Posted by Scott in Featured Articles, Headline, Site Stuff, WM3 | 6 comments
Welcome to West Memphis 3 Week
You know the feeling you got when you first watched ‘The Green Mile’, realizing that John Coffey really hadn’t committed the violent crimes he was imprisoned and eventually executed for? Imagine for a second of the very real existence that the above three men have to go through everyday of their lives. Waking up each day confined to a cell knowing that as it stands right now you will never get out of prison, and for one of them execution is one denied appeal away.
Since June 3rd 1993 all three of them have been locked up for a vicious crime they did not commit. Some of you may be familiar with them and if you aren’t it is my hope that during the next week on our site we can familiarize yourself with the case, the huge community of people that are reaching out to make a difference and what you can do to help as well.
When they were arrested they were 18, 16, and 17 (in order of the photo above), Jason and Jesse (Middle and far right) were each given life sentences and Damien (pictured far left) was given a death sentence. All of these guys were handed these sentences with no more evidence than a coerced confession from Jesse (who was tried separately), and essentially being looked down upon for being “different”. By “different,” I mean wearing black clothing and listening to heavy metal music. That is enough to get you convicted of murder in West Memphis.
There have been 2 documentaries (‘Paradise Lost’ 1 & 2), and one very notable book written about the subject (The Devils Knot). From this countless celebrities have given their time, and services to the cause. Here are just a few:
Henry Rollins, Winona Ryder, Jack Black, Trey Parker, Eddie Vedder, Robert Smith, Natalie Maines, Michale Graves and a huge list of other famous supporters
The sad thing is that although everyone is reaching out for support these gentlemen are still locked up today, 16 years later. Some of you that are familiar with the book and documentaries may have heard about my Mom (Victoria Hutcheson) and brother (Aaron Hutcheson) who both played a part in the saga of the WM3.
This week, in an effort to raise awareness, we are going to have all of our columns be something related to the WM3. We will also have write-up’s from a few celebrity supporters and some of my close friends.
For more information on the West Memphis Three please visit http://wm3.org, which is run by the amazing Kathy Bakken, Grove Pashley, Burk Sauls, and Lisa Fancher.
I’m glad to see you put this on the site. I hope everyone watches the HBO documentaries on this story. I doubt anyone will come to a different conclusion than the one you laid out here. It’s really sad that these guys are still in prison.
It’s great to see these three getting the support they deserve. They need to be free. Support the WM3!!
This is awesome. The more people who know, the better. I would also like to commend you on bringing this forward with your ties to the case whether you willingly wanted to be tied to it or not. A lovely gesture nonetheless and hold your head high, you’re deserving of it. Together we’re going to right these wrongs one day. It’s going to be the best day ever when it finally happens.
Arent you scarred that you are supporting monsters!!! I completely agree that the proper legal steps were not done and ther is not enough evidence to convict them but Damien Echols is cleary not right in the head and should have been a prime suspect.Sane peaople dont beat greyhound dogs and keep the skull or tell their father they are going to kill them and eat them but KILLERS do.
what are you ranting about? are you making the greyhound thing & eating his dad up? I have followed the case for 16 years & haven't heard that…then again I don't believe everything I hear…
@ Tom Sawyer
You’ve clearly never been a teenager. Because if you ever were one, you’d have realised it’s quite a difficult and dramatic stage in a persons life. Loved ones usually bear the brunt of what is pretty much a ticking hormone bomb. I never told my parents I was going to kill them and eat them but I had a really rocky relationship with my sibling. If you think Damien’s threats to his father were shocking, you would’ve fainted after hearing the threats my sister and I lobbed at each other. You can say some really despicable things to a person when events become heated. But my words do not make me a killer and neither do his. Just because he looks ‘funny’ or acts ‘different’ (common traits of a normal teenager by the way), that’s no excuse to believe he’s guilty as sin. Stop being sucked in by the rumours and the hate and educate yourself as to what has actually taken place. The facts are clear as day and very easy to find on this here internets. Do yourself a favour and open your mind a little bit before you fire off with the accusations.