Thursday, September 15, 2011 5:10:56 AM
Victim's sister: No death penalty
Written by Jerry Mitchell
10:35 PM, Sep. 14, 2011
The beating and killing of James C. Anderson has drawn national outrage, but his sister said his killer or killers shouldn't be executed.
"Those responsible for James' death not only ended the life of a talented and wonderful man," Barbara Anderson Young wrote in her letter Wednesday to Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith. "They also have caused our family unspeakable pain and grief. But our loss will not be lessened by the state taking the life of another."
The June 26 slaying of Anderson in Jackson has sparked attention across the country as an alleged hate crime.
Smith said the letter resolves the question of the family's wishes, which he said would "weigh heavily" in deciding whether to pursue the death penalty against 19-year-old Deryl Dedmon Jr. of Brandon, who is charged with capital murder. Another defendant, John Aaron Rice, 18, of Brandon, is charged with simple assault.
A capital murder conviction carries the death penalty or life without parole. Those convicted of murder can petition for parole starting at age 65.
In her letter, Young quoted Coretta Scott King in explaining her opposition to capital punishment: "An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. Justice is never advanced in the taking of human life."
Young wrote that the family's opposition to the death penalty is "deeply rooted in our religious faith, a faith that was central in James' life as well. Our Savior Jesus Christ rejected the old way of an eye for an eye and taught us instead to turn the other cheek. He died that we might have everlasting life and, in doing so, asked that the lives of the two common criminals nailed to the crosses beside him be spared. We can do no less."
She said the family also opposes any execution "because it historically has been used in Mississippi and the South primarily against people of color for killing whites. Executing James' killers will not help to balance the scales. But sparing them may help to spark a dialogue that one day will lead to the elimination of capital punishment."
The killing is being investigated by Jackson police, the U.S. Department of Justice and Smith's office.
Young thanked them Wednesday for their investigations.
"We hope that the criminal prosecutions will send a strong and clear message to those with hate in their hearts. We simply ask that that message be tempered with the love of our Savior," she wrote.
The family has started the James C. Anderson Foundation for Racial Tolerance "to help build bridges between the races," she said. "We appeal to men and women of goodwill to join hands with our family in launching a renewed movement of reconciliation, acceptance and hope."
Anderson's family is suing Dedmon, Rice and five other Rankin County teenagers, alleging their involvement in his death. The lawsuit, filed Sept. 6 in Hinds County Circuit Court, seeks unspecified damages.
In addition to Dedmon and Rice, the other teenagers being sued are William Kirk Montgomery, Sarah Graves, Shelbie Richards, John Blaylock and Dylan Butler. Other than Dedmon and Rice, none of the others has been charged, but authorities continue to investigate.
Dedmon is accused of running over Anderson, 49, and robbing him. He has insisted through his attorney that what happened was an accident.
Dedmon's attorney, Cynthia Stewart of Madison, could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
According to the lawsuit, during the evening of June 25 and the pre-dawn hours, the teens were drinking at one or more gatherings in Rankin County.
Dedmon told the teens they should "go f--- with some n-----s," the lawsuit alleges.
They set out in Dedmon's green Ford F-250 truck and Montgomery's Jeep Cherokee, the lawsuit alleges. Those in the Jeep allegedly saw Anderson in the Metro Inn parking lot on Ellis Avenue and contacted Dedmon, leading both vehicles to stop there.
When they got out of their vehicles, Dedmon, Rice, Butler and Blaylock moved toward Anderson, while Montgomery, Graves and Richards stayed behind, the lawsuit alleges.
Dedmon and Rice spoke to Anderson, the lawsuit alleges, and then with the cooperation of other teens, began to attack the black man, inflicting serious injuries.
The lawsuit alleges at one point a teen yelled, "White power!"
After the beating ended, the Jeep drove away, and Dedmon and others returned to his F-250, the lawsuit alleges. "Just as Dedmon turned right, his headlights shown directly on Anderson, ... stumbling in a grassy area near the motel's entrance. Dedmon accelerated ... and struck Anderson with the front of the F-250."
Video of the attack, captured by a motel security camera, can be viewed on www.clarionledger.com [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2TaoUVg31M , at http://www.clarionledger.com/interactive/article/20110906/MULTIMEDIA/110906029/Video-Killing-caught-surveillance ].
Martin also suggested during court hearings that the teens were on a beer run that morning, not looking for anyone to harass or assault.
Copyright © 2011 www.clarionledger.com
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20110915/NEWS/109150341/Victim-s-sister-No-death-penalty
===
Justice Served?
Mississippi law prevents the same-sex partner of James Anderson, who was murdered by a gang of white teenagers in a vicious hate crime, from being named as a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the accused murderers.
By Britt Middleton
Posted: 09/14/2011 11:14 PM EDT
The gruesome murder [ http://www.bet.com/news/national/2011/08/08/video-shows-mississippi-teens-driving-over-and-killing-a-black-man.html ] of James Anderson, 49, of Jackson, Mississippi, stunned the country. Now, Anderson’s same-sex partner is rallying to find justice.
James Bradfield, Anderson’s partner of 17 years, was denied [ http://yourblackworld.com/2011/09/11/mississippi-law-prohibits-same-sex-partner-of-man-killed-in-hate-crime-to-be-named-in-lawsuit/ ] when he asked to be named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit being brought by Anderson’s family.
In the lawsuit, filled a in a Mississippi district court, the family alleges [ http://www.bet.com/news/national/2011/09/06/the-family-of-black-man-killed-in-pickup-truck-hate-crime-files-civil-suit.html ] Anderson’s murderers "set out on a mission" to find and harass African-Americans.
A group of white teens robbed and beat Anderson before running him over with a pick-up truck. Surveillance video from the scene of the crime caught [ http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/08/06/mississippi.hate.crime/ (first item in the post to which this is a reply)] the attack on tape.
Under Mississippi law, “Same-sex partners have no claim in civil actions like this,” says Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center [ http://www.splcenter.org/ ] to YourBlackWorld.
According to Dees, Anderson’s sexual orientation did not play a factor in his beating or murder.
Mississippi state law does not recognize same-sex marriage.
© 2011 BET Interactive, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Black Entertainment Television LLC
http://www.bet.com/news/national/2011/09/14/justice-served-.html [no comments yet]
Written by Jerry Mitchell
10:35 PM, Sep. 14, 2011
The beating and killing of James C. Anderson has drawn national outrage, but his sister said his killer or killers shouldn't be executed.
"Those responsible for James' death not only ended the life of a talented and wonderful man," Barbara Anderson Young wrote in her letter Wednesday to Hinds County District Attorney Robert Shuler Smith. "They also have caused our family unspeakable pain and grief. But our loss will not be lessened by the state taking the life of another."
The June 26 slaying of Anderson in Jackson has sparked attention across the country as an alleged hate crime.
Smith said the letter resolves the question of the family's wishes, which he said would "weigh heavily" in deciding whether to pursue the death penalty against 19-year-old Deryl Dedmon Jr. of Brandon, who is charged with capital murder. Another defendant, John Aaron Rice, 18, of Brandon, is charged with simple assault.
A capital murder conviction carries the death penalty or life without parole. Those convicted of murder can petition for parole starting at age 65.
In her letter, Young quoted Coretta Scott King in explaining her opposition to capital punishment: "An evil deed is not redeemed by an evil deed of retaliation. Justice is never advanced in the taking of human life."
Young wrote that the family's opposition to the death penalty is "deeply rooted in our religious faith, a faith that was central in James' life as well. Our Savior Jesus Christ rejected the old way of an eye for an eye and taught us instead to turn the other cheek. He died that we might have everlasting life and, in doing so, asked that the lives of the two common criminals nailed to the crosses beside him be spared. We can do no less."
She said the family also opposes any execution "because it historically has been used in Mississippi and the South primarily against people of color for killing whites. Executing James' killers will not help to balance the scales. But sparing them may help to spark a dialogue that one day will lead to the elimination of capital punishment."
The killing is being investigated by Jackson police, the U.S. Department of Justice and Smith's office.
Young thanked them Wednesday for their investigations.
"We hope that the criminal prosecutions will send a strong and clear message to those with hate in their hearts. We simply ask that that message be tempered with the love of our Savior," she wrote.
The family has started the James C. Anderson Foundation for Racial Tolerance "to help build bridges between the races," she said. "We appeal to men and women of goodwill to join hands with our family in launching a renewed movement of reconciliation, acceptance and hope."
Anderson's family is suing Dedmon, Rice and five other Rankin County teenagers, alleging their involvement in his death. The lawsuit, filed Sept. 6 in Hinds County Circuit Court, seeks unspecified damages.
In addition to Dedmon and Rice, the other teenagers being sued are William Kirk Montgomery, Sarah Graves, Shelbie Richards, John Blaylock and Dylan Butler. Other than Dedmon and Rice, none of the others has been charged, but authorities continue to investigate.
Dedmon is accused of running over Anderson, 49, and robbing him. He has insisted through his attorney that what happened was an accident.
Dedmon's attorney, Cynthia Stewart of Madison, could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
According to the lawsuit, during the evening of June 25 and the pre-dawn hours, the teens were drinking at one or more gatherings in Rankin County.
Dedmon told the teens they should "go f--- with some n-----s," the lawsuit alleges.
They set out in Dedmon's green Ford F-250 truck and Montgomery's Jeep Cherokee, the lawsuit alleges. Those in the Jeep allegedly saw Anderson in the Metro Inn parking lot on Ellis Avenue and contacted Dedmon, leading both vehicles to stop there.
When they got out of their vehicles, Dedmon, Rice, Butler and Blaylock moved toward Anderson, while Montgomery, Graves and Richards stayed behind, the lawsuit alleges.
Dedmon and Rice spoke to Anderson, the lawsuit alleges, and then with the cooperation of other teens, began to attack the black man, inflicting serious injuries.
The lawsuit alleges at one point a teen yelled, "White power!"
After the beating ended, the Jeep drove away, and Dedmon and others returned to his F-250, the lawsuit alleges. "Just as Dedmon turned right, his headlights shown directly on Anderson, ... stumbling in a grassy area near the motel's entrance. Dedmon accelerated ... and struck Anderson with the front of the F-250."
Video of the attack, captured by a motel security camera, can be viewed on www.clarionledger.com [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2TaoUVg31M , at http://www.clarionledger.com/interactive/article/20110906/MULTIMEDIA/110906029/Video-Killing-caught-surveillance ].
Rice's attorney, Samuel Martin, said Rice was trying to help Anderson, who had locked his keys in his car, before Dedmon arrived.
Martin also suggested during court hearings that the teens were on a beer run that morning, not looking for anyone to harass or assault.
Copyright © 2011 www.clarionledger.com
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20110915/NEWS/109150341/Victim-s-sister-No-death-penalty
===
Justice Served?
Mississippi law prevents the same-sex partner of James Anderson, who was murdered by a gang of white teenagers in a vicious hate crime, from being named as a plaintiff in a lawsuit against the accused murderers.
By Britt Middleton
Posted: 09/14/2011 11:14 PM EDT
The gruesome murder [ http://www.bet.com/news/national/2011/08/08/video-shows-mississippi-teens-driving-over-and-killing-a-black-man.html ] of James Anderson, 49, of Jackson, Mississippi, stunned the country. Now, Anderson’s same-sex partner is rallying to find justice.
James Bradfield, Anderson’s partner of 17 years, was denied [ http://yourblackworld.com/2011/09/11/mississippi-law-prohibits-same-sex-partner-of-man-killed-in-hate-crime-to-be-named-in-lawsuit/ ] when he asked to be named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit being brought by Anderson’s family.
In the lawsuit, filled a in a Mississippi district court, the family alleges [ http://www.bet.com/news/national/2011/09/06/the-family-of-black-man-killed-in-pickup-truck-hate-crime-files-civil-suit.html ] Anderson’s murderers "set out on a mission" to find and harass African-Americans.
A group of white teens robbed and beat Anderson before running him over with a pick-up truck. Surveillance video from the scene of the crime caught [ http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/08/06/mississippi.hate.crime/ (first item in the post to which this is a reply)] the attack on tape.
Under Mississippi law, “Same-sex partners have no claim in civil actions like this,” says Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center [ http://www.splcenter.org/ ] to YourBlackWorld.
According to Dees, Anderson’s sexual orientation did not play a factor in his beating or murder.
Mississippi state law does not recognize same-sex marriage.
© 2011 BET Interactive, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Black Entertainment Television LLC
http://www.bet.com/news/national/2011/09/14/justice-served-.html [no comments yet]
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upon the Right of Election, 1790
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