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19 May, 8 tweets, 4 min read
If you truly think the plight of 100s still imprisoned by a KKK-era law that silenced Black jurors “should be addressed expeditiously” why did you fight in Supreme Court against them? Why are you still opposing their claims for relief? When will you use your power for good?
You could take action on your own. You yourself acknowledged the racist origins of this law. How it was critical to move beyond the embarrassing stain on Oregon. Everyone should have the shot at a fair trial. All they’re asking for. Stop passing the buck.
First you claimed you were "awaiting guidance" from the ultra-conservative Supreme Court to decide what to do even though you didn't need to. Now you want the state legislature to tell you what to do? Why won't you just use the power you have to do justice?
Really, @ORDOJ: What "guidance" are you waiting on or need at this point? You acknowledged this law is rooted in racism. All of the jury trials that led to these convictions would have been acquittals anywhere else. They're legally innocent. Everyone deserves a new, fair trial.
Ridiculous. Your office has opposed every single case presented to you. You dont need to "carefully review" Edwards decision. You filed an Amicus Brief supporting this outcome. Justice Kavanaugh ruled just as you asked him to. And you still have the power.
I don't get it, @ORDOJ. *You have used your power* to do right on so many issues. Why on earth are you fighting so hard to maintain this racist legal monument? Why are you trying so hard to avoid using your power to end what you yourself called "an embarrassing stain" on Oregon? Image
It kills me to know how hard so many have fought for simple justice. Jailhouse lawyer & now law student, Calvin Duncan filed 23 petitions with the Supreme Court. You opposed him. "It's sad that a person with so much power could let them stay in prison."
You are alone, @ORDOJ. On an island of inaction. 30k people round the country, a coalition of national & local orgs including Human Rights Watch & ACLU, victims of this law & their families, former jurors, & state legislators are calling on YOU to use your power to do Justice.

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More from @ScottHech

Scott Hechinger Profile picture
20 May
For years Oregon's "progressive" AG has fought to keep people imprisoned by a KKK law silencing Black jurors. While lying she lacks power to change it. Not going to work anymore. Journalists are calling her. "The responsibility falls squarely on the office of Ellen Rosenblum." ImageImageImageImage
For 7 years, Ellen Rosenblum was the Attorney General of 1 of 2 states that allowed non-unanimous juries. Let them continue. Wouldn't do anything until the Supreme Court finally took up the case. She *joined Louisiana in asking the Court to keep the racist law alive & thriving.* Image
Fortunately, the Supreme Court didn't listen to Oregon AG Ellen Rosenblum. In April 2020, they finally acknowledged this racist law was unconstitutional. Even Justice Kavanaugh.

To save face, she praised the decision. Finally, Oregon could "move beyond this embarrassing stain." Image
Read 13 tweets
Scott Hechinger Profile picture
19 May
Oregon's "progressive" AG sided w/ Louisiana in Supreme Court to maintain a KKK-law that silenced Black jurors & led to unconstitutional convictions. When even Kavanaugh disagreed she fought again in the Court to limit their ruling. She still has power to right her injustice.
The Edwards v. Vannoy decision is the culmination of years of effort by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum to maintain the racist stain of non-unanimous jury verdicts. She could have done different every step of the way. Few in Oregon have any idea.
There are hundreds of people still in prison in Oregon who were unconstitutionally convicted by non-unanimous juries. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum @ORDOJ can & should stop blocking people from getting new trials.
Read 8 tweets
Scott Hechinger Profile picture
17 May
THREAD: Most think the Supreme Court is the final word. Once they rule, it's over. That's wrong. When the Court makes a decision, it's the constitutional floor. State leaders ALWAYS have power to afford more rights. They rarely do. Why? Bc we don't know to hold them accountable.
Today Supreme Court made a horrific ruling. That their decision last year-holding non-unanimous jury laws enacted by the KKK unconstitutionally racist-didn't extend to people still imprisoned but unlucky enough to have been convicted before that decision. "Finality" they said.
For over 100 years, Louisiana and Oregon were the *only states in the country* that allowed non-unanimous convictions. KKK were influential in passing both laws (LA in late 1800s and OR in 1934) so they could convict (read: legally lynch) anyone they wanted to.
Read 17 tweets
Scott Hechinger Profile picture
17 May
Reminded today how Oregon's "progressive" Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum did everything in her power to make this horrific decision a reality. Last year, took Louisiana's side. Argued for non-unanimous juries. This year, argued against retroactive justice. Not just. Not right.
THREAD: 100s remain caged based on a KKK-era law to silence Black jurors. Oregon AG Ellen Rosenblum's claiming she's doing all she can. The opposite. She just helped the ultra-conservative Supreme Court block justice. It is time to set the record straight.
First, a background on the law: Most think of the KKK in terms of physical violence. Intimidation. But they also used legal & legislative process to pass laws exacting legal violence. In Oregon they pushed a law to silence jurors. "Non-unanimous juries."
Read 34 tweets
Scott Hechinger Profile picture
13 May
THREAD: Imagine your dearest loved one. Child. Spouse. Parent. Grandparent.

Now imagine them locked in a concrete room the size of a parking space. Behind solid steel. 20-24 hr/day. No contact w/ other humans except screams thru a food slot.

This is solitary. This is torture.
100 people caged in Michigan solitary confinement wrote letters to share their experiences. Allies in Michigan collected them. Artists interpreted them. Coders organized & filtered them. The result: This interactive digital archive of first-hand accounts. silenced.in
Shearod McFarland, who spent *over 9 years* in solitary: “I felt that the quiet, creeping violence of segregation was slowly tearing my soul apart. These abuses continue because no one can see what’s happening to us. Solitary is a kind of perpetual violence."
Read 24 tweets
Scott Hechinger Profile picture
12 May
THREAD: In Oregon 100s remain imprisoned based on a KKK-era law to silence Black jurors. Last week, Chelsea Clinton called upon Oregon's Attorney General to topple this law. Here's the Attorney General claiming she's doing all she can. Shes not. Time to set record straight. More:
First, a background on the law: Most think of the KKK in terms of physical violence. Intimidation. But they also used legal & legislative process to pass laws exacting legal violence. In Oregon they pushed a law to silence jurors. "Non-unanimous juries."
In Louisiana in 1898, the KKK pushed non-unanimous juries to “establish the supremacy of the white race" & “ensure African-American juror service would be meaningless.” In 1934, Oregon joined them. At the time of the law’s passage there were *34,000+ active KKK members in Oregon.
Read 32 tweets

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