Our Justice System Is Failing Rodney Reed, And You Need To Know About It
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

Our Justice System Is Failing Rodney Reed, And You Need To Know About It

We all know justice can be greatly unfair when it comes to different races. And the recent victim of the justice system is Rodney Reed.

22
Our Justice System Is Failing Rodney Reed, And You Need To Know About It

We all know justice can be greatly unfair when it comes to different races. And the recent victim of the justice system is Rodney Reed. So, who is he, you might ask? He is an African-American man who was convicted of killing and raping Stacey Stites, a 19-year-old girl. You can read more about the case here.

Nevertheless, experts and many supporters are saying that Reed did not commit this crime. Actually, sources believe that Stacey's abusive fiancé may be the real culprit. Unfortunately, even though large amounts of evidence proves Rodney's innocence, he was still placed on death row.

So many people believe that Reed had nothing to do with the crime that the justice system accused him of.

Activist and journalist Shaun King has vocally supported Reed's innocence in this case, and he's also an instrumental part of Reed's fight. So much so that he started a petition urging Texas Governor Greg Abbott to stop the upcoming execution. His petition has gathered more than two million signatures on behalf of 51-year-old Reed. Moreover, celebs such as Oprah, Rihanna, and others have either signed this petition or used social media platforms to talk about his case and hopefully help save this man's life.

I know what you must be thinking: they have huge influence and followers, but what can I do as someone who doesn't have a huge platform like that, but still wants to help?

Well, here are two big, important and impactful things you can do to help. Just like Rodney's case, many other innocent people spent time in incarceration for crimes they never committed. In fact, it is estimated that one percent of the US prison population, approximately 20,000 people, are falsely convicted.

So, if you want to help, try researching the case and other ones like this. Make sure that you read all the facts and not just parts of the whole story. Being informed is the first step to helping. More, importantly make sure to sign the petition and put more pressure on the Texas Governor to stop the execution. We should all work together to show him that the evidence doesn't support his accusation and that the all-white jury didn't get the chance to see this evidence in the first place. Perhaps if there's enough pressure on the Governor, Reed can get a second chance at proving his innocence.

Furthermore, find ways to contact Texas representatives and ask where they stand on the issue. The more voices we have, the higher chances Reed has.

So, if you want to help, here is the petition that you can sign.

Rodney Reed's execution is set for November 20 this year. We all have the power to make a difference in his case. So how are you going to help this man?

Does race impact the justice system and play a major role in a case like this? Yes, I believe it does. Should it? Absolutely not. However, this will continue to happen unless more people stand up for a fair justice system, for all the people (and not just for the white, privileged people). That is what everyone deserves. We have to stop deciding who deserves justice based on their race. We've done it for far too long. We need to do what is right moving forward.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
beer on the beach

Summer is hot and humid, and it's almost like summer was made specifically to drink the refreshing, cold, crisp wonderful, delicious, nutritious nectar of the gods. Which is none other than beer; wonderful cold beer. With summer playing peek-a-boo around the corner while we finish up this semester, it's time to discuss the only important part of summer. And if you haven't already guessed, it's beer. There are few things I take more seriously than my beer, in order are: sports... and beer. Here are my favorite summer brews:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

7 Reasons SoCal Rocks!

75 degrees and sunny, plus, no humidity. I mean do I really need to say more?

1675
woman in black and white long sleeve shirt carrying girl in red jacket in Venice beach
Photo by Jeff Hopper on Unsplash

SoCal summers are the best summers by far, and honestly, no argument is needed. But, if you aren't sure why SoCal summers are the best, here are 7 reasons why!

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

25 Lyrics for Selfie Captions

Because let's be honest, we all use lyrics.

53896
woman takes a selfie for social media
Pixabay

Sometimes you can't think of the perfect caption for your Instagram post. I love using lyrics as my captions because there's so many great lines in songs that just seem to fit in the moment. Here are some lyrics that could work for your selfie or pictures of you with your friends!

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Bruce Springsteen's Top 7 Lyrics

Everything Bruce says in his classic rock songs.

20344
bruce springsteen album cover born in the usa

Anyone who was born and raised in New Jersey (or anywhere really) knows of Bruce Springsteen, whether or not they like him is a whole other situation. I hope that his hundreds of classic rock songs and famous high energy performances, even in his sixties he can put on better concerts than people half his age, are at least recognizable to people of all ages. Love him or hate him (I identify with the former) you have to admit that some of his songs and interviews have inspirational quotes and lyrics.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

New England Summers Are The BEST Summers

Why you should spend your next summer in New England.

5860
Marconi Beach

Three years ago, I chose to attend college in Philadelphia, approximately 360 miles away from my small town in New Hampshire. I have learned many valuable lessons away from home, and have thoroughly enjoyed my time spent in Pennsylvania. One thing that my experience has taught me, however, is that it is absolutely impossible to beat a New England summer.

You cannot beat the beach. Believe it or not (which many people may not), New England has a long and beautiful coastline. Most of my high school summers were spent sitting on the Wall at Hampton Beach, getting sunburnt and eating Acai bowls from The Secret Spot. The Wall was the place to be both during the day and at night. We begin our days there with a KB's bagel and coffee, and end them with pizza and ice cream. It’s not a New England summer without that 4 p.m. text from someone, “Who wants to meet at the Wall tonight?” Nighttime is for Tripoli’s Pizza, the sound of waves, and wishes on shooting stars. Wednesday nights are especially important, as those are the nights that Hampton Beach sets off the weekly firework display.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments