Man executed for Byrd dragging death

Sarah Wilson, journalist who has followed the case since the beginning, reflects on the death of James Byrd Jr. 13 years ago. The story captured in a collection of photographs titled "Road to Redemption, Jasper Texas."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• austin
• east texas
• jasper
• james byrd jr
• nanci wilson
• lawrence russell brewer

[thrummer1953]

As terrible as the Death Penalty is, few deserved it as much as this fellow.

[skyvilla]

The death penalty is so just.

[TheBigSXC]

You cannot love your race, without loving the HUMAN race. I'm glad justice was served in this case as well as the case when four black men raped, tortured, and killed a white couple. I hate crime, period. Btw, I'm a proud black man.

[ultradumbass]

@StuffedMannequin in reality they beat him hard enough that they thought they had him killed then tried dragging his body because had his blood been in their truck it could have been used for evidence against them, they tied him by a rope so that way when they dropped him off it would be harder for the police to pinpoint it to them, though as it turns out he was very well alive and obviously their idea of hiding evidence did not work too well in their favour.

[ultradumbass]

i don't believe he should have been executed since i don't believe in the death penalty, i believe in indefinite sentences which can lead up to life if the offender shows signs of re offending and then released when he is no longer considered a danger to society. though even if released from prison as no longer dangerous i believe the person should be forced to do community service every week for life, be forced to see psychiatrists weekly and be forced to give anti violent speeches at school.

[StuffedMannequin]

I remember reading about this years ago. Tied up to a truck and dragged for three miles while the truck swerved left and right and he remained concious the entire time... Christ.

[djjimijo4]

This is when you bring the electric chair back into service. No appeal, no last meal, no last words, no phone in case the governor does try to call, no wet sponge on the head, no way to shut of the power once the switch is thrown.

[SadiSays]

@SpinCage

This was not "victory over whites," but JUSTICE for a man's life who DID NOT deserve to die the way that he did. If one of your loved ones was killed the same way that James Byrd was killed, you would be horrified, devastated and livid. You would want justice to be served. Right? So why should these killers escape justice? Regardless of the color of anyone's skin in this case, NO ONE has the right to kill another human being the way they killed that man. He did nothing to them.

[SadiSays]

@eristars

Sigh....this is not the way. Have empathy and regard for the good people. There is evil in every demographic, but it does not personify an entire people.

[eristars]

i would kill a white person just like that; as the only good white man the dead one

[alanlancer008]

yea people that do that to anyone should be executed