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A Conversation with Ross Byrd
Son of Victim of Hate Crime Joins Others In Campaign
Opposing The Death Penalty

By C.R. Williams

James Byrd was dragged to his death behind a truck driven by men who had connections to the racist Aryan Nation. He was 18 at the time of his death in1998. Five years later the hate crime still rings painfully in the hearts of African Americans. Two of the participants in the modern day lynching received the death penalty. While some may think that justice was served, James Byrd's son says that taking more lives is counter productive. The 24 year old son of James Bird was the keynote speaker at the Friend's Abolotionists Town Meeting On Hate Crimes And The Death Penalty last Tuesday. The Meeting was held before a moderate crowd at the legendary Church of the Advocate. Author Kay Whitlock; Reverend Isaac Miller
(pastor of the Advocate); journalist Lynn Washington; local NAACP president, J. Whyatt Mondasire and Pam Africa (From MOVE) also spoke at the event. The evening culminated with a question answer period from a touched audience.

The program began with the showing of excerpts from a documentary film called "Two Towns of Jasper." The film examines both versions of the reactions of Mr. Byrd's killing and the trials that followed. The incident completely polorized the town along racial lines. Ross was only 18 years old at the time of his father's murder. The killing devastated his family. He got the news while in the military over the telephone. He says that at first hate overwhelmed him, followed by an intense feeling of violence and urge for revenge. Because of his upbringing, Ross found refuge in the church. It was there that he discovered his new vocation, fighting against the death penalty and hate crimes. Ross Byrd's transformation is documented on his rap CD, "Undeniable Resurrection." The work is dedicated to his father. It is impressive, chilling and rivoting piece of musical genius.While Ross' music causes the listner to stop and listen, his address at the Church of the Advocate left tears in the eyes of many of the attendees. Ross was born in Oakland, California. He is athletic, attractive and wise far beyond his years.In March,1998 Ross joined the military after a tenure in college.

In June of that same year he received the information that his father had been a victim of a brutal hate crime. He was medically discharged from the military in order to return home to be with his family during that tragic time. He made music his number one objective using it as a healing mechanism and also as a learning tool for others. "In June I received the call telling me that my father had been killed. When something like that happens to you there are two ways that you can go. You can go left or you can go right. I decided to go to church for a couple of years and found myself. I found my real reason for being here as a man. What I learned in church was the reason for my predictament was that I needed to move forward and make something positive happen out of something negative. Once you're gone you never come back. That is just a reality.I decided that I could live for the past or the future. I chose the future," he said solemly.

Whle some people would have taken pleasure in it, Ross Byrd refuses to attend the executions of the men who murdered his father. "Me and my Mom had talked about it recently and that just isn't something that I want to see with my own eyes. My mother feels the same way knowing that this is not going to bring my father back into our arms." He says that it was redemption or retaliation. Ross Byrd chose redemption. "Retaliation is self destructive. You only end up dead or in prison," he said. "That's not the life that I want to live. I made a stand to speak up. Once you go to trial your life is in the hands of the courts and the death penalty just needs to be abolished, because God made us and He should be the one to take us. Philadelphia holds the infamous title of being the fourth state in America with the most reported hate crimes.The death penalty seems to be primarily perpetrated upon people of color and people who cannot afford capable defense. Futhermore, advocates at the meeting revealed that the death penalty has done nothing to deter crime and it has been used to execute innocent people. It also takes money away from other more effective ways to combat crime.

The Friends organization is a non profit Quaker agency that includes people of many faiths that are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service.

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