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Last revised: November 7, 1999

Actually it's true, looks can kill, because if you look different, maybe have darker skin, or a tattoo, or long hair, you could be convicted of a crime you didn't do just because you "look the part". I know of a man on death row right now, Kevin Cooper, who is an African American man convicted of a murder of a white family in an affluent neighborhood in southern California. He had walked away from a low-security prison in the area and "looked the part", so he was an easy conviction - even though there was extensive evidence that surfaced during the investigation that pointed to three white men as being the perpetrators. He is now fighting for his life, after having been locked up since 1983.

In the Yosemite killings, if the victims' family and the media would have been in control, the two ex-offenders originally accused would be on their way to death row right now. What was the look, or stigma, that was working against their getting a fair hearing was the fact that they had a previous conviction. There was even an attempt to start a movement to cut out all paroles, since the two parolees were so obviously guilty (before having even been officially accused). We were even told that we should all be outraged at their being able to walk around free and that we should make sure no one ever gets out of prison again! What did I miss here? Isn't someone innocent until proven guilty? In Kevin Cooper's case, the press basically convicted him. There were nation-wide headlines reporting the search for the killer. When they were calling him THE KILLER, his case hadn't even been heard by a court of law, which was his right!

In a newspaper story after the tragic death of Joie Armstrong, the connection between that murder and the official investigations of the Yosemite killings became apparent. Peter Keane, dean of Golden Gate University Law School said "Clearly, when you go ahead and make up your mind (about suspects), you rule out any other possibilities. The danger is you may be mistaken, and by ruling out other possibilities, you are allowing other trails to go cold. An investigation should always remain open until a jury comes back with a verdict." (SF Chronicle, July 29, 1999) But that doesn't seem to be the common practice, and one wonders about what the actual perpetrators in Kevin Cooper's case are doing now? That is the problem when you rush to prosecute, rush to demonize.

The people who do not like parolees, or blacks, or whatever, in all moral honesty should not be encouraged to railroad their chosen 'outcasts' into prison - and possibly the execution chamber to be exterminated by the state for being different. That was the style of Nazi Germany. I don't think we should emulate that philosophy in our crazed rush to demonstrate toughness on crime.

Editor's Note:
For more information about Kevin Cooper's case, please check out his website at www.activist-etc.org
Or you may write him at:
Kevin Cooper
C-65304 3-E-82
San Quentin Prison
San Quentin, CA 94974

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Send Email to Charla Greene at Welcome to Hell

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