have occurred because of a mandatory-minimum sentencing, like myself.
Are we no longer a society of compassion or of mercy? Is our criminal justice system solely based on retribution? The tough-on-crime era has passed us. Politicians can no longer use "tough-on-crime" as a slogan for their campaign. It is time we end the mass incarceration that has plagued Michigan for decades. Join us to pass Second Look Legislation in Michigan. Support second chances.
"We are not our past mistakes; we are foundations of our future."
Thank you.
Comments (0)