Tell California authorities: Commute Kevin Cooper's death sentence

30 years on death row for a crime he says he didn't commit

Dear Tracy, "The State of California may be about to execute an innocent man." - Judge William A. Fletcher, 2009 dissenting opinion on Kevin Cooper's case Kevin Cooper has been on death row in California for more than thirty years. In 1985, Cooper was convicted of the murder of a family and their houseguest in Chino Hills. Sentenced to death, Cooper's trial took place in an atmosphere of racial hatred — for example, an effigy of a monkey in a noose with a sign reading "Hang the N*****!" was hung outside the venue of his preliminary hearing. Take action to see that Kevin Cooper's death sentence is commuted immediately. Cooper has consistently maintained his innocence. Following his trial, five federal judges said: "There is no way to say this politely. The district court failed to provide Cooper a fair hearing." Since 2004, a dozen federal appellate judges have indicated their doubts about his guilt. Tell California authorities: The death penalty carries the risk of irrevocable error. Kevin Cooper's sentence must be commuted. In 2009, Cooper came just eight hours shy of being executed for a crime that he may not have committed. Stand with me today in reminding the state of California that the death penalty is irreversible — Kevin Cooper's sentence must be commuted immediately. In solidarity, James Clark Senior Death Penalty Campaigner Amnesty International USA P.S. On July 26, CNN will be devoting an episode of its show "Death Row Stories" to Kevin Cooper's story. Tune in to learn more and take action now.