Media Advisory For immediate release October 26, 2010 www.MarchforAbolition.org Contacts: Scott Cobb, Texas Moratorium Network 512-552-4743 Laura Brady, Campaign to End the Death Penalty, 512-638-1048 Six Innocent Death Row Exonerees to Lead the 11th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty Saturday Oct 30 2010 in Austin at the Texas Capitol Pre-March Press Conference to Be Held on Friday October 29 at 1 PM in Speaker’s Committee Room in Texas Capitol Six innocent, exonerated former death row prisoners will lead the 11th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty Saturday October 30, 2010 at 2 PM in Austin at the Texas Capitol on the South Steps atContinue readingSix Innocent Death Row Exonerees to Lead the 11th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty Saturday Oct 30 2010 in Austin at the Texas Capitol

Elizabeth Gilbert will be one of the speakers at the 11th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty at 2 PM on October 30th at the Texas Capitol in Austin. She is a Houston teacher and playwright who befriended Texas death row prisoner Todd Willingham. Her story is featured in the New Yorker article by David Grann about the case as well at the Frontline Documentary “Death by Fire” (Click to watch online). If it were not for Elizabeth’s involvement in the case, in addition to Todd’s family, Todd Willingham’s innocence likely would never have come to light. Anyone whoContinue readingTodd Willingham’s Friend Elizabeth Gilbert to Speak at 11th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty

The new Frontline documentary about the Todd Willingham case, “Death by Fire” aired last night on TV and is now online. Click here to visit the Frontline website and watch the film online. It is embedded below divided into 6 parts. Frontline also has a DVD of “Death by Fire” available for sale for $24.99. 11th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty October 30, 2010 2 PM Austin, Texas The Capitol (11th and Congress)

The Texas Fire Marshal’s Association is holding its 12th Annual Texas Fire Marshals’ Conference Oct 18-22 in Austin at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It will be interesting to see if any of their members will criticize State Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado for writing a letter to the Texas Forensic Science Commission standing by his agency’s role in the error-filled fire investigation that led to the conviction of Todd Willingham. Maldonado is scheduled to speak Monday at 9 AM to welcome attendees and again on Thursday Oct 21 from 1-1:50 to give an update from the State Fire Marshal’s Office (seeContinue readingTexas Fire Marshal Paul Maldonado to Speak at Texas Fire Marshal’s Association Conference in Austin Oct 18-22; Maldonado Stands by Error-Ridden Fire Investigation Used to Convict Todd Willingham

Former Texas Governor Mark White said in Newsweek about Todd Willingham: “If there’s no arson, there’s no crime, and, therefore, he is innocent.” Below is a video of Governor White speaking about Todd Willingham and the death penalty after he delivered the summation on behalf of Todd Willingham’s family members at the Court of Inquiry in Austin on October 14, 2010. Video by Texas Moratorium Network.

From CNN: An advocate for the family of Cameron Todd Willingham, executed six years ago after a fire killed three of his daughters, is sharply questioning the objectivity of the head of the Texas commission looking into whether the man was rightly convicted. Stephen Saloom, the policy director of the nonprofit legal advocacy group the Innocence Project, brought up a comment attributed last week to John Bradley, chairman of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, during the public comments portion of that panel’s meeting Friday. According to the published report, Bradley said that anti-death penalty groups wanted to hold up WillinghamContinue readingJohn Bradley Accused of Bias and Threatening Integrity of Forensic Investigation of Todd Willingham Case

To see the photos on Flickr, click here. Patricia Willingham Cox, Eugenia Willingham and Former Texas Governor Mark White

News reports of today’s Court of Inquiry hearing in Todd Willingham innocence case. The New York Times reports in Family’s Effort to Clear Name Frames Debate on Executions: But they also say that the hearing is more than symbolic — it could cast in a new light the Lone Star State’s record on executions. And more broadly, they argue, it is a cautionary tale about the power of flawed science to sway a courtroom, and a glaring injustice that could affect debates over the fairness of the death penalty. That debate has been framed, in part, by a 2006 opinionContinue readingNews Reports of Court of Inquiry in Todd Willingham Case Oct 14, 2010

Newsweek is reporting that former Texas Governor Mark White will deliver the summation at the Court of Inquiry on Todd Willingham’s innocence.  The hearing is scheduled to reconvene on Thursday, October 14, at 1:30 PM in Judge Charlie Baird’s courtroom. White says in Newsweek, “If there’s no arson, there’s no crime, and, therefore, he is innocent.” From Newsweek:   “The governor’s office had access to an affidavit that it was faulty science, and either ignored it or dismissed it,” says former Texas governor Mark White (no relation to Bill). White, a Democrat who signed off on more than 20 executionsContinue readingFormer Texas Governor Mark White on Todd Willingham: “If there’s no arson, there’s no crime, and, therefore, he is innocent.”

The hearing in Judge Charlie Baird’s court to determine if Todd Willingham was innocent was recessed until Thursday, October 14, 2010. Below are photos we took and a video from Keyetv.