Former inmate speaks against death penalty

Kinsi Carpenter
Staff Writer

   Journey of Hope speaker George White made a stop at Muskingum College to speak out against the death penalty Oct. 10.

   White's story started in Enterprise, Alabama, where he was working at the time and living with his wife and two children.

   One night in 1985 he received a phone call to help with something that had gone awry at work after business hours. He and his wife went to the office, hoping that the trip would take less time if she went along. In transit, White and his wife were held gunpoint and robbed. When his wife tripped, shots were fired, killing her and injuring White.

   In the aftermath of the shooting, White was indicted and charged with capital murder. After a two-week trial, seeking the death penalty, White was convicted of killing his wife. He was sentenced to life in jail rather than the death penalty. He spent two years and 103 days in prison.

   After many months of trying to get another trial, he was released on a technicality in the courtroom, based on an unfair trial. During his stay in jail, White realized that he could be dead at that time if he had been sentenced the death penalty. This resulted in White becoming adamantly against the death penalty.

   The death penalty is a "simple solution to a complex problem," White said.

   Since his release, he has been traveling with Journey of Hope to talk about his experience, and about his opposition of the death penalty. White believes that people should be held accountable for their crimes, but not put to death.

   "Everyone goes through pain, sadness, and tragedy- itıs what we do afterward that determines who we are." said White.

   Taking his experience and doing something with it for a cause has changed White, he said, from a "hating man to a healing man."

   Journey of Hope is an anti-death penalty organization that was set up for victims' families to get together and speak out about what has happened in their lives, and why they're against the death penalty. The Journey of Hope is a way for people to heal after tragedy strikes their lives. Each year the organization has a two-week educational event. The group also establishes a retreat for victims' families, and members are constantly traveling around the country with their information.

   After the presentation, information about Journey of Hope was available, as well as different books written about the death penalty.

   At the conclusion of the speaker, Muskingum College student Maggie McCoy said, "My opinion on the death penalty has been challenged. I'm not sure whether it has convinced my mind completely on the matter, but now I at least have more to think about on the topic."

   For more information on the Journey of Hope, its website is www.journeyofhope.org/goals.htm

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