----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, June 24, 2000 4:41 AM Subject: [STOPNATO] UN condemns execution of Sankofah STOP NATO: NO PASARAN! - HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.COM http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_802000/802967.stm Friday, 23 June, 2000, 12:35 GMT 13:35 UK UN attacks US execution Several protesters were arrested trying to break police lines UN Human Rights chief Mary Robinson has been highly critical of the US execution of a man convicted of murder in his youth. Gary Graham was put to death by lethal injection after last minute moves by his lawyers failed. He had been on death row for 19 years and maintained his innocence throughout. The case has sparked impassioned debate about the death penalty and emerged as a presidential election issue after Texas governor and White House candidate George W Bush refused to allow clemency. Mr Bush, under fire for more than 130 executions that have taken place in Texas in the five years that he has been governor, said he backed Graham's execution and believed that justice was being done because he was guilty. You can kill a revolutionary but not the revolution Executed prisoner, Gary Graham Mrs Robinson wrote to Mr Bush appealing for a stay of execution. In a statement Mrs Robinson said: "I believe the execution of Mr Graham ran counter to widely accepted international principles and to the international community's expressed desire for the abolition of the death penalty." Graham was sentenced for shooting dead a man in Houston when he was 17 years old, and therefore a juvenile. Graham failed in at least 33 appeals "The overwhelming international consensus that the death penalty shall not apply to juvenile offenders stems from the recognition that young persons lack maturity and judgment and thus cannot be expected to be fully responsible for their actions," she said. Journalist eyewitnesses said Graham had to be subdued and carried into the execution room. They said it was obvious from the way he looked he had put up a struggle. He was covered in a sheet and restrained as he was laid down to die. In a long, rambling and angry statement he said he wanted everyone to know that his death was state sanctioned murder. And he said that his killing was part of the genocide of blacks in America. Graham had to be restrained as he was injected He added, unless something was done, there would be another 100 years of this kind of lynching. His murder, he said, had to be avenged. He went on to say that he had been treated brutally in prison but maintained that "you can kill a revolutionary but not the revolution". Witnesses Bianca Jagger, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were said to be very emotional as the time for the execution came near. Journalists said as the drugs went into his body he looked over at Reverend Jackson, then let out a slight groan and died. Afterwards Jesse Jackson said he had wept openly at witnessing his first execution. The family of Graham's victim Bobby Lambert also made a short statement saying that although they were sad for his family they felt that justice had been done. Verdict doubts Only one of six witnesses has identified Graham as the killer Gun found on Graham could not have fired the fatal bullet Four witnesses say Graham was elsewhere when the crime took place The execution at Huntsville in Texas was put back for three hours while lawyers appealed to the US supreme court for clemency - that was denied. Then his lawyers launched a civil suit against the pardons and parole board for refusing a reprieve. Outside the jail several protesters were arrested trying to break a police barricade. Graham pleaded guilty to 10 aggravated robberies during a crime spree 19 years ago. But he insists his week-long rampage of robbery, rape and theft did not include the fatal shooting of an Arizona man outside a Houston supermarket. Search BBC News Online Advanced search options BBC ONE TV NEWS WORLD NEWS SUMMARY PROGRAMMES GUIDE TALKING POINT Death row Should capital punishment be abolished? See also: 22 Jun 00 | Americas In pictures: Passions run high 22 Jun 00 | Americas Death row man talks to BBC 12 Jun 00 | Americas Most US death sentences 'flawed' 22 Jun 00 | Issues Campaign issues: The death penalty 06 Jun 00 | Americas Death sentence on Hispanic overturned 22 May 00 | Americas Serial killer gets death penalty 03 May 00 | Americas Woman executed in Arkansas 04 Jan 00 | Profiles George W Bush: Out of his father's shadow 23 Jun 00 | Americas Witness for the execution Internet links: State of Texas George W Bush Campaign Amnesty International on death penalty Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles Death Penalty Information Centre The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Americas stories now: Elian asylum appeal fails Amazon tumbles to year-low Gore declares: 'Truth is my friend' UN attacks US execution Chinese agency in 'spying row' Windows embraces the web Albright praises Korean summit success US icon backs dollar coin Links to all Americas stories are at the foot of the page. 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