the law does not stand for torture or racism; instead, it honors due process and equal justice for all. The law promises we punish criminals but fails to eliminate wrongful convictions. It is not necessary to kill someone as punishment because when the person is dead, you are not punishing him; you are punishing only the people who love him. These victims would benefit far more if the funds used for appeals were diverted to the provisions of counseling and other assistance. Racism continues to play an unacceptable role in capital punishment. In death penalty cases the race of the victim is much more important than the prior criminal record of the defender or the actual circumstances of the crime. More than half of those on death row are people of color, although they represent about six percent of the U.S. population, about forty percent of those on death row are African American. On the basis of race, the death penalty still discriminates against minorities; therefore, our principles of justice and fairness are being selectively applied. Currently in America we have not a system of justice, but injustice....
