To: California Voters and Governor Gavin Newsom
Gov. Brown: Don't let California execute an innocent person!
Prop. 66 will increase the risk that California could execute an innocent person by making it more difficult for individuals on death row to introduce newly discovered evidence of their innocence, imposing arbitrary timelines, and requiring inexperienced attorneys to handle complex death penalty appeals. The only way to ensure that California never executes an innocent person is to get rid of the death penalty altogether. Please join us in saying Yes on Prop 62 and No on Prop 66!
Why is this important?
My name is Dewayne Brown and I spent over 12 years in prison, including 10 years on death row, in Texas for a crime I didn’t commit. I was wrongfully convicted because the state hid evidence that supported my alibi and proved my innocence. My conviction was finally overturned and all charges against me were eventually dismissed in June 2015. I was innocent going into prison and innocent coming out of prison.
But some innocent people in Texas haven’t been so fortunate. In 2004, Texas executed Cameron Todd Willingham despite new evidence showing that he was innocent.
Now, proponents of Prop 66 want to make California law more like Texas law by making it more difficult for death row prisoners to introduce new evidence of their innocence. Prop 66 will increase California’s risk of executing an innocent person! The only way to guarantee that we never execute an innocent person is to get rid of the death penalty altogether, but as long as it exists, we shouldn’t eliminate safeguards! I was almost executed for a crime I didn't commit! California voters should reject Prop 66 and vote Yes on 62.