Dear Friends,
When I get upset about what’s happening in the world, I resort to writing. Needless to say, I’ve been doing a lot of writing lately. The federal government is seeking to apply the death penalty for the first time since 2003. In the meantime, I felt compelled to weigh in on our local “Permit Karen.”
In The Death Penalty is Racist: Now is the Time to Abolish It, I argue that the national conversation about racism and the criminal justice system- inclusive of wrongful convictions- provides a perfect opportunity to reconsider the death penalty once and for all. This week’s news of the federal government’s first executions since 2003 lends additional urgency to this dialogue. There were three federal executions scheduled this week alone, and while one has been postponed, the call to abolish the death penalty is more urgent than ever before.
I also write about an incident that happened in my beloved town of Montclair, where “Permit Karen” arose from the treelined streets to spark an important conversation about racism and white privilege. You can read my opinion piece in NJ.com at The Real Danger of Permit Karen.
Finally, I wanted to express how grateful I am to all those who preordered Smoke but No Fire: Convicting the Innocent of Crimes that Never Happened. There’s still time to pre-order your copy. All author proceeds will be donated to projects that support exonerees upon their release from prison. Please spread the word! And thank you for your ongoing support.
Stay safe and be well!
Jessica