Bryan Graves
On Saturday, 1000’s of individuals marched in San Antonio on the twenty sixth Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice — an annual march that pays tribute to labor and civil rights leaders Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta, each of whom are expensive to Chicanos and organizers world wide. Amongst them, dozens of supporters wore “Save Melissa” t-shirts and held indicators to deliver consideration to the case of Melissa Lucio, a Chicana from the Rio Grande Valley, who faces execution on April 27 for a criminal offense that by no means occurred. If the state strikes ahead together with her execution, she could be the primary Latina in Texas historical past to be executed.
Urge Gov. Abbott to grant Melissa Lucio clemency
“Melissa is a Mexican American who was sentenced to loss of life for a criminal offense that by no means occurred. It’s becoming that the 1000’s of people that marched in Cesar Chavez’s reminiscence right this moment, included her struggle of their name for justice,” mentioned Amanda Marzullo, an lawyer working with Ms. Lucio’s marketing campaign.
Final week, attorneys for Ms. Lucio filed a clemency petition to Gov. Abbott and the Texas Board of Pardons and Parole, together with new proof displaying that she was wrongly convicted and condemned to die for the unintended loss of life of her daughter.
Practically 1,000 Texans have known as Gov. Abbott and urged him to grant Ms. Lucio clemency. And this week, a bipartisan group of practically 90 members of the state legislature have signed a letter urging the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Gov. Abbott to grant clemency for Ms. Lucio due to the numerous doubts in her case.
Little Joe, a tejano musician, speaks out in assist of Melissa Lucio on the Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice in San Antonio on March 26, 2022. (Picture: Christopher Lee for the Innocence Mission)
“I’ve by no means seen a extra troubling case than the case of Melissa Lucio,” Rep. Jeff Leach mentioned at a press convention on Thursday. “We gotta use that voice to save lots of an harmless particular person.”
Barring intervention from the courts, Gov. Abbott is the one who can cease Ms. Lucio’s execution.
Check out highlights from right this moment’s rally.
