A message from Rickey

Peace,
First and foremost, I want to thank you for showing interest in my plight by visiting this website. The fact that you’ve made it this far says a lot about you as a person, considering that so many people in this world seem to simply turn a blind eye to some of the injustices that happen in this world; especially if it doesn’t directly impact them or their communities. I can go on for hours and pages about why I feel that is wrong, but I feel Dr. King Jr. expressed why the best, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere“. Your presence on this site not only shows that you understand that, but also that you’re willing to take a stand and help bring about positive change in this world. And for that, I’m deeply grateful. 

To share a bit about myself, I am a father, a son, a brother and a friend to many. I am a man whose interests are no different than the next person, i.e. art, reading, music, politics, sports, social justice and my personal growth. Unfortunately though, since 2012 I’ve been sitting in a cage on Texas Death Row, due to a wrongful conviction, fighting for my life and freedom. I was not accused and condemned due to facts and evidence. Rather so, I was accused and condemned based on neighborhood rumors, the tunnel vision and questionable tactics of a former detective and overzealous District Attorneys who, instead of seeking justice for all parties (victims and accused) involved, chose to abuse their power by threatening witnesses, falsifying and withholding evidence, and knowingly misleading jurors, as well as defense attorneys who were unprepared and ineffective.

Despite my dire circumstances though, I have not lost my ability to be happy, to love and be of help to others, or my desire to live life to the best of my ability. In fact, being locked in this cage has only amplified my desire to do all the above and some. For the past 5-6 years, my plight for my freedom has ran parallel to my quest to ‘shed my old skin’ and my desire to become the best version of myself mentally, spiritually, emotionally and physically. I told myself when I was sentenced that the state of Texas will not murder me, and I’ve since made the conscientious decision to return to the ‘free world’ a better man than the one who was arrested. 

To be clear, I understand that the lifestyle I lived may have been different from yours, and how the man I was in yesteryears made it easy for me to fall victim to the system. I have never, nor will I ever, claim to be a saint. I openly admit that in my yesteryears I lived a lifestyle that could’ve led to my imprisonment and/or my death; not because I thought it was the ‘cool’ thing to do, but out of, what I then thought/felt, necessity and survival. I’m sharing this with you now so that you can make a conscientious choice before you agree to join my plight. In fact, I encourage you to take the time to read everything that’s on this site before any decision is made. I also shared about my past because I feel that in order for a person to know me (assuming you may want to) they must SEE and ACCEPT all of me, the good, the bad and the ugly. I do NOT glorify the life I once lived, but I don’t hide it either, because it was my past steps, as misguided as some of them were, that helped shape the man I am today. I would also like to stress that my former lifestyle was not the totality of the man I was, and they certainly are not any indication of the man I AM today.

Due to my experiences, I know how it feels to be cast away and confined unjustly. It is my hope that when I am released this movement will become an organization that is committed to standing with and speaking out for others who have been wrongfully convicted or treated unjustly no matter what their past, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and/or religious beliefs may be.

I’m 100% committed to my plights for freedom and growth; hopefully those of you reading this will be willing to play a role in bringing both into fruition by dedicating some of your time, resources and platforms to help right this grave wrong before it’s too late.

Again, thank you for your time.

Peace,
Rickey