14 Comments
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Becka Gagne's avatar

Who can we call? Where can pressure be applied? This is insanity, but then, that is amerikkka’s legal system

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Kate McMullan's avatar

I spent the first 18 years of my life in Missouri and have friends and relatives there who will be receiving this heart-breaking newsletter. I'll see what's currently being done and what we can do to help get Strickland released from prison. What a tragedy that he's still there. Thank you, Judd.

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Kate McMullan's avatar

Before I could alert my MO family, Strickland was released. This is great news, but the not -great news is that MO doesn't compensate the wrongly convicted unless they were exonerated through DNA evidence, and Strickland wasn't. He has nothing. The Midwest Innocence Project set up a GoFund me for him and so far it has raised over a million dollars. If you'd like to be a part of helping Strickland, here's the link to the fund.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-kevin-strickland-after-wrongful-conviction?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet

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Ana's avatar

Thank you for this one

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PoetryIsDemocracy's avatar

This is heartbreaking. As is the case in many American states, Missouri’s racist legal climate has allowed a whole generation to grow up with this innocent man In prison, unable to parent his own child or show her what a real father can be. And now their Senate candidate is running for office perpetuating that same racist, inhumane climate, with legislative assistance. G-d help us, there is no effective legal redress for this wrong.

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Not that Nick's avatar

I hope that justice prevails and Strickland is freed. I also hope that Schmitt loses his primary to that idiot lawyer and the Democratic nominee convinces enough people to vote for him/her.

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Jake G.'s avatar

Is there anything we can do to help Kevin? I'm feeling beat down and angry over this and the rittenhouse verdict. Always knew he was going to walk free but it's really sad to know that if the roles were reversed and a black kid killed a trump supporter, he'd already have been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

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Deborah Ruf's avatar

I already knew about this. Maybe Rachel Maddow? It is so egregious that everyone should be hearing about it. Thanks for your clear writing, Judd.

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Deborah Ruf's avatar

And I am almost finished reading Isabelle Wilkerson's "Caste" now and see how brutal our systems have been for nonwhites, particularly black people. And yet some people still refuse to even look at the information.

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VALERIE MELUSKEY's avatar

You have covered the details of this case very well. Too well! I felt internal pain throughout reading, but because it was by you, Judd, I persevered. Why is it that these men in power, such as the AG in MO and the Governor of OK, whose hatred and blindness are so deeply entrenched succeed? Why is this quality of being so popular with angry voters? [I answered my own question: anger and fear are blinding and obliterate love and compassion.]

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Ben Wheeler's avatar

Thanks Judd, this is horrifying and I hope Strickland is compensated.

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MaryAnn Boylan's avatar

I moved to Missouri in 1969….a few weeks later, there was a linching—in my lifetime! It surprises me not!

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Hazel's avatar

A life wasted in prison has no justice. What a sad state of affairs. These Trump followers in high elected office sure know how to spin their hate. Yet at the time of his conviction, there were no Trump followers. Just hatred and racism.

I hope that Strickland will be released and soon. Arriving to court in a wheel chair sounds pretty serious.

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Nov 22, 2021
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bayareascott's avatar

He didn't do it, and you still choose to put the dig in anyway. And YOU compare it to Rittenhouse? Give me a break.

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