The Houston Chronicle Discusses Role of Race in Practice of the Death Penalty

By Kirsten Bokenkamp Communications Coordinator African Americans make up about half of the murder arrests in Harris county, but they get charged with capital murder at a much higher rate than whites or Hispanics.  In fact, this week’s article in The Houston Chronicle points out that 12 of the last 13 men who have been sentenced to death have been black.  While the Harris County DA, Pat Lykos, says that decisions are made in a “race neutral” fashion, we find it hard to stomach that black men make up the large majority of those killed at the hands of the state – especially when they are arrested for murder at the same rate as whites.  Those numbers just don’t add up to “race neutral.” On a nationwide and state level, capital punishment is racially disproportionate.  We hope legislators, DAs, and other decision makers read the Chronicle’s reminder that regardless of race, religion, or ethnic origin, we ALL have a right to due process and equal protection.  The death penalty is applied in an unfair and unjust manner against people, largely dependent on how much money they have, the skill of their attorney, race of the victim, and where the crime took place – this violates equal protection guaranteed by the Constitution.  Harris County has sentenced more than a third of the Lone Star State’s death row inmates, half of them black. We agree with the Chronicle: It is time for Texas to put this barbaric and racist system behind it. Help Harris County measure up as a place that treats all people with equal justice.   By signing up for the ACLU of Texas’ Community Action Network you can learn how to get more involved in our work across the state.