Editor's Note: Please read Gloria Rubac's letter carefully. We are asking you, the reader, to sign the petition she provides to save Randy Halprin from the Texas State Executioner. Randy has been condemned to death for a crime he did not commit. Time is running out for Randy. Gloria also describes a current bill before the Texas legislature which would save many who are on death row. Gloria lives and works in Texas. She has worked tirelessly for many years as an activist for abolition of the Death Penalty.
A related petition would give families of those on the Texas Death Row telephone access to their loved ones.
Paige Lynn Wood, a 14 year old girl, signed the petitions to save Randy Halprin and to allow her to speak to her father by telephone. She added this message to her signature:
Apr 7, Paige Wood, Texas
Poem #1 - Texas Took My Dad: As I fall asleep each night I have my teddy bear in hand For he is the replacement that I am forced to have …Since Texas took my dad. My dad is not the killer That you are led to believe he is. He is a kind and gentle soul who only tried to do What he believed was best for me. My life was threatened by a man Who Texas already killed So why must there be a two for one It isn’t a fair deal! Now I find myself trying very hard Not to be consumed by hate Just like the corrupt Texas prison guards And for those of you, Who want to kill my dad… For shame, for shame Its you to blame for taking away my life! May Jesus do what’s good for you and show you what is right!
Poem #2 -Waiting: I sit and wait …And wonder. I have been waiting my whole life All the time wondering… Is my daddy coming home? Will I ever get to see him? Touch him? Hold his hand? Or ever hug him tight? Will I ever get to sit in his lap or Talk to him face to face Instead of through the pane of glass That messes with my brain. Sometimes at night I find myself Waiting by the door Just hoping that this is all a bad dream And he will simply Walk through the door I need for him to Tuck me in And ask me about my day, Then read me a bedtime story While my worries drift away; Then say a little prayer for me, My friends and family Then all the other boys and girls who are hurting Just like me. I am daddy’s baby girl, and even though I am 14 years of age I'm secretly still 3 years old waiting for my daddy to come home. -
- Paige Lynn Wood
P.S. Please let me talk to my daddy on the phone; I need him.
Please sign the petitions which are linked to Gloria's letter below.
- Les Blough, Editor
Dear Fellow Activists and Abolitionists,
I want to ask you to sign the petition for Randy Halprin. Randy is one of the Texas 7 who escaped from prison a few years back. They robbed a sporting goods store and a cop was shot and killed. Because of Texas' Law of Parties, a number of the guys were sent to death row even though they didn't all shot this cop. That is Randy's situation.
There are so many on death row, I have heard from 60 to 80 people, who were convicted under this Law of Parties. It is really unfair and this is one reason we are working so hard on legislation sponsored by Rep. Terri Hodge from Dallas and Rep Harold Dutton from Houston that would change this law. Hodge's bill would make it so that the shooter and others charged could be tried separately. Dutton's bill would change it so that a non-shooter could not be sentenced to death.
Read more about Randy Halprin and sign the petition to save him:
Thanks,
Gloria Rubac
You can contact Gloria at grubac@prodigy.net
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