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00:00:01>> SUPPORT FOR THE STATEWIDE
BROADCAST OF THE STATE OF OHIO
00:00:04COMES FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF
PORTER, WRIGHT, MORRIS AND
00:00:06ARTHUR, LLP.
HELPING BUSINESS AND INDIVIDUAL
00:00:08WITH COMPLEX LEGAL PROBLEMS IN
OHIO, ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND
00:00:10AROUND THE WORLD.
ONLINE AT PORTER WRIGHT.COM.
00:00:13AND FROM THE OHIO EDUCATION
ASSOCIATION, REPRESENTING
00:00:16120,000 MEMBERS, WHO WORK TO
INSPIRE THEIR STUDENTS TO THINK
00:00:22CREATIVELY AND EXPERIENCE THE
JOY OF LEARNING.
00:00:26ON LINE AT OHEA.COM.
ANDY: OHIO LAWMAKERS DELIVERED
00:00:28ANOTHER BLOW TO THE FUTURE OF
GREEN ENERGY INCENTIVES.
00:00:31THE CHARTER SCHOOL OVERHAUL PLAN
TAKES ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY
00:00:35BUT SKEPTICS THINK THERE'S STILL
A POSSIBILITY THAT LEADERS COULD
00:00:37WEAKEN THE BILL.
AND TWO MEN WHO SPENT A TOTAL OF
00:00:41MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY IN
PRISON FOR CRIMES THEY DID NOT
00:00:44COMMIT TALK ABOUT WHAT IT'S LIKE
TO BE SENTENCED TO DEATH -- IN
00:00:46THE HOPES OF STOPPING WRONGFUL
CONVICTIONS AND EXECUTIONS IN
00:00:49THE FUTURE.
ALL THIS WEEK IN "THE STATE OF
00:00:53OHIO."
THE TERM "INDEFINITE FREEZE" WAS
00:01:04THE BIG BUZZ AROUND CAPITOL
SQUARE THIS WEEK.
00:01:06I'M ANDY CHOW FILLING IN FOR
KAREN KASLER.
00:01:10A GROUP OF STATE LAWMAKERS PUT
OUT A REPORT CALLING FOR JUST
00:01:12THAT, AN INDEFINITE FREEZE, OF
THE STATE'S GREEN ENERGY
00:01:15STANDARDS.
THESE ARE THE STANDARDS THAT
00:01:18REQUIRE UTILITIES CUT CUSTOMER
ENERGY-USE BY 22% AND INCREASE
00:01:21THE USE OF RENEWABLE SOURCES BY
12.5%, ALL BY 2027.
00:01:28REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE
KRISTINA ROEGNER OF HUDSON WAS
00:01:31CO-CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT
PUT OUT THE REPORT.
00:01:34SHE SAID THE STANDARDS, WHICH
WENT INTO EFFECT IN 2008, HAD
00:01:37ALREADY RAISED THE AVERAGE
ELECTRIC BILL BY $40 A YEAR.
00:01:42REP. ROEGNER: BY THE WAY, WE'RE
ONLY JUST AT THE BEGINNING OF
00:01:44THE MARCH UP WHAT WE'RE CALLING
MANDATE MOUNTAIN.
00:01:47SO THOSE RIDERS, IF THOSE
MANDATES WERE TO INCREASE, YOU
00:01:49COULD EXTRAPOLATE THAT THOSE
EXTRA COSTS IN YOUR UTILITY
00:01:55BILLS, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU
WOULD GO UP AS WELL.
00:02:02ANDY: SEVERAL ADVANCED ENERGY
AND ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS CAME
00:02:06OUT TO SLAM THE REPORT.
SAMANTHA WILLIAMS WITH THE
00:02:08NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE
COUNCIL DISPUTED ROEGNER'S
00:02:10NUMBERS.
MS. WILLIAMS: THE AMOUNT THAT A
00:02:11CONSUMER PAYS EVERY YEAR ON
THEIR BILL FOR EFFICIENCY AND
00:02:14RENEWABLES IS OUTWEIGHED BY FAR
BY THE BENEFITS THAT RENEWABLES
00:02:18BRING.
LOWERING ELECTRIC BILLS ACROSS
00:02:24THE SYSTEM, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO
CUT YOUR OWN ELECTRIC BILLS
00:02:26THROUGH EFFICIENCY AND OF COURSE
ALL THE BENEFITS THAT COME WITH
00:02:28INVESTMENTS IN CLEANER ENERGY.
ANDY: THE BIGGEST OPPONENT TO
00:02:37THE REPORT WAS GOV. JOHN KASICH.
EVER SINCE TAKING OFFICE, KASICH
00:02:39HAS TOUTED AN ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE
APPROACH TO ENERGY POLICIES.
00:02:42HIS SPOKESPERSON, JOE ANDREWS,
PUT OUT THIS STATEMENT SAYING,
00:02:43"A CONTINUED FREEZE OF OHIO'S
ENERGY STANDARDS IS UNACCEPTABLE
00:02:45AND WE STAND WILLING TO WORK
WITH THE OHIO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
00:02:51TO CRAFT A BILL THAT SUPPORTS A
DIVERSE MIX OF RELIABLE,
00:02:54LOW-COST ENERGY SOURCES WHILE
PRESERVING THE GAINS WE HAVE
00:02:58MADE IN THE STATE'S ECONOMY."
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ALREADY
00:03:02FROZE THE STANDARDS LAST YEAR
AND THAT FREEZE WILL LIFT IN
00:03:052017.
TO BRING AN INDEFINITE HALT ON
00:03:09THE STANDARDS, THE HOUSE AND
SENATE WOULD HAVE TO PASS A NEW
00:03:11BILL AND OF COURSE THAT WOULD
REQUIRE THE GOVERNOR'S
00:03:14SIGNATURE.
THE CHARTER SCHOOL REFORM BILL
00:03:17TOOK A SHARP RIGHT TURN ON ITS
WAY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.
00:03:21INSTEAD THE HOUSE OPTED TO SPEND
MORE TIME MAKING CHANGES TO THE
00:03:24BILL WHICH WAS REVISED ON THE
SENATE SIDE.
00:03:27LAWMAKERS HAVE TOUTED THE
LEGISLATION AS SOMETHING THAT
00:03:31WILL BRING MORE TRANSPARENCY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY TO OHIO'S
00:03:33MUCH-MALIGNED CHARTER SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
00:03:37HOUSE REPUBLICANS VOTED TO SEND
THE BILL TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
00:03:40IN ORDER TO IRON OUT SOME MORE
DETAILS.
00:03:43REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE RON
AMSTUTZ OF WOOSTER,
00:03:47SECOND-IN-COMMAND IN THE HOUSE,
SAID THEY DON'T PLAN TO MAKE ANY
00:03:48MAJOR CHANGES.
REP. AMSTUTZ: THERE ARE NO.
00:03:53NOBODY'S WORKING ON THIS GETTING
READY TO PULL A FAST ONE, I
00:03:57HAVEN'T SEEN ANY ATTEMPTS AND SO
I FEEL THAT WE ARE WELL ON THE
00:04:02WAY TO HAVE A VERY STRONG
CHARTER REFORM, COMMUNITY SCHOOL
00:04:06REFORM BILL THAT IS VERY MUCH
NEEDED IN OUR STATE.
00:04:09ANDY: BUT DEMOCRATIC
REPRESENTATIVE TERESA FEDOR OF
00:04:13TOLEDO ARGUED THAT SENDING THE
BILL TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
00:04:15MEANS THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE THE
MEASURE WILL BE WATERED DOWN TO
00:04:17MAKE EXCEPTIONS FOR SOME CHARTER
SCHOOL OPERATORS.
00:04:20SOME OPERATORS ARE KNOWN FOR
MAKING LARGE CONTRIBUTIONS TO
00:04:23REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGNS.
REP. FEDOR: IF HISTORY IS ANY
00:04:28INDICATION OF THE FUTURE, THERE
IS CAUSE FOR ALARM IN SENDING
00:04:33THIS TO CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.
IT IS MY GRAVE CONCERN, BEHIND
00:04:40CLOSED DOORS, THE BILL WILL BE
WATERED DOWN WITH CARVE-OUTS AND
00:04:45LOOPHOLES FOR THE CHARTER SCHOOL
INDUSTRY.
00:04:53ANDY: HOUSE REPUBLICANS ALREADY
TOOK FLACK FROM CRITICS FOR NOT
00:04:56PASSING THE BILL BEFORE LEAVING
FOR SUMMER BREAK.
00:04:58AMSTUTZ SAID THEY HOPE TO HAVE A
FINAL DRAFT ON THE HOUSE AND
00:05:00SENATE FLOOR WITHIN THE WEEK.
SPEAKING OF ISSUES THAT CONTINUE
00:05:03TO FLOAT IN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
00:05:05OCTOBER 1 MARKED THE SO-CALLED
"HARD DEADLINE" FOR LAWMAKERS TO
00:05:08COME UP WITH A SEVERANCE TAX
DEAL.
00:05:11THIS IS THE TAX ON OIL AND GAS
EXTRACTED FROM THE STATE.
00:05:15BACK IN JUNE, HOUSE SPEAKER
CLIFF ROSENBERGER AND SENATE
00:05:19PRESIDENT KEITH FABER SAID THEY
WERE SCRAPPING THE GOVERNOR'S
00:05:21PROPOSAL TO RAISE THE TAX IN THE
BUDGET AND INSTEAD CREATING A
00:05:26GROUP THAT WOULD COME UP WITH A
PLAN BY THIS MONTH.
00:05:28THE DEADLINE'S A HARD DEADLINE.
THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION IF
00:05:32THIS IS JUST A STALLING TACTIC.
WE BELIEVE BASED ON MY INPUT
00:05:37THAT I'VE GOTTEN FROM SENATOR
BALDERSON AND SENATOR PETERSON
00:05:40THAT THE INDUSTRY AND THE
ADMINISTRATION WILL WORK IN GOOD
00:05:43FAITH.
BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THERE'S
00:05:44GONNA BE A SOLUTION TO THIS
PROBLEM AND LESS ONE SIDE THINK
00:05:49THAT THEY CAN DRAG IT OUT OR
EXTEND THE BALL, THAT'S NOT AN
00:05:52OPTION, BECAUSE THERE WILL BE A
SOLUTION NEXT TIME.
00:05:56ANDY: FABER EVEN SAID THEY HAD A
TEMPLATE IN PLACE BUT WANTED TO
00:05:59TAKE MORE TIME TO CREATE A MORE
HOLISTIC PLAN.
00:06:03FLASH FORWARD TO THREE MONTHS
LATER AND DAY BEFORE THE
00:06:06DEADLINE.
FABER SAID A REPORT WAS GOING TO
00:06:08COME OUT IN TIME BUT WOULD NOT
INCLUDE A LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL
00:06:11TO INCREASE THE SEVERANCE TAX.
SEN. FABER: BUT ANYTHING WE
00:06:14WOULD DO ON THE SEVERANCE TAX
ISN'T GOING TO IMPACT THE FISCAL
00:06:17PICTURE OF OHIO THE REST OF THIS
BIENNIUM, IT JUST ISN'T, THERE
00:06:22ISN'T ENOUGH MONEY TO BE GAINED
FROM ANY SEVERANCE TAX PLAN SO
00:06:24YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING
THAT WOULD BE AT BEST IN THE
00:06:27NEXT BIENNIAL BUDGET BEFORE YOU
SEE ANY FINANCIAL IMPACT OF IT.
00:06:31SO DON'T ANYBODY GET CONFUSED
THAT TIMING ON THE SEVERANCE TAX
00:06:34WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
NOW AND THE END OF THIS GA.
00:06:41ANDY: BUT NOW OCTOBER FIRST HAS
COME AND GONE AND THERE'S STILL
00:06:44NO REPORT.
FABER'S SPOKESPERSON SAID THE
00:06:46COALITION STILL NEEDS A LITTLE
MORE TIME TO MAKE SURE THEY GET
00:06:48THE DETAILS RIGHT.
FOR YEARS, GOV. JOHN KASICH HAS
00:06:53BEEN PUSHING FOR A HIGHER
SEVERANCE TAX.
00:06:54HE SAYS REFORM IS NEEDED DUE TO
THE INFLUX OF DRILLING HAPPENING
00:06:58IN THE STATE WITH ITS SHALE
NATURAL GAS AND THE USE OF
00:07:01HYDRAULIC FRACTURING, ALSO KNOWN
AS FRACKING.
00:07:04WENDY PATTON WITH THE
LIBERAL-LEANING THINK TANK
00:07:07POLICY MATTERS OHIO, HAS
SUPPORTED KASICH'S CALL FOR A
00:07:12SEVERANCE TAX HIKE.
>> IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO
00:07:18WATCH THIS STALL WE THINK THAT
IT'S GOOD TAX POLICY TO KEEP THE
00:07:20TAX STRUCTURE OF OHIO CURRENT
WITH THE CHANGING ECONOMY AS
00:07:24INDUSTRIES RISE AND FALL THE TAX
STRUCTURE CHANGES AND WE THINK
00:07:30THAT IT'S LONG OVERDUE.
ANDY: THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY
00:07:36HAS SAID A HIGHER SEVERANCE TAX
WOULD DISCOURAGE COMPANIES FROM
00:07:38DRILLING IN THE STATE,
ESPECIALLY WITH LOWER GAS PRICES
00:07:40IN THE MARKET.
A UNIQUE GROUP OF LOBBYISTS CAME
00:07:44TO THE STATEHOUSE IN APRIL.
SIX OF THE NINE OHIO DEATH ROW
00:07:49INMATES WHO'VE BEEN EXONERATED
AFTER BEING FREED FOR CRIMES
00:07:51THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MET
WITH REPORTERS, AND THEN
00:07:55DELIVERED TO LAWMAKERS A LETTER
ASKING THEM TO CONSIDER THE
00:07:58RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE OHIO
SUPREME COURT TASK FORCE REPORT
00:08:02ON THE DEATH PENALTY -- AND A
LETTER HIGHLIGHTING 13
00:08:05RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY FEEL
WOULD PREVENT WRONGFUL
00:08:07CONVICTIONS AND EVEN EXECUTIONS.
THE LOBBYING EVENT WAS PUT
00:08:11TOGETHER BY OHIOANS TO STOP
EXECUTIONS, WHICH PUT OUT ITS
00:08:13ANNUAL REPORT ON THE STATE OF
EXECUTIONS IN OHIO ON MARCH 30.
00:08:19BUT NO LOBBYIST OR ACTIVIST CAN
EXPLAIN THE SERIOUS CONCERNS
00:08:23ABOUT CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AS
COMPELLINGLY AS THOSE MEN WHO
00:08:25ACTUALLY STARED DOWN DATES WITH
DEATH.
00:08:30IN APRIL, KAREN KASLER SAT DOWN
WITH TWO OF THEM
00:08:36KWAME AJAMU, WHO SENTENCED TO
DEATH 39 YEARS AGO, AND JOE
00:08:39D'AMBROSIO, WHO SPENT 23 YEARS
ON DEATH ROW BEFORE THE CHARGES
00:08:41AGAINST HIM WERE DISMISSED.
KAREN: WELCOME.
00:08:49THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN
SHARING YOUR STORIES.
00:08:51YOU WERE FREED IN 2003 AFTER 27
YEARS IN PRISON FOR THROWING
00:08:54ACID AND SHOOTING AT A SALESMAN
IN CLEVELAND.
00:09:00THAT WAS THE CRIME AND A KEY
WITNESS RECANTED AND EVENTUALLY
00:09:03THE WHOLE THING FELL APART AND
YOU ARE EXONERATED.
00:09:05KWAME: THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED.
KAREN: YOU'RE NOT ANGRY WITH
00:09:10THAT WITNESS.
KWAME: I AM NOT.
00:09:14KAREN: HOW DO YOU FEEL?
KWAME: I AM ELATED TO BE OUT OF
00:09:21PRISON AND ALIVE, AND SO FAR AS
THE WITNESS THAT RECANTED THEIR
00:09:28TESTIMONY.
WITHOUT HIM WE WOULD NOT BE
00:09:32HERE.
HOWEVER, MY INITIATIVE TODAY IS
00:09:34WITH THE OHIOANS TO STOP
EXECUTION AND WE ARE HERE
00:09:39HOPEFULLY TO LOBBY ENOUGH HELP
FROM THIS LEGISLATION TO STOP,
00:09:49TOTALLY ERADICATE THE DEATH
PENALTY.
00:09:52MYSELF AND JOE ARE TWO LIVING
EXAMPLES AND WITNESSES AS TO WHY
00:09:57THERE SHOULD BE NO DEATH
PENALTY.
00:10:00HAD THEY TURNED THEIR HEAD ONCE
SECOND WE WOULD NOT BE HERE WITH
00:10:03THIS STORY TODAY.
IN 1975I WAS -- IN 1975, I WAS
00:10:12ACCUSED AND CONVICTED ON
ATTEMPTED AGGRAVATED MURDER
00:10:15ALONG WITH MY BROTHER AND RICKY
JACKSON, WE SERVED A TOTAL OF 39
00:10:24YEARS.
RICKY JACKSON THE MOST.
00:10:25THE MOST EVER IN THE UNITED
STATES.
00:10:30MY BROTHER RIGHT BEHIND ME WITH
38 AND A HALF YEARS AND I SERVED
00:10:3328 YEARS AND WAS REESE --
RELEASED ON PAROLE IN 2003.
00:10:37THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH
THAT PART OF THAT SYSTEM BECAUSE
00:10:43WE WENT IN AS ONE YET THE SYSTEM
BROKE IS UP AND SEND US OUT IN
00:10:45TEARS WHICH KILLED ME WATCHING
THOSE GUYS REMAIN IN PRISON
00:10:49WHILE I WAS OUT BUT I WORKED AS
HARD AS I COULD TO HELP THEM.
00:10:53-- REGAIN THEIR FREEDOM AND BE
HERE TO SPEAK THE TRUTH.
00:10:56KAREN: YOU ARE ON DEATH THROW
FOR 23 YEARS FOR CLEVELAND
00:11:01MURDER AND THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT BLOCKED THE APPEAL OF A
00:11:06FEDERAL JUDGE'S RULING THAT THE
PROSECUTOR HAD FAILED TO DIVIDE
00:11:09EVIDENCE THAT COULD HAVE
EXONERATED YOU AND YOUR ANGRY
00:11:13ABOUT THAT.
YOU FEEL THE PROSECUTORS OUT TO
00:11:14BE FACING ATTEMPTED MURDER
CHARGES.
00:11:15JOE: YES.
THEY KNOWINGLY AND WILLFULLY HID
00:11:21THE EVIDENCE.
IT WAS IN THE PROSECUTORS FILE
00:11:26IN THE POLICE FILE AND THE
CORONER'S FILE AND IT WAS THERE
00:11:29ALL ALONG YET THEY HELD IT FROM
US, AND WITHIN THE SHORTEST
00:11:32DEATH PENALTY TRIAL, TO ENTRY
QUARTER DAYS THEY CONVICTED MAN
00:11:39SENTENCED ME TO DIE.
KAREN: HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW BEING
00:11:41HERE AND ABLE TO THINK ABOUT
THIS?
00:11:44JOE: THIS LEGISLATION WILL
LIKELY NOT BAN THE DEATH PENALTY
00:11:53BUT SINCE THEY WILL NOT BEEN IT
THEY HAVE TO TRY TO FIX IT.
00:11:56IT IS BEYOND FIXING, BUT DOING
SOMETHING IS BETTER THAN
00:11:58NOTHING.
BY ENACTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS
00:12:03FROM THE TASK FORCE I WOULD HOPE
THEY WOULD RECOMMEND ALL 50 --
00:12:0857 AND PUT THEM INTO LAW.
WE WILL TAKE WHAT WE CAN GET.
00:12:12KAREN: THERE ARE 13
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT YOU FEEL
00:12:16WOULD HELP PEOPLE, SETTING UP A
LEGAL FUND TO HOPE FOLKS GET
00:12:21ACCENTS TO THE EXPERIENCED
ATTORNEYS.
00:12:24THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
PROBLEMS HERE FOR FOLKS ON DEATH
00:12:28THROW, THEY DID NOT HAVE THE
MONEY TO HAVE ACCESS?
00:12:30KWAME: THAT IS PROBABLY THE
WORST PROBLEM, HAVING ACCESS TO
00:12:37FUNDS AND LEGAL HELP.
THIS IS PROBABLY THE WORST
00:12:40PROBLEM.
THIS IS HOW IT STAGNATES OVER SO
00:12:42MANY YEARS BECAUSE THERE IS NO
ONE TO HELP.
00:12:43THERE'S NO WAY TO GET TO HELP
FINANCIALLY.
00:12:46THIS IS ONE OF OUR MAIN ISSUES
HERE.
00:12:48JOE: IF YOU DO NOT HAVE POWER,
MONEY, OR INFLUENCE AND YOU GET
00:12:54CAUGHT UP IN THE SYSTEM IT WILL
EAT YOU UP, AND DO IT VERY
00:12:57QUICKLY.
VERY QUICKLY.
00:13:01I WAS NEVER IN TROUBLE BEFORE.
I WAS AN HONORABLY DISCHARGED
00:13:05WAR VETERAN AND THEY TOOK THE
WORD OVER A FELON OVER ME, AND
00:13:10THAT WAS THE ONLY EVIDENCE
AGAINST ME.
00:13:11KAREN: WHICH IS ANOTHER
RECOMMENDATION.
00:13:15THERE WAS NO DNA EVIDENCE, NO
CONFESSION, THERE WAS JUST THE
00:13:20WORD OF ONE PERSON OVER ANOTHER.
KWAME: WHICH THEY WOULD NORMALLY
00:13:23CALL HEARSAY.
KAREN: ONE OF THE
00:13:24RECOMMENDATIONS IS BEFORE
SOMEONE CAN BE CONVICTED THEY
00:13:29HAVE TO HAVE SOME SORT OF HARDER
EVIDENCE THAN JUST JAILHOUSE
00:13:33TESTIMONY OR SOMETHING LIKE
THAT.
00:13:34KWAME: WE HAVE A STRONGER
MANDATE, YOU CAN JUST PUT A GUY
00:13:39ON DEATH ROW AND KILL HIM
BECAUSE SOMEONE SAID HE DONE IT
00:13:44OR SHE DONE IT.
JOE: OFTENTIMES THE ONE WHO
00:13:48POINTS THE FINGER IS THE ONE WHO
DID IT.
00:13:49KAREN: WHEN YOU'RE TAKING THIS
LETTER AM MEETING WITH
00:13:55LAWMAKERS, A LOT OF LAWMAKERS
HAVE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF THE
00:13:57DEATH PENALTY.
THEY PASSED A MEASURE THAT WOULD
00:14:00HAVE ALLOWED THE NAMES OF
COMPANIES THAT MAKE THE
00:14:02EXECUTION DRUGS BE SHIELDED FROM
THE PUBLIC TO MAKE THE PROCESS
00:14:07MOVE MORE QUICKLY.
WHAT DO YOU WANT LAWMAKERS TO
00:14:11KNOW ABOUT DEATH ROW AND THE
DEATH PENALTY IN PARTICULAR?
00:14:13JOE: OF THE EXONEREES, IT
USUALLY TAKES 10 TO 12 YEARS
00:14:22BEFORE THEY WILL EXECUTE THEM.
NONE OF THEM -- AS WOULD BE HERE
00:14:27TODAY IF THAT WAS THE SAME
TIMEFRAME BACK THEN THAN IT IS
00:14:31NOW.
THEY WOULD HAVE EXECUTED ALL OF
00:14:34US, WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.
ONCE THEY EXECUTE YOU THEY CAN
00:14:40DESTROY ALL THE EVIDENCE.
THERE IS NOTHING FOR THEM TO
00:14:41LOOK ACT ON BECAUSE THEY DON'T
WANT TO FIND, BOOKS, WE EXECUTED
00:14:48AN INNOCENT PERSON BUT HOW MANY
HAVE THEY EXECUTED AND DESTROYED
00:14:52THE EVIDENCE THAT PROVES THEIR
INNOCENCE?
00:14:56KAREN: WHAT DO YOU WANT
LAWMAKERS TO KNOW ABOUT THE
00:15:01DEATH PENALTY? EXPERIENCE --THE
DEATH PENALTY EXPERIENCE?
00:15:06KWAME: THE FEELING OF FINGERS
POINTED AT YOU AND THE
00:15:12DECLARATION OF DEATH.
WHEN HE SAYS I SENTENCE YOU TO
00:15:19DIE AT SUCH AND SUCH A DAY AND
TIME, THAT BECOMES AN ELEMENT OF
00:15:21, YOU'RE OVERWHELMED WITH SO
MUCH GRIEF AND PAIN AND AGONY
00:15:28MENTALLY AND EMOTIONALLY THAT IT
IS ALMOST LIKE TERMINAL CANCER.
00:15:32IT IS SOMETHING THAT WEARS YOU,
AND UNLESS YOU HAVE AN ABILITY
00:15:36TO GO SOMEWHERE ELSE IN YOUR
MIND AND YOUR SPIRIT, AND WE
00:15:40HAVE SEEN PEOPLE THAT DID NOT
MAKE IT.
00:15:44WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE WHO DID NOT,
DEATH ROW DUE TO THE STATE'S
00:15:53PREDICAMENT THEY WERE AND THAT
COULD NOT MAKE IT.
00:15:54WE WANT TO TAKE THIS MESSAGE AND
LET THEM KNOW, YOU NOT ONLY
00:15:57KILLING THE INDIVIDUAL ONCE, AND
STOPPING HIS FAMILY FROM
00:16:04GROWING, YOU ARE ALSO DESTROYING
A HUMAN BEING FROM THE INSIDE
00:16:11OUT, THAT IS PROBABLY THE WORST
ATROCITY WE CAN DO TO EACH OTHER
00:16:15IS THE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL
ANGUISH THAT WE CAUSE EACH
00:16:18OTHER.
IT'S WORSE THAN BULLYING.
00:16:20ONCE WE TRAP A PERSON IN A ROOM,
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER BEFORE I
00:16:29WOULD BABYSIT MY NIECES AND
NEPHEWS.
00:16:32THAT WAS A LITTLE JAIL, A LITTLE
CORNER.
00:16:41I WAS BEHIND THAT COUNTS FOR 28
YEARS.
00:16:45SO THIS IS A GRAVE ATROCITY THEY
HAVE DONE TO US AND WE WANT TO
00:16:52TAKE THE MESSAGE FORWARD.
JOE: WHAT IS EVEN WORSE IS WHAT
00:16:55THEY DO TO THE VICTIM'S
FAMILIES.
00:16:57THEY WILL GET NO JUSTICE BECAUSE
THEY WILL NOT GO AFTER THE REAL
00:17:06MURDERERS BECAUSE BY DOING SO
SHOWS THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE COME
00:17:07AFTER US.
AND THEREFORE, THE VICTIMS AND
00:17:09MOST OF THE EXONERATED, MOST OF
THEM, THEY DO NOT HAVE THE
00:17:20PERPETRATORS AND THE CASES ARE
SO OLD, THE ODDS OF THEM
00:17:23ACTUALLY FINDING THEM ARE SLIM
TO NONE.
00:17:24SO THE VICTIM IN THIS CASE IS
VICTIMIZED ALL OVER AGAIN, AND
00:17:30THERE IS NOBODY DOING ANYTHING
FOR THEM.
00:17:31NOTHING.
KAREN: DO YOU WORRY THAT PEOPLE
00:17:36HAVE THIS IMPRESSION OF
CRIMINALS AND PEOPLE ON DEATH
00:17:40ROW IN PARTICULAR AND HAVE
SYMPATHY FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO
00:17:44MIGHT BE WRONGLY ACCUSED BECAUSE
EVERYONE IN PRISON IS INNOCENT,
00:17:49DO YOU WORRY YOU RUN UP AGAINST
THAT AS YOU TRY TO CONVINCE
00:17:54PEOPLE OF THIS STORY AND TELL
YOUR INDIVIDUAL STORIES WHICH
00:17:55ARE SO COMPELLING?
KWAME: FOR ME, NO.
00:18:00THIS HAS BEEN AN UPHILL BATTLE
FOR ME ANYWAY.
00:18:03ONCE I WAS RELEASED IN 2003, I
MET THOSE TYPE OF NAYSAYERS
00:18:09HEAD-ON.
I WAS THE ONE COMMISSIONED TO
00:18:15TRY TO HELP BOTH RICKY AND BUDDY
, MY BROTHER OUT OF PRISON.
00:18:20IT IS A NO GO FOR ME.
IF THEY DON'T CARE TO HAVE ANY
00:18:28EMPATHY OR SYMPATHY OF WHAT IS
GOING ON WITH THESE GUYS, 39
00:18:37YEARS IN PRISON FOR NOTHING AND
THIS MAN HERE, I DO NOT NEED TO
00:18:38HEAR THEM.
I AM TRY TO DETECT -- TALK TO
00:18:40THE PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF AND
OTHERS WHO WANT TO DO SOMETHING
00:18:42TO HELP US.
JOE: A LOT OF IT IS THAT THEY
00:18:46ARE NOT EDUCATED.
UNTIL YOU GET CAUGHT UP INTO IT,
00:18:52HOW MUCH DO PEOPLE THINK ABOUT
THE DEATH PENALTY?
00:18:53ONCE IN A WHILE WHEN AN E
XONEREE COMES OUT, THE SYSTEM
00:19:02WORKS.
IT DOES NOT.
00:19:05IT IS SOMETHING OUTSIDE THE
SYSTEM.
00:19:07EVERYONE THINKS DNA IS THE MAGIC
BULLET.
00:19:10THERE IS 1900 -- 19 OF 150 THAT
WERE EXONERATED BY DNA.
00:19:15MOSTAR JOURNALISM SCHOOLS, LAW
SCHOOL MY FRIENDS THAT ACTUALLY
00:19:21LOOK INTO THE CASE AND START
DIGGING INTO THE CASE ARE THE
00:19:24ONES THAT HELP FREE AND PROVE
THE INNOCENCE.
00:19:28ONCE YOU'RE IN THERE NO ONE
LISTENS TO THE MAN IN THE ORANGE
00:19:35JUMPSUIT.
NO ONE LISTENS TO THE DEAD MAN
00:19:39WALKING.
YOU ARE ALL INNOCENT.
00:19:41IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE BECAUSE
OF THE HEINOUS CRIME THAT WAS
00:19:43COMMITTED, SO YOU ALMOST ARE
GUILTY BECAUSE WE WOULD NOT
00:19:49PURPOSELY PUT YOU ON DEATH
THROW.
00:19:50YOU MUST HAVE BEEN A CRIMINAL
BEFORE HAND.
00:19:52YOU MUST HAVE BEEN ROTTEN.
KAREN: YOU MUST HAVE DONE
00:19:55SOMETHING TO PUT YOURSELF THERE.
JOE: WHEN THE JUDGE HITS THE
00:19:59GAVEL AND SAYS 30,000 VOLTS WILL
PASS THROUGH YOUR BODY UNTIL YOU
00:20:02ARE DEAD, AND YOU'RE LIKE, FOR
WHAT, WHAT HAPPENED?
00:20:06I HAVE THE SHORTEST DEATH
PENALTY IN OHIO, TO ENTRY
00:20:14QUARTER DAYS.
IN A BLINK OF AN EYE I SITTING
00:20:15ON DEATH ROW IN NOT HAVING A
CLUE OF WHAT HAPPENED BECAUSE I
00:20:17WAS NEVER -- I DID NOT KNOW ANY
POLICE, DID NOT KNOW ANY
00:20:23PROSECUTORS, ANY JUDGES SO I HAD
NOT A CLUE OF THE SYSTEM.
00:20:25I WAS THE MOST COMMON JOE THAT
THERE IS OUT THERE.
00:20:29IF IT CAN HAPPEN TO ME, IT CAN
HAPPEN TO YOU.
00:20:30KAREN: THERE IS FINANCIAL
COMPENSATION FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO
00:20:35HAVE BEEN EXONERATED.
IT HAS NOT COME FORWARD FOR
00:20:38OTHERS.
DO YOU FEEL THE SYSTEM IS FAIR
00:20:39TO -- THERE IS NO WAY THAT MONEY
CAN REPLACE THE LOSS OF THE TIME
00:20:45IN YOUR LIVES THAT YOU HAVE
SPENT BEHIND BARS BUT DO YOU
00:20:47FEEL FINANCIAL COMPENSATION IS
FAIR OR ARE YOU STILL FIGHTING
00:20:51THAT?
JOE: I AM STILL FIGHTING THAT
00:20:55AND IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE.
NO ONE IS CHANGING THEIR STORY
00:20:59BECAUSE THEY ARE AFRAID OF
RETALIATION.
00:21:00IF IT IS NOT PERJURY IT IS FOR
SOMETHING ELSE.
00:21:03IT'S SUCH AN UPHILL BATTLE AND
THE SOVEREIGN OF UNITY THAT THE
00:21:11SYSTEM HAS AGAINST US IS
RIDICULOUS.
00:21:12I HAVE F FEDERAL JUDGESIVE THAT
SAID MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
00:21:18WERE VIOLATED -- I HAVE FIVE
FEDERAL JUDGES THAT SAID MY
00:21:24CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS WERE
VIOLATED.
00:21:25SUCKS TO BE YOU.
KWAME: RICKY JACKSON JUST GOT
00:21:36$1 MILLION FROM THE STATE.
WHAT IS YOUR SITUATION AND YOUTH
00:21:38FEEL -- DO YOU FEEL AWARDS ARE
FAIR?
00:21:41KWAME: I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS
NO FAIRNESS IN ANY REWARD.
00:21:48I WILL SAY THAT -- I NEED TO BE
CLEAR ON THIS AND ESPECIALLY IN
00:21:54JOE'S CASE.
THIS ONLY PERPETUATES THE
00:22:00ATROCITIES THAT HAS HAPPENED TO
THIS MAN, YOU SEE, AND MYSELF
00:22:07AND EVERYONE.
WITH REGARDS TO FINANCIAL
00:22:09COMPENSATION, I FIRMLY BELIEVE
IT SHOULD HAPPEN THE MINUTE THEY
00:22:13SAY THAT YOU ARE DISMISSED FROM
THIS TRIAL, FROM THIS CASE
00:22:17BECAUSE YOU WENT TO PRISON THE
MOMENT THEY SAID YOU WERE GUILTY
00:22:23AND SHOULD BE SENTENCED.
THIS IS WHERE I SAY THE
00:22:31PARALLELS OF FAIRNESS AND THAT
SENSE EXIST.
00:22:36THERE IS NO MONEY THAT CAN
COMPENSATE ANY OF US EVER FOR
00:22:40JUST ONE DAY LET ALONE THE HOURS
IN THE YEARS THAT WE SPENT.
00:22:45THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE [INAUDIBLE]
ALL OF MY IMMEDIATE FAMILY IS NO
00:22:52LONGER HERE.
HOW DO I GET PAID FOR THAT?
00:22:54I CANNOT.
I DO NOT WANT TO GET PAID FOR
00:22:59THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD MEAN THAT
I SOLD THEM OUT.
00:23:00THERE IS A PRICE OF MY MOM, MY
DAD, MY BROTHER, MY SISTER, ALL
00:23:06MY AUNTS, MET -- MY NEPHEW
PASSED AWAY.
00:23:12THERE IS NO PRICE ON THAT.
IT'S PRICELESS.
00:23:14I HAVE TO SAY THAT PERSONALLY, I
THINK IT IS TOTALLY UNFAIR AND
00:23:16ONLY BECAUSE IT CANNOT FIT THE
CRIME.
00:23:19AND THERE IS A CRIME AGAINST US.
KAREN: WHAT IS YOUR LIFE LIKE
00:23:25NOW?
KWAME: MY LIFE IS PRETTY WELL.
00:23:29I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH, A CATHOLIC
PRIEST IS THE ONE WHO TOOK UP,
00:23:37AND IF IT WAS NOT FOR HIM AND
HIS PARISH AND THE UNDYING LOVE
00:23:43THEY HAVE FOR ME, I HAVE
EVERYTHING I NEED TO SURVIVE
00:23:47RIGHT NOW, BUT A LOT OF GUYS
THAT GET OUT HAVE ABSOLUTELY
00:23:52NOTHING, AND THERE IS NOTHING IN
PLACE FOR AN EXONEREE.
00:23:58IF YOU DO TIME AND GET CONVICTED
IN DUE TIME AND GET OUT, THERE
00:24:03IS ALL KIND OF PROGRAM'S BUT FOR
AN EXONEREE, THERE NOTHING.
00:24:09ALL THEY DO IS KICK THE -- OPEN
THE DOOR AND KICK YOU OUT.
00:24:12KWAME: I AM OK.
I'M NICE NOW.
00:24:20I SAY THAT BECAUSE I AM COMING
TO THE END PROCESS IN GETTING,
00:24:28HAVING SEEN THOSE TWO GUYS COME
OUT AFTER ME.
00:24:30THAT IS WHAT MADE ME HAPPY.
I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL WIFE WHO
00:24:32SUPPORTS ME, WHO SUPPORTED ME
FROM DAY ONE.
00:24:35I AM AN EASY GUIDE TO GET ALONG
WITH.
00:24:38KAREN: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT THE
INMATES WHO REMAIN ON DEATH ROW,
00:24:44SOME OF HOME MAY BE INNOCENT?
KWAME: NO DOUBT.
00:24:47THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE WITH
THIS INITIATIVE.
00:24:52HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET SOMETHING
THAT -- WE WILL COME UP WITH
00:24:54SOMETHING.
I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT THOSE
00:25:00GUYS BECAUSE THEY ARE SITTING
THERE LIKE HE AND I WERE,
00:25:05TOTALLY INNOCENT AND THAT DAY IS
GETTING CLOSER AND CLOSER.
00:25:07JOE: WE WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THEY
ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY.
00:25:13NOT JUST HERE IN OHIO BUT ACROSS
THE UNITED STATES.
00:25:16LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE
DEATH PENALTY.
00:25:17LOOK AT THE COUNTRIES.
WE WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH
00:25:20THAT?
WE CALL RUSSIA BARBARIANS.
00:25:27RUSSIAN ABOLISH THE DEATH
PENALTY AND YET WE STILL HAVE
00:25:31IT.
WE CONDEMN COUNTRIES THAT DO
00:25:32HAVE IT.
BUT IT IS DUE AS WE SAY, NOT AS
00:25:35WE DO.
IT'S WRONG.
00:25:37KAREN: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
GREAT TO MEET YOU BOTH.
00:25:42ANDY: AND THAT'S IT FOR THIS
WEEK.
00:25:47FOR MY COLLEAGUES AT OHIO PUBLIC
RADIO AND TELEVISION, THANKS FOR
00:25:48WATCHING.
IF YOU'D LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS,
00:25:50MAKE COMMENTS, OR WATCH THIS
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00:25:52EPISODES, PLEASE VISIT OUR
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00:25:56IDEASTREAM.ORG/OHIO.
PLUS YOU CAN FOLLOW JO INGLES,
00:26:02KAREN KASLER AND ME ON TWITTER.
PLEASE JOIN US AGAIN NEXT TIME
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Note : Transcripts are compiled from uncorrected captions