FREE MEN FINAL TRANSCRIPT

 

00:00:40:230

Kenneth Reams:

There’s a museum on Cadillacs. There is a museum on jellybeans. There’s a museum on ice cream. However, we don’t have a museum on the death penalty! Why not?

So that is what I’m pushing society to create.

There will be a library. This museum will actually have… where you can go and sit down and eat…

 

00:01:11:060

AFW:

Prison food?

 

00:01:13:110

Kenny:

No, but then, you know what? That’s an idea! That’s an idea!

And if they give me enough time, I’m going to do it.

 

00:01:22:210

Female voice - prison:

You have one minute left.

 

00:01:24:030

AFW:

Hey, take care.

Bye.

 

00:01:25:100

Kenneth:

Bye Anne, you take care, bye bye.

 

00:02:26:230

Kenneth Reams:

My name is Kenneth Reams. I grew up and was raised right here in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

A city that is also called Crime Bluff.

I can’t show you my face, but I’m gonna tell you my story.

How did I end up in this situation?

Why did I do this to myself?

After 20 years of contemplating this stuff, crying about it, wishing that it could be different… I get it now.

 

00:03:41:200

Beatrice Whiteside: 

This is a picture of Ken when he was 17 years old.

He was charged for capital murder. I think he was 18 then.

One of the worst days of my life. One of the worst days…

 

00:04:16:190

Deborah Moore:

I know he’s a great artist. I’ve seen some of his paintings.

I think it was called « solitary confinement ».

It’s like when there’s nothing else around, it’s just you…

I think I saw something he made out of popsicles…

I don’t know exactly what it was. Some kind of chair, I think.

 

00:04:47:060

Beatrice Whiteside: 

It’s not just one electric chair, it’s about three of them!

And he basically made them out of popsicles, in his cell.

When we went to the art show - over in Little Rock when it first opened, the first event -

they had pictures of all the stuff that he had drawn.

The stuff that he’s doing now, he used to show signs of it way back when he was little!

Ken, the years that he spent on death row, from the start,

he never forgets my birthday, he never forgets mother’s day…

Ken is… He’s incredible! He’s wonderful!

Sometimes when I get sad and I’m going though hard times, I think about Ken

and what he went through since he’s been there…

It helps me pick myself up, not feel sorry or bad for myself.

In a good way, it makes me keep going when I think about Ken.

It makes me stronger.

 

When we come back from the store, what are you gonna do ?

 

00:06:09:200

Deborah Moore :

I don’t know. We gonna be out for a while.

We gotta see what’s going on in the community.

Lord, thank you for this food. Thank you for this day.

Thank you for all things, in Jesus’ name: Amen.

 

00:06:42:210

Beatrice Whiteside: 

God bless you today!

Making a movie young men! Making a movie!

 

00:07:01:060

Kenneth Reams:

I grew up in that part of America. There were points and periods of time where we didn’t have food, you know as a family. There was points and periods of time, we couldn’t pay the bills and had to move…

I would get punished, woopings, beatings for things that I didn’t do. It was just because my Mother was venting and wanting to relieve her pressure, stress.

 

00:07:43:080

Beatrice Whiteside: 

Whatever happens, I want you to continue doing what you’re doing. Do the best that you can do.

Be the best person that you can be.

And remember, that if there is any way you can find it in your heart…

For all the things that I did that I shouldn’t have done…

Forgive me, because I believe everything we do in this world and on this earth,

we gotta be accountable for.

 

00:08:33:140

AFW:

So how’s your day today?

 

00:08:35:050

Kenneth Reams :

It’s a normal day. They feed you breakfast at 2 o’clock in the morning. This is crazy!

They feed you lunch at 9.30 in the morning. This is lunch!

 

I’m reading about Henry Ford, Charles Schwab, Rockefeller.

Look what Henry Ford has done in America!

I’ve read books on free money for entrepreneurs.

I’ve read Steve Harvey’s book « Think like a success, act like a success ».

 

00:09:18:050

AFW:

You know the Arkansas Department of Correction, have once again denied our request to do filmed interviews with you.

They say they are too short of staff to allow this.

So, you’re gonna have to tell us your story on the phone.

Is that okay for you?

 

00:09:36:000

Kenny:

Ok. It’s your call sister… I’m riding with you!

 

00:10:01:170

Kenneth:

I was too young back then to really grasp the magnitude of the devastation,

the hurt and the pain that all of this would cause my family, the victim’s family, the victim’s children.

Today, I think about those things…

 

I’m 18 years old.

Me and Alford, we had planned to rob someone at an ATM machine for the purposes of getting about 50 or 60 dollars, because Alford needed funds to pay for his cap and gown and get his official diploma.

 

Alford had the weapon in his hand.  Alford approached the truck from the backside.

I reached in to the driver’s side of the truck. And as I was leaning in the truck, grabbing the keys,

I heard a “Pow!”

My ears are ringing. Everything’s in slow motion…

I was like: “Damn, bro! Why did you shoot the man?! Why the fuck did you shoot the man?! 

Alford said to me: “I don’t know. The gun just went off.”

 

I began to feel shame. I began to feel remorse. I began to feel guilt.

It was just a 30-second span of time that changed our lives forever.

 

Before I was sentenced to death, I sepnt lot of my time at my Aunt's Amelia's house.

She has always supported me and she still does, even today.

 

00:12:23:120

Amelia Atkins (Nip):

Ken was to me… like I had had him. He was just that special.

Ken was just hurting on the inside.

His mom moved away all the time and I guess she had anger…I guess BeeBee had some anger in her.

She would whoop Ken for a little nothing, just beat him.

She wanted him to stay at home all the time. I guess that’s why he started running away from home.

He’d run to our house and she’d come looking for him.

“I’m gonna beat his ass! I’m gonna beat his ass!”

We would hide Ken in our closet.

 

This is the sun porch. Where we sit.

 

Better not leave this door open. Someone could just walk in here…

 

These are my family pictures. Some of them, I have a whole bunch of them.

This is Ken’s picture. This is the one I keep and look at.

I’ve had it for so long. It probably needs some glass on it.

This is the girl he was going with when he got in all that trouble. Her name is Loranda Mack.

 

This is my kitchen. I know Ken already told you: You come to my house, you have to eat!

I got some macaroni cheese. These are some ribs. I got some greens over here in the pot.

 

Hey! Hey!

 

00:14:31:160

Female voice - prison:

This is a free call from Kenneth Reams. An inmate at Varner Unit.

 

00:14:37:080

Kenny:

Hello!

Bernard:

What’s up Ken?

 

00:14:39:220

Kenneth:

What’s going on Bernard?

 

00:14:41:130

Bernard:

Not much, how you doing? You alright?

 

00:14:43:120

Kenny:

Yeah, yeah, I’m doing alright. Who’s all at the house?

 

00:14:46:190

Nip:

Hey Ken!

 

00:14:48:030

Bernard:

Me, Mama, Linda, David, Rodney, John, my daughter…

 

00:14:54:170

Kenneth:

Hey aunt Nip!

Nip:

Hey sweetheart!

 

00:14:57:110

Kenneth:

How you doing?

Nip:

I’m alright

 

00:15:00:030

Kenneth:

Hey, check this out! They gave me some donuts!

I ain’t had no real donuts in 23 years!

 

I’m talking about a simple donuts! They gave us donuts!

We were like, man! Wow!

First of all, just being able to eat this food! We don’t eat nothing but prison food here…

That was like… Wow! It shifted my mind!

 

00:15:22:220

Nip:

Alright, fatty! 

 

00:15:26:170

Kenneth:

Hey, can I do something for once in my life to make my people proud of me?

I’ve been here in Arkansas with just one show.

I’m going to Europe and I’m doing two shows, back to back!

This is going to be big for me.

I’m the little-bitty young kid in the streets of Pine Bluff and some 20-odd years later I’m talking about creating an organization that’s gonna be a national organization.

People from Texas to Pine Bluff, to Connecticut, to Minnesota, to London, to Paris, to Washington DC will know about it.

This is what I’m doing! Trying to do something with myself, hoping that at the same time it will inspire other people to do great things.

I wasn’t always this way though…

Aunt Nip? Hello?  

 

00:16:27:110

Nip:

Yeah.

 

00:16:28:240

Kenny:

I said, I wasn’t always this way though.

You can testify to that, can’t you?

 

00:16:33:020

Nip:

I know that, yep.

 

00:16:44:180

Kenneth Ream:

If I know something about anything in the world, I know about capital punishment.

I want to educate people about this. That’s why I am trying to create Who Decides. Our mission is to educate people about the pratice and the history of the death penalty in America, though the medium of art.

 

Donna is my aunt on my father’s side. Donna was instrumental in keeping my spirit alive.

In my early 20’s, she would visit me every week, every week, every week, every week. 

 

I didn’t know Megan before coming to prison even though she’s my cousin.

She’s literally supported Who Decides and has been a part of the organisation since day one.

 

00:17:44:110

Donna:

Most of the art has gone.

It has been shipped to London.

 

Is that the gas chamber?

 

00:18:05:010

Megan:

What?

Donna:

This!

 

00:18:10:000

Megan:

That one will be there. That one is framed and will go. All of these are framed.

The gallows will be there. Jesus will be there.

 

00:18:26:110

Donna:

Pentobarbital will be in London.

 

00:18:30:100

Megan:

Billy Bailey?

Donna:

Yeah.

 

Alabama Southern Justice 1958.

Negro Jimmy Wilson set to die for stealing $1.95.

 

00:18:55:010

Megan:

An electric chair.

 

00:18:58:120

Donna:

He made a replica of his actual solitary confinement cell.

And everything inside the cell, it has everything in detail…

From the shower, to where he puts his books that he reads,

to where he lay on a flat surface without a mattress.

 

00:19:39:200

AFW:

You’re here?

 

00:19:41:060

Kenny:

Yes. I am standing on my bunk and I’m looking out the window as I’m talking on the phone.

I’m not trying to get comfortable in this prison.

So what I did, I got my mattress, folded it and forced it out of the door.

I’ve slept on solid concrete for the past 20-something years.

It’s motivation for me to fight to get out of this prison.

 

00:20:26:110

AFW:

Do you remember that day you sentenced to death?

 

00:20:30:110

Kenneth Reams:

It was difficult. It felt like my world was black.

I felt that I deserved to be punished. But did I deserve to be sentenced to death? Alford, my copartner in this crime, he pleaded guilty and received a life without parole sentence. But here it is I’m being the one sentence to death?

 

Calvin Porter is a friend…We spent 10 years living next door to each other on death row so we kind of grew into brothers.

We motivated each other, we spoke about our dreams, we cried…

To grow from teenagers to grown men in prison was a wild experience.

 

00:21:42:160

Calvin Porter:

We focused on being who we are, being men.

That was one of the things that we had conversations about.

Understanding and knowing what a man is.

And knowing that I’m only less than a man, if I think of msyelf as less than a man.

You cannot make me less than a man, unless I allow you to.

And from that aspect, that had a lot to do with how we proceeded forward.

Kenneth Reams felt like he was a man. He felt like he was a human being.

So that mentality made him willing to fight.

 

Kenneth Reams’s cell door. So, he could come and stand here. And I could come and stand there.

And we can’t necessarily see each other but you got prison bars.

And there are electric sliding doors.

So, naturally with electric sliding doors, there has to be room to move,

which opens up that little gap right there,

where you could do like this and we could see each other.

 

00:23:12:090

Kenny:

Why ain’t you keeping it real and drinking out of a cup?

 

00:23:16:000

Calvin:

Because I’m living the high life now!

 

00:23:20:000

Kenny:

Are you sure?

 

00:23:24:230

Calvin:

You’re back in the trial court, right?

 

00:23:27:090

Ken:

Listen!  This is what I do want to say to y’all. Any day now the judge can grant a ruling in my case. We are seeking a new trial.

I’m confident. Your case was reversed.

 

00:23:40:230

Calvin:

Really our case is 90% the same as far as how the case opened up in the courts

and led to the prison system.

So, from that aspect, they should reverse your case.

 

00:23:55:000

Female voice - prison:

You have one minute left.

 

00:23:56:180

Kenny:

I’ll say this, in this one minute that I have left:

the death penalty is so unbalanced that Calvin got lucky before I got lucky.

The system just worked out quicker for him than it is working for me.

That’s what I say. But I’m still working at it and hope I’ll be catching up with you soon, bro.

 

00:24:18:180

Female voice - prison:

Thank you for using Securus. Goodbye

 

00:24:43:190

Kenny:

Calvin was the first person to actually walk off of death row with a chance of going home.

You see it’s one thing to walk off death row in America, to be exonerated…

Calvin wasn’t exonerated, his case was reversed.

It was something magical: He had won the lottery!

I am going to win the lottery too!

 

00:25:34:080

AFW:

What are you working on?

 

00:25:36:160

Kenny:

I’ve got several things I’m working on.

I don’t have time for… I don’t have time for the bullshit.

They’re talking about killing me.

When you’re in solitary confinement, you begin to understand the things that you take for granted in life.

Like you don’t give a thought to that apple or that orange that you’re eating.

 

00:25:57:080

AFW:

In ten days it’s going to be a new year, what do you see coming?

 

00:26:01:090

Kenny:

Will I get my case reversed? Will this be the year? It looks like it’s possible.

Will I be able to say: “Hey, I have artwork right now on display in two different galleries.”?

Will I be able to release, for the first time, my own play from behind these prison walls?

My relationship with Isabelle, will that be the year that we actually get married?

I’m hoping and pushing for it to happen…

 

00:26:34:000

Female voice - prison:

You have one minute left.

 

00:26:36:040

Kenny:

One of the things that I have not been able to do, is get the lady on the other end of the phone to stop telling me that!

 

00:26:47:130

AFW:

Okay, talk to you on Friday! Bye!

 

00:27:01:090

Kenny:

The first time seeing Isabelle was: “Oh man!”

“Do we really realize how much it took for us to actually meet?!”

It was about 2006. I received a letter from Isabelle. She was basically writing to say: “Hey, I’ve seen you on TV, I hope that your situation turns out for the best.”

We started corresponding.

When I began to speak about the idea of creating Who Decides, it was something that she was sure about: “I’m willing to support this and you, and let’s see what happens!”

It was just a magic that happened between me and Isabelle.

The spirit that she has! The spirit and the energy! I felt free with Isabelle.

She is a firecracker too though!

And I mean that in a good way.

 

00:28:24:180

Isabelle:

Il m’a dit ferme les yeux. Et je sentais quelque chose bouger…

J’avais les yeux fermés, comme ça, et à un moment donné, 

j’ouvre les yeux et je le vois sur un genou. Tu sais cette image?

Sur un genou, il est tout près de moi comme ça et il tient la bague, pas celle-la, celle d’avant,

il tient la bague et il me regarde.

Tu vois, c’est pour ça que je veux le marier. Pour des moments comme ça.

Parce qu’il m’a fait vivre des moments comme ça, qu’un homme à l’extérieur n’a pas pu faire.

Mais c’est vrai que c’est dur. Je ne peux pas le prendre dans mes bras, je ne peux pas lui faire des bisous…

 

00:28:54:180

Brigitte:

Bien sûr, la relation physique!

 

00:28:57:040

Amie:

Quand tu seras mariée peut être que tu auras droit à des… euh

 

00:28:59:200

Isabelle:

15 minutes !

 

00:29:01:000

Amie:

Et bien ce sera toujours 15 minutes.

 

00:29:03:090

Isabelle:

Deux bisous et encore, je ne sais même pas…

Ce qui est important pour moi, c’est quand j’entends:

tu es l’amour de ma vie, tu es mon amour !

Tu es plus importante que…tu comprends ?

L’énergie qu’il a, ce bonhomme !

J’avais besoin que quelqu’un me la redonne. Il m’a fait revivre dans l’art…

Je ne peignais plus, je ne dessinais plus…

Il m’a remis dans ça.

Moi, tout ce qui m’intéresse c’est qu’il sorte!

 

00:29:31:040

Amie:

Tu vas y arriver, ça c’est sûr.

 

00:29:33:110

Isabelle:

Je vais arriver à quoi?

 

00:29:34:090

Amie:

A le faire sortir…

Il sortira…

Il sortira….

Ecoute bien ce que je te dis ! Il sortira.

 

00:29:49:050

Isabelle:

Tiens, il m’a fait ça il y a quelques années en arrière.

Cellule numéro 403 construite par Kenneth Reams, cadeau à Isabelle Watson.

C’était sa cellule à l’époque, tu peux voir tout à l’intérieur.

Il faut la mettre devant une lumière…

tu vois les détails du lit, la façon dont il vit…

Il y a même un calendrier où il y a écrit une date d’anniversaire :

c’est le mien, c’est mon anniversaire !

 

Ca, c’est les roses qu’il m’a envoyées, il y en avait douze.

Ca, je l’ai gardé parce que j’ai trouvé ça formidable !

Pour mesurer mes dessins, pour les envoyer…

Il n’a pas de règle donc il a dû se débrouiller pour faire ça lui-même.

J’aide Kenneth à préparer l’expo.

Je fais des flyers, j’envoie des lettres…

Je m’occupe du site internet aussi.

Who Decides, c’est moi qui m’en occupe.

Les poèmes, le graphisme, les dessins, faire des peintures, les photos…

Et je vends du virtuel, j’ai un petit magasin avec des objets.

Ca, c’est mon petit avatar.

Elle est trop mimi en plus, je l’ai faite comme ça…

Si je te sortais la chaise électrique que j’ai vendue ?

Elle se vend très bien d’ailleurs. Les gens adorent ça!

Kenneth ne mourra pas comme ça!

 

00:32:05:210

Kenneth Reams:

George is one of the top criminal defense lawyers in America.

He has been my guardian.

George, early on, would encourage me: « Kenny, read!

Read anything you can put your hands on! Find a purpose in your life!

Do something meaningful! »

 

00:32:27:240

George Kendall:

He did not have a fair trial, at either the guilt phase or the punishment phase.

And what ought to happen, is that the courts ought to reverse everything and allow this case to start over.

The worst-case scenario is that the courts are just going to look the other way. And they’re going to say: « Yes, there might have been serious error here, but none of it would have made a difference. »

And if that happens, then in 3-4 years time, 5 years time, Kenny would be looking at an execution. That’s the worst-case scenario.

There are people right now working in Arkansas to make sure that happens.

As we speak.

 

00:33:34:040

George Kendall:

The Kenny Reams that I first got to know was a very young, very immature kid.

Today, he is a 40 year-old guy and he is inspiring other people on the row.

He has some goals. Even though he didn’t get out of that cell, he works a 9 to 5 job.

He’s created that kind of a world for himself.

If you can do that – most people can’t – you can save yourself from at least some of the ravages

of this enforced “living in a box”. 

It’s 23 hours a day in his cell, one hour out each day and then you have some time for exercise.

A lot of people don’t make it. They break.

 

00:34:41:130

George:

Miss Amelia! How you doing?

 

00:34:45:040

Nip:

Hey George!

 

00:34:46:150

George:

Long time no see! How have you been?

 

00:34:49:200

Nip:

I’m fine. Give me a hug!

 

00:34:51:190

George:

Good to see you. You’re doing okay?

 

00:34:55:180

Nip:

What bad news you got?

 

00:34:57:240

George:

None! Hey, that’s not a way to start a conversation!

 

00:35:03:000

Nip:

I take it back!

 

00:35:03:220

George:

How are you? Nice to see you. You doing good?

 

00:35:07:010

Linda:

Yes, Sir!

 

00:35:08:100

George:

We want to try to get this resolved.

Hopefully Judge Cole is going to give us something to work with so we can do that. SO, Kenny’s not looking at being in prison for ever, okay?

We need that death sentence overturned.

 

00:35:24:060

Nip:

He got a lot of hope.

 

00:35:26:060

George:

He has a lot of hope.

 

00:35:33:030

Nip:

It’s all so overwhelming!

 

00:35:37:070

George:

Well, you know, we’ve been at this a long time. Ken is very lucky that he’s had you guys in his corner for all this time, because it’s hard to do this alone.

And I know… From us, his lawyers… You’ve been enormously helpful all along the way and it’s been a long way here, right?

 

00:35:57:120

George:

I’ve known you for two decades.

Let’s just hope now that all that work is going to be a little bit of a payoff for Ken.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed and be hopeful.

And say your prayers.

 

00:36:21:010

Nip:

I will.

 

00:36:37:000

AFW:

Are you here?

 

00:36:38:120

Ken:

Yes.

 

00:36:39:070

AFW:

So how’s your day?

 

00:36:41:040

Ken:

Oh man, it’s been a wild day for me, Anne!

My mindset is not good today.

Today has been one of those difficult days in solitary confinement.

 

I feel like…

Stressed. There’s a lot of emotions that I’m dealing with.

I feel like I’ve wasted a large majority of my life, all of those things…

 

00:37:13:180

AFW:

You just woke up this way?

 

00:37:16:050

Kenny:

This happens sometimes, you know.

Yes, I just woke up and just felt like I am tired of this shit!

 

When I say these isolation walls they creep and they crawl looking for that single moment of mental weakness to be fall, that’s real.

You might not get it. But I say that these walls they creep and they crawl.

They are like a stoker, waiting for you. If these walls even smell that you are despair, that you anxiety, that you are losing hope, that you are without faith, they gonna get you and I mean that in a bad way.

If you lose focus or spiritually fall, these walls will have a feast, a feast on your soul.

 

00:38:42:220

Ndume Olatushani:

I never close myself in. I’ll do it for y’all though.

 

00:38:50:210

Kenneth Reams:

My friend Ndume knows what it takes to fight solitary confinement. Look at this cell! It’s a replica of mine. Ndume spent 20 years in a cell like this one. 

 

00:39:22:240

Ndume Olatushani:

One, two, three, five! Can’t stop, won’t stop!

When I was in the exercise zone, jogging in my cell for instance or doing whatever I was doing, for me I could have been in the park…

It would be just trying to find different ways to push back this little space that I was in.

And just open it up. Open this whole world up! 

Exercise for me, was this place where I’d go and just do it…

It would be this place of freedom for me.

 

Kenny, he’s full of life. He’s certainly not sitting on death row, waiting to die.

He’s actually living while he’s there.

In a lot of ways, I can identify with that, because I was one of those people.

I wasn’t sitting on death row dying. I was actually sitting on death row living.

 

00:40:48:080

Animator:

I believe!

Children:

I believe!

Animator:

I believe!

Children:

I believe!

 

00:40:51:200

Animator:

We will win!

Children:

We will win!

 

00:40:53:050

Animator:

Life remains very simple. Two opportunities: Hope!

Children:

Hope!

 

00:40:56:210

Animator:

And despair!

Children:

And despair!

 

00:40:58:040

Animator:

Never give up!

Children:

Never give up!

 

00:41:00:030

Animator:

Always gotta struggle!

Children:

Always gotta struggle!

 

00:41:08:140

Animator:

This is the way we do it: Mister Ndume, one time.

Mister Ndume, two times.

Now let’s give it up for him!

 

00:41:23:060

Ndume:

That certainly made me feel special.

How you guys doing this evening?

Kids:

Good!

 

00:41:31:140

Ndume:

I was sitting in prison for something I didn’t do.

I was charged and convicted of a crime and was sentenced to death.

And I spent 20 years on death row and a total of 28 years in prison before I came home, June 1st 2012.

I was one of those people who didn’t want to listen to my mother and people around me telling me to do the right thing.

So early on, I started getting in trouble and dropped out of school, got in trouble with the law and some more stuff.

That’s what made it possible to be falsely accused of a crime!

That’s what made it possible!

I don’t want you to fall into the same trap I fell into. 

 

00:42:10:190

Girl:

What do they do to you?  How do they kill you on death row?

 

 

00:42:14:150

Ndume:

How do they kill you?

In most States they’re using this lethal injection, which means strapping you on a table,

shooting poison in your veins and killing you. 

 

How many of y’all know somebody who’s been locked up or been to jail or you been in trouble yourself?

So, it ain’t like you don’t know people around you that fell into this trap!

Y’all look around the room! Particularly the young black males, the guys in here…

You know what the statistic is?

They say one out of every three black males is going to end up in the system.

On probation, in prison, on parole…

I am telling you, you can always say no and you should say no!

You should never let nobody tell you or try to make you do something you know is wrong, that’s gonna possibly get you in trouble!

 

00:43:14:140

Man:

God bless you!

 

00:43:15:110

Ndume:

Thanks. Y’all doing good work down here.

 

00:43:18:120

Man:

We try!

 

00:43:19:170

Ndume:

I’m just glad to be a part of it! I really am.

 

00:43:22:210

Man:

Thank you for coming!

 

00:43:24:010

Ndume:

Man, thanks for having me!

 

00:43:42:140

Kenny:

What’s going on, Ndume brother?

 

00:43:44:120

Ndume:

Oh man, you know me, just out here enjoying the sunshine.

It’s really nice today outside!

 

 

Kenny:

Yes, you are doing a whole lot better than me! You’re sitting on the front porch?

00:43:57:150

Ndume:

Yeah. Your time is coming!

 

00:44:00:130

Kenny:

I envision this stuff happening for myself again.

 

When you were locked up, did you envision sitting on this front porch at some point again in your life?

 

00:44:13:020

Ndume:

I never stopped dreaming about freedom.

 

00:44:16:050

Kenny:

Yeah.

 

00:44:18:070

Ndume:

Once you do that, you know it’s over.

 

00:44:20:150

Kenny:

Right. When you were locked down, did you feel yourself allowing your art to take you places?

 

00:44:27:150

Ndume:

I always painted what I wanted to see.

Painting for me was a way to just live carelessly. You already know that! When you sit down and create what’s inside of you… There’s power in that in and of itself!

 

Get back! Get back!

 

Art for me was a way to escape and to create a different reality.

Art in a lot of ways saved my life.

 

Using colors was a form of resistance for me. Because even though I was in this colorless environment, part of my being able to resist, was to not let them take the color that was happening in my head. I wouldn’t let them take that away from me. 

 

This particular piece…It’s got these flames burning all around, because that’s how I felt.

I knew that if I didn’t get out of there, I too would burn.

 

You Kenny, I would encourage you to keep doing what you’re doing man!

We’re all out here trying to get you out of there.

I think you deserve to live just like everybody else.

You need to keep doing what you’re doing.

Bottom line: Don’t give up!

 

00:46:32:040

Kenny:

Today is a big day for me. Today is the day that Who Decides officially opens in London!

This moment is proof of what’s possible, when an individual dreams.

For me, to know that Isabelle is now in London, about to witness the opening of our art event, is even more sweet and beautiful because I can say to her: « Baby, I told you that this moment was possible.»

 

 

00:47:22:160

Isabelle:

Tout ce boulot…

Tout ça, c’est le travail qu’on a fait…

J’en reviens pas de revoir mes trucs là, et les siens aussi.

Regarde le 1 dollar !

Le mec a été condamné pour 1 dollar 95 cents ! C’est du costaud non ? Condamné à mort pour ça.

Il m’a lu l’histoire d’Hannah Ocuish. Il m’a dit, je veux que tu fasses un thème sur Hannah Ocuish.

Hannah Ocuish, je crois qu’elle avait 12-13 ans, elle avait été pendue.

Donc, c’était une enfant.

On veut parler d’histoires vraies…on veut parler des injustices, il y a beaucoup de choses à dire.

 

00:48:51:120

Female voice - prison:

This is a free call from Kenneth Reams, an imate at Varner Unit.

This call is subject to recording and monitoring. To accept this free call, press one.

Thank you for using Securus. You may start the conversation now.

 

00:49:07:160

Kenny:

Hello!

 

00:49:08:110

Isabelle:

Hey!

 

00:49:09:110

Ken:

How does the exhibit look?

 

00:49:11:130

Isabelle:

It’s kind of impressive, because when you walk in you realize that the work is there!

You know what I am looking at right now?

I’m looking at the one that you did inside the soap, the 1992!

It’s in the middle of a big white board.

 

00:49:27:110

Kenny:

Look at the scale! Are the little pieces on the scale?

Isabelle: There is a hammer and the chair, the electric chair... 

Kenny: Ok. Is it balanced? Is it evenly balanced?

Isabelle: Yeah!

 

00:49:40:120

Isabelle:

It reminds me of all the years we’ve been working on this…

Of all the stuff we went through…

I wish you could be here to see it for yourself!

Because this is ridiculous!

 

00:49:50:100

Ken:

Hey, check this out! You hear me?

 

00:49:52:160

Isabelle:

What?

 

00:49:53:110

Kenny:

You hear me?

Isabelle:

What?

 

00:49:54:240

Kenny:

Hey, let’s go to Cuba! I can remember sitting in visitation and saying:

“Hey, we gonna do London, we gonna do New York…”

Let’s do Cuba! For real!

This is Who Decides and it’s still at the beginning, Isabelle!

 

00:50:13:140

Isabelle:

Hey George!

 

00:50:16:100

George Kendall:

So good to see you!

You alright?

 

00:50:19:170

Kenny:

What’s going on George?

 

00:50:22:210

George:

How are you?

 

00:50:24:200

Kenny:

I’m good!

You good?

 

00:50:27:030

George:

Your stuff looks dazzling here my friend! It’s really terrific!

Kenny:

I hear you, I hear you.

 

00:50:33:160

George:

This is a very special place.

 

00:50:36:070

Kenny:

I’m working on the second exhibit right now!

 

00:50:39:200

George:

Good, good… We’re going to need more after this one!

 

00:50:44:180

Kenny:

Enjoy the evening!

 

00:51:20:180

Margot:

Good evening everybody!

I want to introduce Samantha who has been instrumental in getting the Who Decides exhibition into the Temple, this wonderful venue.

And also George Kendall whom Samantha will introduce herself…

 

00:51:42:010

Samantha Knights:

Thank you Margot!

I was interning at the Legal Defense Fund in New York for George Kendall

and Kenny’s appeal was one of the cases I worked on.

I would send him, from time to time, paints, paper. And two years ago Kenny called me.

With a french artist, who I am delighted to say is here today, he managed to produce against all odds, 50 works of art and installations which you can see upstairs.

 

00:52:16:180

George Kendall:

Arkansas law allowed… They could charge Kenny with capital murder even though he didn’t have the gun, didn’t pull the trigger, didn’t intend to kill anybody.

Kenny had a lawyer who had 800 other clients that one year. That lawyer had four other capital cases the same year and he’d never done a capital case.

And the kicker is, he was a part-time public defender!

The trial was a disaster. An 11 Whites, 1 African-American jury convicted him of capital murder and off he went to death row.

Imagine living in your bathroom for the weekend. Well, he’s done it for 23 years.

Thank you all for coming tonight!

 

00:53:28:200

Kenny:

Today, as I was outside in the yard,

this brother who was next to me said:

«Man, it sure would be good to feel the rain. I haven’t felt any rain on my body in so long! »

I said: «Check this out! You see that grass out there? Just wait until you get the opportunity to walk on grass! When you step on grass for the first time again, it’s gonna feel like you’re walking on air.

Wow, this is grass!

 

00:54:01:100

AFW:

How does it feel to be in this cage outside?

 

00:54:04:210

Kenny:

It’s not cool. I don’t like it. I have to shift my mind to not feeling like an animal.

They do tours. And the tours come and it’s like when you go to a zoo.

They come and they point, they look at us and they talk and they say things.

That is part of the experience of being caged in.

 

00:54:31:000

AFW:

And how do you feel about your wedding?

 

00:54:33:210

Kenny:

The prison did approve for me and Isabelle to get married.

Now that the prison has approved us, that’s the biggest hurdle.

 

00:54:52:240

Kenny:

Hello!

 

00:54:54:050

Isabelle:

Hey!

 

00:54:56:060

Kenny:

Good evening!

 

00:54:57:240

Isabelle:

Good evening to you too baby!

 

00:55:00:090

Kenny:

How you doing?

 

00:55:01:120

Isabelle:

I’m tired.

 

00:55:03:170

Kenny:

You’re tired? You should have went to sleep last night!

 

00:55:10:000

Isabelle:

I keep on trying to call the chaplain. But there’s no answer. So, I’m just gonna keep on calling and see whenever I get him on the phone… So, we can get the paperwork for this marriage going.

I need to ask you one more thing Ken: What is your ring size? I need to know your ring size.

 

00:55:32:060

Kenny:

I don’t know what size my ring is. I have to see if the chaplain has some type of ring sizer.

I would assume that they do because I won’t be the first inmate to get married and not know what size the ring is.

You should ask those questions whenever you speak to him!

And baby, we need to do this this week!

 

00:55:55:100

Isabelle:

I know. I keep on calling, Ken. I’m doing my best.

I can’t make him answer the phone if he’s not answering.

 

00:56:05:040

Kenny:

Yes, you can! You make me do stuff!

You make me shut up. You make me explain to you why I love you!

 

00:56:16:240

Isabelle:

No, that’s not true!

 

00:56:18:170

Kenny:

I don’t know why you can’t get the chaplain on the phone!

 

00:56:22:240

Isabelle:

It ain’t got nothing to do with it!

 

00:56:24:240

Kenny: 

When we get married, I guess then…I’ll be telling the whole world how much I love you.

You know what a Goodyear Blimp is? It’s like a big old balloon and it floats in the air over the cities.

I am going to put it on a Goodyear Blimp that Kenneth Reams loves Isabelle Watson!

 

00:56:43:100

Isabelle:

And when it gets in the air, it’s gonna blow up!

 

00:56:50:190

Kenny:

It feels good to be able to call you when I wake up.

Alright, take care, love you! Love you! 

 

00:57:00:120

Isabelle:

I’m going to hang up on you, stop!

 

00:57:03:070

Kenny:

Je t’aime beaucoup!

 

00:57:07:120

Isabelle:

I’m hanging up!

 

00:57:08:180

Kenny:

Bye bye, bye bye.

 

00:57:10:190

Isabelle:

Bye bye.

 

00:57:42:030

Kenny:

They’re set to execute eight people in ten days.

Eight individuals being executed in ten days, this classifies in my opinion as a mass execution.

 

00:57:52:110

AFW:

Why are they taking this decision now?

 

00:57:54:110

Kenny:

The governor is rushing these executions simply because of the drug situation.

There’s a drug that Arkansas has, that will be expiring…

They have decided that it will be best and cheaper for the state to execute all of these individuals at one time before the drug expires.

 

00:58:19:110

AFW:

It’s at the same time that you are planning to get married!

Kenny:

Well… Life and love is stronger than death.

 

00:58:31:200

Pastor:

Good afternoon! You’re all gonna have to do better than that.

Good Afternoon!

If you believe in the dignity and the sacredness of human life, say I do!

 

00:58:41:120

Public:

I do!

 

00:58:44:100

Pastor:

Father, we ask for your blessing, for peace and comfort over the men who are facing these sentences…That you would bless them and watch over their families.

Father, we ask that your wisdom and your kindness be on our governor and on those who are making decisions, the judges, who are reviewing cases.

We pray that you would give them wisdom.

And everyones says: Amen.

Now I introduce Damian Echols!

In July 2007, new forensic evidence was presented in his case,

including evidence of DNA collected at the crime scene that did not match the defendant’s.

He was released from prison in 2011.

I give you now Damian Echols!

 

00:59:33:150

Damian Echols:

Thank you so much everybody for being here.

I still have nightmares. I still have panic attacks about this place.

I still have dreams that I’m trapped in the bureaucratic labyrinth of corruption that passes for a justice system here.

I didn’t want to come back, but when I heard about the conveyor belt of death that the politicians were trying to set in motion, I guess knew that I wouldn’t be able to live with myself, if I didn't come back and try to do something.

If I would just sit around and let these people kill, 

I would have to think about that for the rest of my life.

One of the men who is responsible for saving my life… I just wanted to say a few words, because this is someone who kept me from being killed: this is my brother Johnny Depp!

 

01:01:00:200

Megan:

I am Kenneth Reams’ cousin.

 

01:01:03:170

Ms. Echols:

Good to see you!

 

01:01:04:120

Megan:

I’ve seen you on visits but I never got to shake your hand, but I always walked in with you.

 

01:01:08:200

Damian Echols:

How’s he doing? Is he still on death row?

 

01:01:12:230

Megan:

Yes. It’s so hard… Just to see you out here.

 

01:01:46:190

Kenny:

I have witnessed I dont know how many executions...

I stopped counting at about 15 and I think the number is in the twenties right now..

But this that is taking place now, 8 executions scheduled over a ten-day period…

It is shaking the prison up. There is a whole lot of things happening...

The individuals that are set to be executed, how they are dealing with it...

The ones that are scared, paranoid, the ones that have realized that this may just be the end of the road, even the ones that are in denial.

01:02:21:230

George Kendall:

If you feel like you’re being shaken up and you need to talk to somebody,

you tell the warden you want to call up here, ok?

 

01:02:29:030

Kenny:

Right, right.

 

01:02:30:000

George:

Alright? You have a real support group and it’s in times like these when you use it, ok?

 

01:02:36:210

Kenny:

Right, right.

George:

You’re not there alone...

 

01:02:39:060

Kenny:

Hey, I say this to you too: When y’all gonna get me out of this prison?

 

01:02:43:150

George:

Now you’re asking the tough questions!

 

01:02:45:100

Kenny:

I’m ready to get out of this prison!

 

01:02:48:140

George:

We’re working on it, ok?

 

01:02:51:050

Kenny:

Right, right.

 

01:02:54:170

George:

We’re working on it. We hope to have an update for you soon, ok?

 

01:03:00:040

Kenny:

Hopefully...

George:

Hopefully, yes...

 

01:03:02:070

Kenny:

And that’s the question: What do we call soon?

I’ve been doing this 20-something years. “Soon” might be three years for me, you know?

01:03:10:200

George:

No, now we’re talking now “very soon”, ok?

 

01:03:16:120

Kenny:

Right, right.

 

01:03:18:230

George:

Ok, hang in there buddy, ok?

 

01:03:20:190

Kenny:

Au revoir!

 

01:03:21:200

George:

See you!

 

01:04:09:200

Isabelle:

Ca fait quand même deux ans que je ne l’ai pas vu.

Je ne voudrais pas qu’il soit déçu quand même…

Une fois que je suis à l’intérieur, il faut que j’attende qu’on lui enlève les chaînes qu’il a au ventre, aux pieds et aux mains et puis là, on pourra s’asseoir et on verra comment ca se passe…

 

Tout ce paysage. Rien que le paysage, c’est quand même dur…

Savoir qu’il est séparé de la ville, de tout et qu’il est loin, loin, loin, comme ça.

Séparé du monde…

Il est dans un désert, regarde ça!

 

Ça y est, on y est presque!

On n’a pas le droit de se toucher normalement.

Mais bon, moi je le fais quand même!

 

01:05:46:070

Isabelle:

Je suis arrivée dans le couloir et quand je l’ai vu j’ai fait: oh la la!

Il avait son petit afro avec une petite barbe.

J’ai dit, mon Dieu, je suis en danger là!

 

Il m’a dit, assieds-toi!

J’arrivais même plus à penser. Je me suis assise devant lui, on s’est fait un gros bisou.

On s’est assis et puis on a commencé à parler de plein de choses.

 

A côté de moi, il y avait un mec, Don, un des mecs qui va être exécuté, un des 8 types qui va être exécuté…

Je ne l’avais pas reconnu au départ parce qu’il était très maigre. 

Je l’ai regardé et je me disais mais comment on gère de savoir qu’on va être tué dans 3-4 jours?

 

Etant donné qu’il va y avoir les exécutions, ils ont mis vachement de sécurité sur tous les condamnés à mort, même ceux qui ne vont pas être exécutés…

Ils sont surveillés tout le temps, plus que d’habitude on va dire…

Ça ne l’a pas empêché de venir vers moi, de m’attraper et de me faire un bisou sur la bouche !

Du coup quand j’ai vu ça, j’ai dit : toi, viens ici !

Après, je crois que j’en ai demandé cinq ou six !

 

Et puis, il s’est rapproché de moi, il m’a dit : I love you baby, I love you baby !

Des fois, j’ai envie de chialer, j’ai envie de pleurer parce que j’ai envie de le sortir de là…

 

01:08:07:050

Isabelle:

Mais je vais trouver ! Il faut juste que ça me revienne !

28th Avenue…

La pharmacie….purée !

25th…

Voilà !

Nip !

 

01:09:02:170

Nip:

Isabelle! Hey Isabelle! Hey girl!

I was wondering where you were!

 

01:09:14:050

Isabelle:

What ya doing to my hair?

Nip:

Your hair is so wild!

 

01:09:17:120

Isabelle:

I’m going to be Mrs. Reams.

 

01:09:19:120

Nip:

Reams!

 

01:09:20:110

Isabelle:

My name is not Mrs. Watson. My name will be Isabelle Reams.

 

01:09:24:100

Nip:

Reams!

 

01:09:25:090

Isabelle:

That’s what I said!

 

01:09:26:130

Nip:

You said Rims.

 

01:09:30:070

Isabelle:

Ok, say it again!

 

01:09:31:240

Nip:

Reams.

 

01:09:33:010

Isabelle:

Rims?

 

01:09:34:010

Nip:

Reams.

 

01:09:35:110

Isabelle:

Rims?

Nip:

Reams.

 

01:09:39:060

Nip:

It’s like saying greens…

Reams!

 

01:09:42:090

Isabelle:

Rims…

 

01:09:43:200

Isabelle:

I can’t say this!

Nip:

That’s alright! How do you spell Reams?

 

01:09:48:090

Isabelle:

I’m going to have a name I can’t spell!

We have only two days to do all of this. Find the rings, get the dress...

 

01:09:56:200

Nip:

I wanna go!

 

1:09:58:030

Isabelle:

You wanna go with me?

Nip:

Yeah.

 

01:09:59:150

Isabelle:

For what?

 

01:10:00:160

Nip:

So you won’t get lost!

 

01:10:01:200

Isabelle:

You’ll be my GPS!

 

01:10:14:210

Nip:

My back bothers me.

If you can find parking over here…

Because we are going right here…

 

01:10:40:080

Isabelle:

You want me to go closer?

 

01:10:41:240

Nip:

That was close!

There’s a spot right there!

 

01:10:51:190

Isabelle:

Let’s go, everybody!

 

01:10:53:050

Nip:

Alright then! I’m being normal, I’m being myself!

 

01:10:56:140

Isabelle:

Can we go?

 

01:10:59:110

Beebee:

Oh Lord!

 

01:11:00:130

Nip:

Can’t I be myself?

 

01:11:02:140

Isabelle:

Come on Bee, let’s go!

You’re sure you don’t want something I can push you in?

 

01:11:12:130

Bee:

I’m fine. 

 

01:11:17:220

Isabelle:

I want to wear something that I really like. I don’t want to just buy…

Yeah, that is pretty. I love this!

 

01:11:22:240

Vendor:

This one is $300 and something…

I can do it for $300 for you and then you get a man’s ring for another $100.

 

01:11:29:190

Isabelle:

No, I need to stay with fifty for him. I’m not going to tell you why…

I’m just going to tell you, he’s not allowed to have more than $50 on his ring.

It’s like this.

 

01:11:37:210

Vendor:

I might have a $50 ring for him also.

Oh my God, well it is a size 7…

That’s small hands!

 

01:11:48:110

Isabelle:

Yes, smaller than mine!

 

01:11:50:030

Vendor:

That I know!

 

01:11:55:150

Isabelle:

Is it still 50? We’re staying around $50, right?

 

01:11:57:190

Vendor:

Yes, it’s electro-plated.

 

01:12:00:210

Isabelle:

I'll show you.

The one above.

I really love this one!

 

01:12:10:120

Vendor:

That’s a beautiful ring, it looks very nice on your hand.

 

01:12:24:040

Solomon Grave:

Good evening! Welcome to the Arkansas Department of Correction.

My name is Solomon Grave, I am the public information officer for the ADC.

Early this evening, Don Davis did receive his last meal, which consisted of fried chicken, rolls, great Northern beans and mashed potatoes, fruit punch and strawberry cake for dessert.

Once again, fried chicken, rolls, great Northern beans, mashed potatoes and strawberry cake.

 

01:12:55:190

AFW:

Is it still possible the execution will take place at 7pm tonight?

 

01:13:01:170

Solomon Graves:

I would say… At this point, it’s 5:44… Never say never…

but we’re waiting on the Courts before we can proceed.

 

Test, 1, 2.

Mic check, 1, 2.

Mic check, 1, 2.

At this point, we remain ready to carry out these sentences should Courts intervene.

But as of this point, we remain in a holding pattern.

 

01:14:24:240

AFW:

Are you here?

 

01:14:26:190

Kenny:

Yes, I can hear you now. I don’t know what happened.

 

01:14:29:090

AFW:

How are you doing?

 

01:14:31:000

Kenny:

I’m ok. I’m good. It’s been difficult, but I’m good.

We stayed up most of the whole day, the whole night…

Thinking about what’s going to happen, what’s next…

It’s a continued saga… It’s a continued a rodeo ride…

 

01:14:50:110

AFW:

What’s your way to deal with it?

 

01:14:53:080

Kenny:

To figure out how the hell I’m going to keep from making that same path

that they’re going down…

It motivates me to figure out how to keep from ending up getting my number called on that list.

 

01:15:10:070

AFW:

I was worried about you…

 

01:15:11:240

Kenny:

I’m a soldier, Anne ! I’m a soldier sister!

You can’t stop me! You might slow me down, but you can’t stop me.

I still have the energy of trying to get out of this prison and trying to do better for myself

and positive in the world.

So I’m good. Don’t stress about me, ok? 

 

01:15:33:160

Female voice - prison:

Thank you for using Securus.

 

01:15:35:130

Kenny:

I have to go! Bye!

 

01:15:36:180

AFW:

Take care! Bye bye!

 

01:15:58:000

Isabelle:

Putain, je sais pas quoi faire…

Ça change rien du tout!

 

01:16:55:200

Nip:

Well Bee, we’re getting ready for an experience! 

 

01:16:59:110

Bee:

Oh yeah, that’s what life is about!

 

01:17:02:150

Nip:

Something we never did in life.

Something we’ll probably never do again in life…

 

01:17:50:030

Reverend Nix:

Isabelle, will you have Kenneth or Kenny, to be your wedded husband?

Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?

 

01:18:04:130

Isabelle:

I will.

 

01:18:08:050

Reverend Nix:

Kenneth, will you take Isabelle to be your wedded wife?

Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health as long as you both shall live?

 

01:18:19:180

Kenneth:

I will.

 

01:18:28:010

Reverend Nix:

Then I pronounce that they are husband and wife together.

In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy spirit

 

Congratulations Isabelle! Congratulations!

 

01:19:43:200

Megan:

This is your reception!

 

01:19:45:150

Isabelle:

Who did this?

 

01:19:47:060

Megan:

Ken.

 

01:19:48:050

Isabelle:

Ken did what?

 

01:19:49:160

Megan:

Ken wanted to do this for you. Don’t cry, ‘belle!

 

01:20:02:160

Isabelle:

I’m happy baby, that is why I’m crying…

 

01:20:07:230

Kenny:

Can you hear me Isabelle?

 

01:20:09:080

Isabelle:

Yes, I can hear you baby.

 

01:20:11:180

Kenny:

I’ve surprised you one more time, didn’t I?

 

01:20:15:210

Donna:

She’s crying!

 

01:20:17:240

Kenny:

I love you baby, you hear me?

 

01:20:19:190

Donna:

That’s so sweet!

 

01:20:22:080

Kenny:

I thank all of y’all that are in this room right now for everything you all gave to me.

Your patience…I didn’t argue with some of you. I didn’t cry with some of you…

I thank all of y’all!

 

And the real truth, to be my wife in this solitary confinement…

And you living on the other side of the world and you’re willing to stick this out with me…this fight.

I appreciate it, Isabelle!

 

01:20:54:070

Isabelle:

I want to thank you for being so strong and for all the things that you do for the people around you. I think you are an amazing man. I am going to make some girls jealous!

That’s all I got to say and I love you!

 

Congratulations!

 

Happy ever after! Happy ever after!

And then what?

 

Yeah…well.

I’m walking out with this.  Happy ever after!

 

01:21:52:140

Ndume:

I probably should leave this hat. We don’t need no extra weight!

 

01:21:58:190

Lou:

The hat won’t be a problem, bro!

The hat won’t be a problem. You’re good!

 

01:22:09:080

Kenny:

Ndume, he is a testament of being able to overcome the harsh elements of the criminal justice system in America. It’s about how much fight you have in you.

 

When I regain my freedom, I’m gonna travel the world with Isabelle....I want to go to places like Peru, see the pyramids in Egypt, the Grand Canyon… That’s what I want to do.

 

01:22:54:060

Lou:

The airport and the prison are over on the left.

 

01:22:59:060

Ndume:

So, we got to go all the way around…

 

01:23:24:030

Lou:

Here’s the prison. Putting it on your right side!

 

01:23:28:050

Ndume:

You can see these four units on the right. One of them is where they have death row inmates.

When I was out on the yard, every time I would see one of these planes coming over,

I would always interrupt my thoughts and I would say: “There goes my ride there!”

So, to actually be up here and be fly over that and looking down on it, is almost indescribable.

 

01:23:51:200

Lou:

I can imagine brother. My pleasure, you’re able to do this!

You’re in your ride now!

 

01:24:23:130

Female voice - prison:

This is a free call from Kenneth Reams. An inmate at Varner Unit.

 

01:24:31:160

AFW:

Hey!

 

01:24:34:050

Kenny:

Today, the judge ruled in my case...

 

01:24:37:020

AFW:

Wow! And?

 

01:24:41:080

Kenny:

Well at this point, I really don’t have a death sentence anymore.

However, I did not get a new trial. That is what I was hoping for.

Not being able to get a new trial, is me not coming home. Oh man, this is fucked up!

For me to get a life without parole…It makes it difficult for me, because I was offered that sentence 24 years ago when I went to trial.

And after 24 years of fighting, I end up with that same sentence, nonetheless…

I want to get out of prison!

 

This is what I say to you sister: I intend to be in Switzerland at some point with you, lifting a champagne bottle in the air, pouring out a little liquor for the brothers back here on the row and say: “Hey, look at me now!”

 

You know what the fight is now? You need to buy your shirt that says Free Kenny Reams!

You need to buy your shirt, because we gonna start the Free Kenny Reams campaign!

 

 

01:25:59:040

AFW:

Yeah, go for it!

 

01:26:00:090

Kenny:

Alright. I’m gone!

 

01:26:01:240

AFW:

You’re gone.

Kenny:

Bye bye, Anne.

 

01:26:21:010

Kenny:

Just because you’re from the ghetto, doesn’t mean you can grow.

Just because you’re in prison, doesn’t mean you can’t go.

Just because you’re behind bars, don’t mean that you can’t have dreams and goals and accomplish them!

This American justice system has given me lemons, but I am not going to cry,

I am gonna take these lemons and make me some lemonade!

 

I’m gone! Bye! Au revoir!