Rev. Jesse Jackson joins hundreds at St. Monica’s in an attempt to stop pending execution of Kevin Cooper
By MICHAEL TITTINGER Daily Press Staff Writer
NORTH OF WILSHIRE — Close to 150 people gathered Tuesday on the steps of St. Monica’s Church to plead with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to call a “time out” and stay next week’s execution of a death-row inmate they claim might be innocent.
Activists and supporters were joined by speakers Rev. Jesse Jackson, actor Mike Farrell, as well as civic and religious leaders from across the region. While the throngs were seemingly united against capital punishment as a means of justice, most also took time to poke holes in the case against Kevin Cooper, a San Quentin State Prison inmate convicted of killing four people in 1993.
“Killing Kevin Cooper will not bring back those families’ loved ones,” said Jackson, peering over the cheering supporters. “It will just continue the cycle of violence. We can’t stop killing by killing.
“It’s not our job to use homicide as a policy of social justice.” Next Tuesday’s scheduled execution of Cooper has raised the ire of anti-death penalty activists, not only for what they deem to be questionable evidence, but also for Gov. Schwarzenegger’s perceived blasé response.
St. Monica’s was no random choice for Tuesday’s rally, as the California Catholic church is the governor’s home parish.
“Gov. Schwarzenegger, we call on your conscience and faith,” said Bishop Gabino Zavala of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. “This execution will not make anyone safer.
“We join the voice of Jesus — ‘Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.’”
The bishop’s remark proved to be quite poignant on Tuesday, as volunteers took time to pass out stones amid the ceremony, before asking those in attendance to lay them down peacefully before dispersing.
“Execution diminishes the dignity of life,” added Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels, of the Santa Monica Bay Interfaith Council. “The process of repentance is not to be shortened.”
In a joint statement released prior to the rally, community leaders issued a “call to conscience” for Schwarzenegger to reconsider his denial of clemency for Cooper, and to impose a moratorium until a study of California’s death penalty system can be performed.
According to the group, the case against Cooper is a “showcase of errors,” pointing to eyewitness discrepancies and possible evidence tampering to bolster their case against executing Cooper.
“Gov. Schwarzenegger has made this decision without allowing Kevin Cooper to be heard in this case, refusing a clemency hearing, which is unprecedented in this state,” Farrell said. “I suggest that he made this decision on the basis of political considerations, not justice, and now a human life may be snuffed out because of it.”
Farrell took time to stop and note the banner which adorns the wall over the church’s front entrance, suggesting the governor take his cues from the motto, “Boundless Love, Endless Mercy.”
Also on hand to speak was Phil Courtney of Riverside, who along with his girlfriend was attacked by a serial killer in January of 1993. He said he stood alone five years later, the lone courtroom attendee wanting the convicted murderer sentenced to life in prison rather than the death penalty.
“Unfortunately, as a culture we continue to believe that we can end evil in the world by killing ‘evil people,’” he said. “This effort has not worked in the last 5,000 years of human civilization, and it probably won’t work in the next 5,000.
“What we must do is continue to study the human conditions that produce evil acts and continue our work to eliminate them.”
The sentiments were shared by Jackson, on hand representing his Rainbow Coalition, as he was compelled to take to the microphone again, this time at the end of the rally in order to drive his point home.
“Our nation makes the most guns, and shoots them,” he said. “Our nation makes the most bombs, and drops them. Our nation was sure there were weapons of mass destruction, and now we’re not so sure. Five hundred American deaths later, several thousand Iraqi deaths later, we shrug our shoulders and our responsibilities.
“Our governor must feel so confident that he would pull the switch himself, for he must be willing to suffer the same fate (as Cooper) if he is wrong.”
“Our governor must feel so confident that he would pull the switch himself, for he must be willing to suffer the same fate (as Cooper) if he is wrong.” — — REV. JESSE JACKSON
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 4, 2004. Read the original PDF.