Miranda Ward

The Case about the ‘West Memphis Three’

It is with great regret that I am pulling out of any further active and proactive involvement in the 'official wm3' Awareness Campaign.

The ‘why’s thereof: -
I must categorically state here that I still believe most firmly that a re-assessment of the investigation and the subsequent trials is critical. I never did subscribe to the ‘free them now regardless’ crew. I shall continue to follow the case with great interest as and when there are any real developments. I also have total faith in the integrity of Damien Echolls’ wife and in her ability to administer the Defence Fund on behalf of her husband.
My disillusion began at the seeming impossibility of getting any straight answers from those who would appear to be in possession of them, about how the monies raised were going to be used in the future plans for their Awareness Campaign.
The two documentaries alone would only have made me very curious to know more. Without the web site as a resource, that curiosity would not have begun to be satisfied, nor in turn, would it have made me determined to do my bit. I have to take my hat off to Kathy Bakken and Burke Sauls in particular for the many hours that they and Grove Pashley have put into this case and thus made it evolve into a cause. Curiosity about the case was fine. It would seem that curiosity about the campaign direction, is not.
There is one discussion board (of many) on the web for supporters where one could find answers if one is prepared to wade through some of the minor outbreaks of effluence in the content of some of the posts. One could even cope with the circular logic of some of the ‘nons’ (those who are fighting to maintain the status quo) who argue that they are guilty as charged as they were charged and found guilty. I suppose it is some consolation that the espousers of this still do think that an appellate system is commendable. Personally, if I were of their opinion, I would tend to think it a total waste of money!
The final straw came for me when I read on the discussion board the posts from a 'newbie' raising many of the same points. That was great. But then the thread was ‘closed’ after he had been told to both take his questions somewhere else and not to contribute monies if he did not have confidence in the administration of the funds. Statements were also posted with great authority about the many funds, directing one to look at the official board for further details and information. I, as doubtless others, did and failed to find any answers there! The official campaign site ‘claims’ that the discussion board is independent. There is an email list affiliated to the official campaign web site too but they do not claim it is an independent one. The questions were raised there but I failed to express myself well and somehow, by wanting to know where the campaign was planning to go and how, my posts got transposed into being perceived as an ‘attack’ on how they had started and what they had achieved to date. Patently ridiculous.
My plans and hopes of seeing some of the older ‘rock fraternity’ get involved and contribute by joining to make a compilation CD has now been permanently shelved as there was not a cat in hell’s chance that I would put my head on the line to convince any artist, by their actions, to contribute funds to a campaign in which I had lost both faith and confidence. Quite apart from the fact that it would not have got that far as those who had been approached by that point would not have proceeded with anything until I had given them reassurances and, further more, their managements and legal people too – and backed with evidence!
Then I was informed by the moderators/representatives of the discussion board that I could no longer read nor post and I realised that I had been wasting my time. Needless to say it is a ‘discussion board’ and I can still read there! What made it sad was that I had not posted for two months and they were unable to cite any contentious posts there to cause my banishment. When those calling for justice and fighting for freedom of expression in turn deny a global citizen the right to either ask questions or the right of reply on a public board then I can only think that something is wrong. Very wrong. Just as stereo-typing seemed to play a prominent part in the conviction of the three so, it would seem, is it a part of how the ‘supporters’ should be categorised by the early ‘supporters’ in order to be welcomed aboard. I am too old now to change and ‘conform’ in order to be a part of any specific group! And I would not want to be a part of a group that had ground rules like that! Nor can I continue appear to apparently condone a group like that! But I cannot just turn and walk away ~ hence this statement!
There are many supporters whom I have the greatest respect for, as individuals and I would urge anyone interested in this case to read it up and think about it. If any of you then still want to contribute then that is absolutely fine with me, it is your choice, but for myself, I do not. If I had the time and the money I would want to set up some sort of fund to help provide for the three when, hopefully, they are released. Paroled prisoners get help readjusting to the new world they find themselves in after a long sentence. I have the feeling that if these three young men, who were incarcerated as youths, are finally released they will have to forgo the right to claim against the State of Arkansas and will be on their own. The ‘glamour’ of donating to a cause for a young man’s fight from death row is far greater than a cause to help him and his friends get practical help to re-adjust to the new world they will find themselves in. It was for this I wanted to try and get that Cd off the ground. Should all their appeals go against them then those funds could have been re-directed to help others who were also wrongfully convicted, get on their own feet again, if this were the views and wishes of those artists involved. If five years of wrongful imprisonment can so ‘institutionalise’ a grown and intelligent man that he falls apart in a convenience store when faced with having to choose between two different brands of coffee on his own then you have to ask yourself how well equipped is he to overcome far harder obstacles! These three were incarcerated in 1993. There have been a hell of a lot of changes in the intervening years. The real West Memphis Three are Michael Moore, Steven Branch and Chris Byers. The real secondary (and on outwards) victims as a result of the West Memphis Three murders are far too many to list but fall into two camps. The families of the three dead boys and all their friends and the three convicted men’s families and friends are but the start. Just as I find the glee and relish expressed by some of the ‘nons’ at the celebration they will have when and if Echolls is executed abhorrent so do I find the apparent lack of sensitivity to the three eight year old boys whose lives were cut short, as exhibited by some of the supporters.
In fact I do really wish that I could turn and walk away from all this, but I cannot and never will. Ignoring an injustice is as morally repugnant to me and as bad as being a party to it.
I have to believe that Justice will finally prevail here. Justice for three young boys and for their families and also justice for the three who were convicted despite there being a great many reasonable doubts. Meanwhile this case will continue to serve as a teaching tool at many colleges for students on courses to do with the law. If nothing else then at least let us learn from the mistakes made back in 1993 and let us hope and pray for much, much more!
Miranda Ward © May 2007