The news has arrived that the execution will not proceed. While this provides a reprieve, we must remain mindful of the deeper work required to change the systems that brought us to this point. I am profoundly grateful to everyone who helped bring attention to this case.
August 13, 2015
Final supporters
Petition FAO: The State of Texas, and The Supreme Court of the USA.
The death-penalty never has been - and never will be - either a form or an expression of justice. It is an abomination, in terms of both logic and ethics. Murder as a way of penalising crime can never equate to justice - especially when that killing is sanctioned by the State. Actually capital punishment must be regarded as an outrageous abuse of State-power. It amounts to little more than premeditated murder preceded by a drawn-out psychological torture: the sort of horror usually confined to our most terrifying nightmares. Today, the gurney is a symbol of that sorrowful tendency in humankind that leads it towards moral self-destruction. I view it as a duty to fight hard against the application of the death-penalty, in every case - and particularly in the case of Lester Bower. Lester Bower is scheduled to be killed on June 3rd, having been sentenced to death over 3 decades ago. The length of time spent by a person under penalty of death, in every case, ought not to be ignored as a factor for consideration. As Lester Bower's attorneys state: "Executing Mr Bower, after he has served on death-row for more than 30 years, under these circumstances, serves no penological purpose, and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment". What's more, a halt to the scheduled execution would allow for Lester Bower's attorneys to pursue while he is still alive further DNA-testing that has at least the potential to prove his innocence, which he maintains. Obviously his death would not. Please sign this petition to help to stop the execution of Lester Bower. Thank you.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 28, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
May 25, 2015
163 Comments
I wholeheartedly disagree with this execution and hope the state of Texas, which I am from and love, will do the right thing and spare the life of someone who has already lost 30 years of his life to the system and had several execution date stressers. This is unnecessary and shows a failure of our system.
The death of Bower has been planned for about 30 years. Enough. Enough trauma for the innocent families of the murder victims and the innocent families of the convicted man. Stop the execution and commute to life, to end the re-traumatization and to allow for DNA evidence questions to be resolved.
Killing a human being without irrefutable evidence of his guilt is murder pure and simple. If Lester Bower did not commit the crime then the real killer has not been made accountable. No justice for the victim, no justice for the victim's family, no justice for Bower.
The first book of the Bible includes not only the phrase “an eye for an eye” but also “And the Lord set a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him”. Hands off Cain stands for justice without vengeance.
To execute a man before carrying out DNA testing which could possibly prove his innocence is barbaric and only demonstrates, yet again, that the death penalty in the USA is for revenge, not justice purposes.
It's a very sad day today. There are no words to express how distressed I am by what happened yesterday. Nonetheless - THANK YOU to all of you who signed my petition. I'd like to think we did our best for Lester Bower. And the fight to end capital punishment continues. Love from Patrick
Stop execution of leister bower. Nobody should kill another human.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
The news has arrived that the execution will not proceed. While this provides a reprieve, we must remain mindful of the deeper work required to change the systems that brought us to this point. I am profoundly grateful to everyone who helped bring attention to this case.
August 13, 2015
Final supporters
Petition FAO: The State of Texas, and The Supreme Court of the USA.
The death-penalty never has been - and never will be - either a form or an expression of justice. It is an abomination, in terms of both logic and ethics. Murder as a way of penalising crime can never equate to justice - especially when that killing is sanctioned by the State. Actually capital punishment must be regarded as an outrageous abuse of State-power. It amounts to little more than premeditated murder preceded by a drawn-out psychological torture: the sort of horror usually confined to our most terrifying nightmares. Today, the gurney is a symbol of that sorrowful tendency in humankind that leads it towards moral self-destruction. I view it as a duty to fight hard against the application of the death-penalty, in every case - and particularly in the case of Lester Bower. Lester Bower is scheduled to be killed on June 3rd, having been sentenced to death over 3 decades ago. The length of time spent by a person under penalty of death, in every case, ought not to be ignored as a factor for consideration. As Lester Bower's attorneys state: "Executing Mr Bower, after he has served on death-row for more than 30 years, under these circumstances, serves no penological purpose, and constitutes cruel and unusual punishment". What's more, a halt to the scheduled execution would allow for Lester Bower's attorneys to pursue while he is still alive further DNA-testing that has at least the potential to prove his innocence, which he maintains. Obviously his death would not. Please sign this petition to help to stop the execution of Lester Bower. Thank you.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 28, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
May 25, 2015
163 Comments
Les Bower deserves a new trial. The evidence that came out after his conviction needs to be heard by a jury. The prosecution would rather execute an innocent man than admit they were wrong.
I wholeheartedly disagree with this execution and hope the state of Texas, which I am from and love, will do the right thing and spare the life of someone who has already lost 30 years of his life to the system and had several execution date stressers. This is unnecessary and shows a failure of our system.
The death of Bower has been planned for about 30 years. Enough. Enough trauma for the innocent families of the murder victims and the innocent families of the convicted man. Stop the execution and commute to life, to end the re-traumatization and to allow for DNA evidence questions to be resolved.
Killing a human being without irrefutable evidence of his guilt is murder pure and simple. If Lester Bower did not commit the crime then the real killer has not been made accountable. No justice for the victim, no justice for the victim's family, no justice for Bower.
The first book of the Bible includes not only the phrase “an eye for an eye” but also “And the Lord set a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him”. Hands off Cain stands for justice without vengeance.
To execute a man before carrying out DNA testing which could possibly prove his innocence is barbaric and only demonstrates, yet again, that the death penalty in the USA is for revenge, not justice purposes.
It's a very sad day today. There are no words to express how distressed I am by what happened yesterday. Nonetheless - THANK YOU to all of you who signed my petition. I'd like to think we did our best for Lester Bower. And the fight to end capital punishment continues. Love from Patrick
Stop execution of leister bower. Nobody should kill another human.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
Les Bower deserves a new trial. The evidence that came out after his conviction needs to be heard by a jury. The prosecution would rather execute an innocent man than admit they were wrong.