------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the Nov. 29, 2001 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
Emerson Rudd's last words: 'HEADS UP, EYES TOWARD THE SKY' By Teresa Gutierrez Huntsville, Texas He could have been an artist or a writer. Or perhaps a revolutionary leader of the people. Emerson Rudd never had a chance to be any of those things. On Nov. 14, after holding him on death row for 13 years, the state of Texas executed him. Emerson had just turned 18 when he was arrested for murder in Dallas in 1988--and became the youngest person from that county ever to be executed. Like so many people who languish in U.S. prisons, Emerson had a very difficult life. His mother loved him dearly, but he was horribly abused by his father. He grew up poor and unhappy. His future looked bleak, and it was. Under the capitalist system, abused women and children have little recourse. The capitalist state would rather spend billions of dollars on prisons and military weapons than for battered women's shelters or domestic-violence education programs. Resources are not allocated in a serious way to make children safe and happy with every opportunity to develop as healthy human beings. So young people like Emerson wind up in jail instead of in college. Texas jails, like all jails for the poor in this country, are virtual torture chambers. They are designed to break you, to beat you down. But Emerson's character could never be broken. In fact, his entire consciousness changed in prison. He encountered the naked repressive arm of the capitalist state. But instead of bowing down, he fought back with every inch of his being. Emerson had the chance to meet politically conscious prisoner leaders like Kamau Wilkerson and Harvey Tee Ervin. Kamau, executed last year, was a fighter to the very end. FOUGHT FOR HUMAN CONTACT The right to meet and interact with other prisoners is critical for political development and just to survive prison. This right has been taken away. In Texas prisons today extreme isolation is the norm. Emerson fought these conditions to the very end. He was a founding member and later became chairperson of Panthers United for Revolutionary Education, a Texas death row organization. By educating himself, he turned his rage in prison into a revolutionary understanding of the world around him. He spoke out constantly--in interviews, through his writings, in the media. He consistently denounced the abusive and illegal prison conditions, and defended other prisoners--all the time knowing he would face beatings and other forms of torture for doing so. Emerson not only survived the day-to-day trauma of Texas prisons, he became a leader of his peers and the movement outside. I visited Emerson two days before his execution. What do you talk about with someone who will soon be killed by the state? Showing strength and leadership, Emerson warmly welcomed all his visitors. His friends and family laughed and chatted with him, everyone hiding the tears and pain raging inside. His first question was about political events since Sept. 11. We talked about the situation in New York and the bombing of Afghanistan. He expressed his solidarity with New York's Dominican community, which had just experienced a tremendous loss with the crash of a plane bound for the Dominican Republic. Emerson had just discovered that a prisoner to be executed the next day was gay. He told me a story showing deep understanding and genuine solidarity with gay people. We discussed how, one day, these fascist torture chambers would be torn down. In their place would stand museums and memorials with pictures and statues of revolutionary leaders like Emerson, Kamau and Shaka Sankofa. And too, too many others. These memorials would be dedicated to people like him, who were executed for the sole crime of being poor, a worker, a person of color. They would be dedicated to people who fought like hell against this rotten system. Emerson Rudd did not deserve to die. He should have been allowed to walk the streets, breathe the air, feel the sun. To live wherever and however he wanted. He should have had the chance to give leadership to youths who, like himself many years ago, direct their righteous rage inward instead of toward the system. But the state of Texas, like the capitalist state as a whole, has no concern for the lives of African American, Latino and other oppressed people. Even one of Emerson's last requests--to add some friends to witness his execution-- was denied. To the very end Emerson stood proud and strong. His fierce revolutionary character never wavered. Friends who witnessed the murder reported to those outside the walls that he held his head high to the end. He refused a last meal, saying: "That's an insult. You don't eat from the hands of your enemy." They had to gas and pepper-spray him to take him out of his jail cell. Emerson's last words were: "Ok. I guess I'll address the Morgan family. Mrs. Morgan, the sister from the trial. Thirteen or fourteen years ago, I had a non-caring attitude at the time. I'm sorry for shooting your son down at that particular robbery. Politicians say that this brings closure. But my death doesn't bring your son back--it doesn't bring closure. I wish that I could do more, but I can't. I hope this brings you peace. Ursula, Manon, and Irene, I love y'all--take it easy. They've gotta do this thing. I'm still warm from the pepper gas. I love you. I'm ready to go. Call my mom and tell her that this particular process is over. "Tell all the brothers to keep their heads up, eyes toward the sky." Emerson Rudd, presente! - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. 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