"VOICES FOR JUSTICE" A 24P PRODUCTION OF AN ARKANSAS TAKE ACTION FILM

In 1994, three teenagers were wrongfully convicted of the murder of three eight-year-old boys in the town of West Memphis, Arkansas. As a result of a rush to judgment, "Satanic Panic," and a false, coerced "confession" by one of the teenagers, who is mentally handicapped, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin were sentenced to life without parole and Damien Echols was sentenced to death. Over the past seventeen years, the case of the "West Memphis Three" has gained international notoriety as a modern-day witch hunt. This film contains new interviews with the convicted men, presents evidence of innocence, and follows the campaign being waged for new trials. "Voices for Justice" was screened at a rally of the same name, held on August 28, 2010, in Little Rock. The event, attended by a sell-out crowd of 2,500 people, featured live performances by longtime supporters Eddie Vedder, Johnny Depp, Natalie Maines, Patti Smith, Fistful of Mercy, Lisa Blount, and Bill Carter, as well a video expression of support from Henry Rollins. Directed by Mike Poe. For more info on the case visit freewestmemphis3.org.
*UPDATES*
Dear Supporters,
A good turnout Thursday night for the UALR panel discussion would be a fitting honor for all the work Mara Leveritt and David Jauss have done for the cause. We also look forward to hearing more of Dr. Felecia Epps's insightful commentary in person. We do not know, dear friends, but are checking if online video will be provided at a later date. Learn details using either of these links: http://www.wm3blackboard.com/forum/index.php?topic=3790.0,

http://wm3org.typepad.com/blog/2010/11/west-memphis-three-panel-discussion-in...
ATA spokesman Lonnie Soury will also speak out for the WM3 on Thursday. Lonnie is slated to go on air at 7 a.m. CST with two Memphis DJs -- Drake and Zeke on 98.1 The Max -- who have commented favorably about the case but derived much of their information, according to supporters, from the Paradise Lost documentaries. Lonnie will provide updated commentary on evidence emerging since 2007 for his hosts and their large-share Memphis/East Arkansas listenership. Thursday you may find the show live here: http://www.drakezeke.com/
This came to our desk in a note from Lorri Davis: This was put together by Quinn Brown, a producer for Larry King. It's so, so good. It's so well edited; really worth the viewing.
fireweedproductions.com/content/video. Also notice that it contains two separate videos.
Beth Warren and The Commercial Appeal continue to pursue this case with the zeal it deserves, but which Arkansas's largest newspaper lacks. In the first link, ATA consultant and former FBI-profiler John Douglas still amazes us with his vision and moxie, and just reading his resume again makes us stand up and cheer. http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/nov/07/profiler-convinced-innocence...
Notice here, in Beth Warren's keen look at the juggernaut the WM3 effort has become, that Lorri Davis mentions not having heard from Asia about the case, but then hears pronto from a Chinese supporter in the commentary section following the article: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/nov/14/anatomy-of-echols-death-pena...
The Arkansas Times's Gerard Matthews takes a hard look here at possible hearing scheduling. Although ATA is dismayed at a seeming lack of urgency among the ranks after a 17-year wait we keep our chins up: http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/what-next-for-wm3/Content?oid=1380696
Also ATA cannot help but wonder, in probing Arkansas Times fashion, if the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette's apparent apathy toward the case stems from what likely contributed to the circuit court's reticence -- pride. We understand the editors at the AD-G are the same as in 1994, just as the circuit judge stayed the same, and all of them made the wrong call. In fact, we learned in Devil's Knot that the Arkansas Times stood out in 1994 as the only area news source to question the convictions.
Damien's mother speaks out here on LR's FOX-16 news: http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/West-Memphis-3-Prosecutor-Bypassing-evi...
The recent Supreme Court ruling for the WM3 made the top of the Innocence Project and the Death Penalty Focus Group newsletters. In an email today, DPFG reminded us of the postcard campaign with this link to help the WM3: http://www.justicefordamien.com/?rc=dpfe070610
The Innocence Project asks us here to speak up before the current congressional session ends about passing the National Criminal Justice Commission Act, which will address flaws in our justice system particularly in wrongful conviction cases (and, while on this site, shop early to benefit the defense fund): http://www.skeletonkeyauctions.com/displaynews.php?id=14

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• FREE
• 8192011
• VOICES FOR JUSTICE
• WEST MEMPHIS 3
• DAMIEN ECHOLS
• JESSIE MISSKELLEY
• JASON BALDWIN
• MARA LEVERITT
• EDDIE VEDDER
• NATALIE MAINES
• JOHNNY DEPP
• ARKANSAS
• ARKANSAS TAKE ACTION
• ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT
• LASER
• JONESBORO
• DEVIL'S KNOT
• WM3
• WMFREE
• DEATH PENALTY
• ALFORD PLEA

[arktakeaction]

Aug. 19 2011 In a rarely used plea arrangement known as an "Alford plea," Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley plead guilty to murder while still maintaining their innocence. Judge Laser releases them with time served and a suspended 10-year sentence. THE WM3 ARE FREE!!!

[Nsxfreak]

i am hoping that this is their last year in jail. I am from a small town in alabama and people used to call me a freak because I would wear black and never go to the beach and get a tan. I can't beilive that the state has let this go on for so long. My heart goes out to all of them and their familys.

[BigBodySlam]

it;s interesting when you look at comment,s us normal people understand they are innocent because we look at lack of evidence. such as no dna, no finger prints ,crime scene etc. But the people who have mental problems such as religious people or crazy people all they talk about is fry them , burn them , hang them, drown them, behead them, I wanna drink their blood. scary isn't it,, if anyone deserves to be locked up or given the death sentence its people like imastonefan or CrusaderEmber

[Dorisequador]

@hollyzone What about all the bragging? Telling other kids ya we did it?? Jesse crying feeling bad about what he'd done. Why all that drama for inncocent boy who were home with their families at the time of the murders?

Just clear that up for me ..

[sammyhis]

Im from puerto rico and I remember the first paradise lost y was the same age as damien and some how at that age i knew the were inocent and I thank god and the people who were the and figth for justice glad to see them of jail

[DMMPELLETIER]

Best of everything to the WM3. (((WM3)))

[volhead49]

for the truth go to wm3truth.com. also callahan.8k.com. anyone with an unbiased mind will realise the truth and the injustice that has happened for the three little boys. the documentaries are missleading and they lie. go to wm3truth.com to see how piece by piece. God bless those 3 little boys

[PrisonKilljoy]

Thank god they're finally out!!!

[stewb2004]

when they found the the knife in the lake behind hobbs house,,im just wondering how long that knife been there?if its been 15 or 16 years, would it have been a little rusty from erosion overtime to rust?that knife looks like it has been there a little while but not long enough.im not suggesting anything please dont get me wrong.

[NotADood]

@guymerritt The 2nd HBO doc, 'Paradise Lost: Revelations,' has the most detailed explanation how Misskelly's confession was coerced and contains a brief interview with Jessie in which he talks about the interrogation, though his verbal skills are limited for him to give much detail about his rationale, let alone that of his interrogators.

Ppl w/ low IQs are easy to intimidate and coerce. Jessie's 72-point IQ makes him roughly equivalent to an 11-12 year old, mentally. It's like bullying a child.

[scumgod13]

@arktakeaction I hate that they had to plead guilty, for one reason THEY'RE NOT.As atrocious of a crime as that was,if the DA had any feeling at all they were guilty does anyone believe they would be free? I certainly don't.Also,by them pleading guilty wont that make it impossible to charge the real Murderer.How can they charge someone if someone else is already guilty.But,at least theyre out!Damien home with his beautiful wife and the others with family.They deserve the life offers!

[scottsscotty]

great piece.......

[pearljambuff]

@BigBodySlam Loved your comment. The problem with imastonesfan and CrusaderEmber is they are two people, each with at least 10 accounts on youtube. They represent about 20 different non-supporters, probably more...You can't win against two that suffer from the, I have no life syndrome...but good luck, anyway...