- Signatures: 6,061
- Goal: 5,000
- Deadline: 10-4-2002
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Petition Target: Mike Huckabee, Govenor, Arkansas
This petition was started to support a continued investigation of the case of The West Memphis Three and support them in their fight to get a new and fair trial.
The three, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley, Jr. were tried for a triple murder in 1993 in West memphis, Arkansas. The evidence suggests that there is a clear possibility that these three are innocent of these terrible crimes. It is our responisbility to either prove BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT that these three are guilty, or release them.
Sign now and support due process of the law, and the respect for the civil liberties of these three men.
| Number | Date | Name | State | Country | Why I am signing this petition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,083 | 3:54 pm PDT, Jul 10 | Katherine Riley | Missouri | United States | |
| 6,082 | 4:16 pm PDT, Jul 3 | Sylvia Hufft | Missouri | United States | I am currently taking legal classes and we just watched the HBO documentary on this case and all have discussed and researched this and continue to do so, and feel the three teens did not get a fair trial and too many things were left out and messed up and it was too fast for the orginal trial to be done right. |
| 6,081 | 5:38 am PDT, Jun 24 | Denise Wolfe | Arkansas | United States | After all the digging I did to write a research paper for a class, I feel there NEEDS to be something done. This is, after all, America, land of the free(?), yet, these boys have had their lives stolen from them to sooth the public outcry and glorify certain careers. What about the rights of the three convicted without evidence as well as those of the murdered children whose killer remains free?! |
| 6,080 | 7:15 pm PDT, Jun 22 | Adam Green | New York | United States | It seems that they are innocent. that they deserve a retrial if not a pardon |
| 6,079 | 1:16 pm PDT, Jun 20 | Loren Talbott | Missouri | United States | I had believed that Gov. Huckabee was a fair man from the Presidential campaign. If he takes no action on this issue I will have to reevalutae my opinion of him. |
| 6,078 | 8:52 pm PDT, Jun 12 | Lindsey Alexander | Texas | United States | |
| 6,077 | 9:46 pm PDT, Jun 7 | Veronica Thompson | South Carolina | United States | because they're innocent!!! |
| 6,076 | 10:55 pm PDT, Jun 6 | Anonymous | Arizona | United States | The initial trial was a mockery of the U.S. court system. |
| 6,075 | 4:39 pm PDT, Jun 6 | danielle ethier | Rhode Island | United States | BECAUSE I FEEL THEY WERE WRONGLY CONVICTED. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EVIDENCE LINKING THEM TO ANY OF IT. |
| 6,074 | 8:29 am PDT, Jun 5 | Rhonda K. | Arkansas | United States | These WM3 are clearly innocent,yet what get's me the most it the fact that the new DNA eva. clearly proves who it was that done it and yet they run free to do it again,while the 3 only guilty of wearing black clothing and listening to Metallica set in prision still...I think they need a new trail or just released,but i think neither will ever happen...We live in a country that doesn't like to admitt it's wrong... |
| 6,073 | 5:30 pm PDT, Jun 2 | charity salyer | Kentucky | United States | they are innocent,and deserve justice |
| 6,072 | 11:49 am PDT, Jun 1 | Joshua Hansen | Arizona | United States | Everyone deserves a fair trial, and if new evidence has surfaced that may exonerate these men than a trial needs to take place in order to look at said evidence. I do not know whether or not they are innocent. I have not seen all of the evidence or read the entire transcription of the trial, but if there is a doubt as to the validity of the first trial than a second should take place. |
| 6,071 | 2:48 pm PDT, May 15 | Alecia Dunbar | Kentucky | United States | The three in prison are so obviously innocent. This is a miscarriage of justice for the three dead children, their families/friends, and those affected by the WM3 being imprisoned. |
| 6,070 | 8:18 am PDT, May 14 | Anonymous | Kansas | United States | i am fully convinced that each one of these boys are innocent. It is completely amazing to me that this has gone on this long. they should have never been sent away. and what is equally disturbing is the fact that the real killer(s) is free..... |
| 6,069 | 4:02 am PDT, May 13 | Angela Bunting | United Kingdom | I watched a documentary on the trial and cannot believe these 3 boys have been imprisoned when all the evidence points to their evidence. A travesty of justice, they'll be bringing back witch-burnings next.. | |
| 6,068 | 10:26 am PDT, May 12 | Anthony Morales | California | United States | cuz there innocent |
| 6,067 | 5:40 pm PDT, May 6 | Anonymous | Oregon | United States | I have read a lot on this case and saw both the documentry's on these three young men. It is obvious that they are innocent, but by shotty and incomplete police work and the right wing bible belt mentality, these three men are convicted of three murders they did not commit. It's sad that 15 years has already gone by and is dosen't seem as though we are one step closer to freeing them. It was a tragic and incrediably sad crime that had been done to these three little boys, and i feel for their family. The infamous memphis three were once boys as well and their youth has been taken from them. I hope by signing this petition it will esure them a decent future. |
| 6,066 | 8:37 am PDT, Apr 25 | K Taylor | Texas | United States | I have read and watched every piece of information on this case and do not see the three are anywhere guilty of these crimes. I feel having these boys incarcerated is truly a disgrace to our country and legal system. I have always been a supporter of our current system, but in this case, I can see nothing but severe police errors, violation of human rights for the defendants, police misconduct & prejudice. Its just the saddest thing I have ever read. These boys need to be freed or try the case with the new evidence. I strongly support this cause. |
| 6,065 | 2:43 pm PDT, Apr 23 | Katherine Nixon | California | United States | I work for the Santa Clara Public Defender's Office and have previously worked with the Monterey County Public Defender's Office. The evidence presented by the prosecution played on the fears and religious prejudice of a Southern community. There is evidence--not rhetoric, but evidence--that proves these boys could not possibly have been the perpetrators. This is one of the many cases in this country that made me an opponent of the death penalty. What a show of ignorance on the part of the prosecution, the police and the jury. And at best, incompetence by the police and prosecution. Not to say that there was no prosecutorial misconduct, but that it appears that hasn't been brought up yet. |
| 6,064 | 5:55 pm PDT, Apr 9 | Ashley Burtch | Canada | ||
| 6,063 | 6:06 am PDT, Apr 9 | Jacob Cope | Tennessee | United States | I think that they didn't do it!!! |
| 6,062 | 6:36 pm PDT, Apr 7 | Aleisha Larcombe | Australia | I believe these men to be innocent and with the DNA results so far they should be granted a new trial. New trials have been granted with less new evidence then what the defense team has been able to uncover thus far. | |
| 6,061 | 7:27 pm PDT, Apr 6 | brittany carter | Ohio | United States | the three men now, did not do it i read and seen the movie and study a little bite about it and they did not do it |
| 6,060 | 5:50 pm PDT, Mar 29 | Sharon Salmi | Florida | United States | I have read about this case and believe them to be innocent. I believe they should be entitled to a new trial because it is so obvious they did not receive a fair trial the first time. |
| 6,059 | 7:15 am PDT, Mar 23 | robert blum | Illinois | United States | |
| 6,058 | 9:01 pm PDT, Mar 22 | Julie Page | Canada | Why are they still in jail when DNA has proved them innocent? You call that justice, I call it a FARCE! | |
| 6,057 | 1:52 pm PDT, Mar 20 | Christine RIvera | New York | United States | I have search all over the internet and have read every article and books about this case and i truly believe in my heart that these three men are inoocent. I feal at the very least they should receive new trials if they are not released on the new evedidence they have found. |
| 6,056 | 11:26 pm PDT, Mar 16 | lindy wilson | Tennessee | United States | |
| 6,055 | 9:09 pm PDT, Mar 12 | Rebecca Franklin | Mississippi | United States | I believe that everyone should be entitled to a fair trial.If the officials are so sure that these boys are guilty,and maybe they are, then what will it hurt to give them a new trial.If they are truly guilty the outcome will not be different. |
| 6,054 | 6:36 pm PDT, Mar 10 | Emily Heath | Australia | I cannot say if these men are guilty or innocent as I cannot say if Byers is guilty or innocent BUT there are so many "holes" in this case it is ridiculous. Most importantly they demand a retrial as it has been discovered AFTER their imprisonment there is no DNA evidence linking them to this crime. | |
| 6,053 | 2:36 pm PDT, Mar 10 | Anonymous | Colorado | United States | There is no doubt. These men are not guilty. The knife that belong to Byers with human blood, the mystery black man covered in blood in the restaurant bathroom, the fat lazy lady cop that did not bother to go in and check the man out in the bathroom of the restaurant. Which by the way she should have lost her job over. No police looking into the restaurant secne. The blood sample from the restaurant that got "misplaced". But the biggest things, NO BLOOD AT THE CRIME SCENE and NO DNA EVINDENCE AGAINST THE MEN. I'm just not fair. |
| 6,052 | 10:59 am PDT, Mar 10 | Tim Masthay | Kentucky | United States | In this country the accused are suppose to be innocent until PROVEN guilty. |
| 6,051 | 9:34 am PST, Mar 8 | Anonymous | Ireland | It is clear that the police botched this investigation and that a huge injustice was committed against these three young men. Furthermore, the evil people who murdered these three children have not yet been brought to justice. The State of Arkansas owe it to Christopher Byers, Steven Branch and Michael Moore to bring the perpetrators of this horrific crime to justice and to right the terrible wrong that has been done to the West Memphis Three. |
Support A Retrial for the West Memphis Three
Attention: Mike Huckabee, Govenor, Arkansas
The evidence supporting the conviction of the West Memphis Three is incomplete and does not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they are guilty.
We, the undersigned, implore you to ensure that these three men receive a fair trial and prove their guilt. For all men are INNOCENT until proven guilty. We beseech you to use your influence to ensure that the articles of the constitution are respected and that the inalienable rights of Damien, Jesse and Jason are also respected. These men, as all men do, deserve a fair trial.
Sincerely,
The undersigned.
We, the undersigned, respectfully request that you use your influence to ensure that the West Memphis Three receive a fair retrial and a just investigation of their case.
We understand that the history of the case is as follows:
- On May 5th, 1993 the bodies of three 8 year old boys, Christopher Byers, Micheal Moore and Steven Branch were found, mutilated and tied, wrists to ankles, in a shallow creek along interstate 40 in west memphis Arkansas.
- One month later the police arrested three local teenagers whom they accused of sacrificing the boys in a bizarre satanic ritual.
- The accused were 18 year old Damien Echols, said to be the mastermind behind the murders, 16 year old Jason Baldwin and 17 year old Jesse Misskelley Jr, a boy with an I.Q. of 72.
- According to the police, Jesse voluntarily confessed to participating in these brutal slayings. His confession, though incomplete and frought with inaccuracies, implicated both Damien and Jason, who he claimed to be fellow devil worshipers.
- These three were condmned long before their trial began. For nine months the media released rumored stories of blood drinking and devil worshipping, homosexual orgies and demons.
- Despite overwhelming public hostility toward them, the accused steadfastly maintained their innocence.
- Damien asserted that, throughout the years, police had persecuted him because he was different-wearing black clothing, listening to heavy metal music and being interested in the Wicca religion.
- Jason complained that he was the victim of guilt by associiation- that his freindship with Damien was his only "crime".
- Jesse said that he was coerced into confessing through police pressure. Experts in polygraph tests and false confessions support this contention.
- In 1999, a board certified forensic odontolgist confirmed that one of the slain children, Steven Branch, had an adult bite mark that DID NOT match dental impressions given by Damien, Jesse or Jason.
The evidence supporting the conviction of the West Memphis Three is incomplete and does not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that they are guilty.
We, the undersigned, implore you to ensure that these three men receive a fair trial and prove their guilt. For all men are INNOCENT until proven guilty. We beseech you to use your influence to ensure that the articles of the constitution are respected and that the inalienable rights of Damien, Jesse and Jason are also respected. These men, as all men do, deserve a fair trial.
Sincerely,
The undersigned.
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