The ELLA Foundation™ is headed to MS to contact, organize, and train families of those affected by Mississippi’s criminal justice system to advocate for their loved ones and effect viable change under the guise of the first chapter of the Campaign to End the Death Penalty.

We will also be opening the first ELLA’s Place, a community violence prevention and healing center which will offer support and education to those affected by violence and the criminal justice system, no matter which side of the crime scene tape our clients must cross to find us to begin to heal.

ELLA’s Place™ will be staffed by paid and volunteer social workers, lawyers, teachers, psychologists, and advocates who understand, and can deliver, the four things everyone affected by violence needs to stop, cope with, and overcome the violence of their life: Empathy. Love. Lessons. Action.

The ELLA Foundation has created Voices of Mississippi, a closed group on Facebook for those interested in reforming the criminal justice system of Mississippi. ELLA created this group, which is closed and visible only to approved members, to be a forum where all those who support human rights, criminal justice reform, and anti-death penalty efforts in Mississippi can share your needs and concerns and find strength and support in numbers. You are not alone Mississippi. You’ve just been ignored. It’s time for that to stop.

Much love and stay tuned for updates on ELLA’s grassroots coalition building efforts in MS!

GROUP RULES:

Anyone can add someone, but the addition will have to be approved by the admin.

The group is completely closed, private, and posts are not visible to the general FB audience, only to members.

Anyone can post but keep it specific to Mississippi related posts on the death penalty, criminal justice reform, and/or victim advocacy.

And keep it civil! No hateful, angry, insulting speech will be tolerated. Get angry, act loving.

Use this link to become a member. Share this link to add members. Much love! ♥♥

I have been super busy this last week with speaking engagements, interviews, and building support for The ELLA Foundation and the grassroots advocacy work we are doing in Mississippi. Let me tell you, I am not the only dogged and determined person out there who has set their mind to proving that Mississippi needs reform and that love, compassion, and education are the tools we need to utilize to effect that reform.

My phone rang off the hook this week, calls from family members of Mississippi’s incarcerated and condemned, seeking help for their loved ones. The one call I felt really, really bad about not being able to take each of the four times it was made was a call from Scotland, from Almut Brandl, the wife of Blayde Grayson, currently incarcerated at Parchman Plantation, otherwise known as the Mississippi State Penitentiary, on death row. Thanks to Almut’s dogged determination, she finally got me to answer the phone this morning, and we had a very pleasant conversation. I asked her to share, if willing, a story about Blayde that would help the public see that men on death row are not monsters. She did me one better. She shared Blayde’s own words. When I read them, I knew I had to share them immediately, before my overwhelming schedule took over again. When you read them, you’ll understand why ELLA is honored to share his words with you.

Love people…at the end of the day, it’s all about love. Or should be. Enjoy Blayde’s words, and if you’d like to help ELLA in her efforts to effect reform in Mississippis’s criminal justice system, or to share your story as Almut and Blayde have done, please email me at Talk to ELLA or at [email protected].

If you would like to write Blayde, you will find his address at the end of his story. Much love to all my ELLA peeps today.

POSITIVE NEWS: Sat. July 21^st 2012

I had a conversation a few weeks ago with my neighbour. I heard him say out loud to the walls of his cell “I wish the world were different”. So I asked him a simple question “how would You contribute of Yourself to changing the world?” His immediate answer was to kill all the politicians and have an anarchical society where the only rule is the strong survive. I pointed out to him that’s exactly the world we live in today and the only way to change is with hearts of LOVE and open minds. This is also the formula for changing the world and saving the planet from human destruction. Of course the only response was laughter from my neighbour. Now, let me digress a little and explain. My neighbour’s laughter of derision is the typical response I receive when I speak to my fellows of LOVE, compassion, open hearts and minds and the honour of the divine Source of Life and Mother Earth. It’s extremely hard for the fellows here to understand me when I talk of LOVE, see I am surrounded by the men society considers so damaged and reprehensible that they decided we should all be murdered. I live on Mississippi’s Death Row waiting like the fellows to meet my fate. I fully understand each man here and his inability to feel as I do. It’s my view that LOVE, pure unbiased, unconditional LOVE is the only chance this planet and her inhabitants have of a hope for survival. Everyone’s first question is “Blayde, what the hell happened to You, dude?”, and my answer is always the same, “Almut and her LOVE!”

In 2009 guided by angels and with encouragement of her friend Johanna Almut decided to write to a convict and thanks to the Divine I was her choice. I don’t know why. Back then before “Almut and LOVE” I was about the lousiest low life piece of human trash on the planet. I was the quintessential example of all the horror stories You probably heard of what a Southern Outlaw Biker and Death Row convict was. I was so filled with rage, hate and self loathing that my every waking hour and the few hours I’d pass out and sleep – I never slept until I was too exhausted not to, the night mares I had I won’t describe here – were filled with visions of revenge so grotesque I won’t put them into words. All I thought about was how to cheat, scam and steel from everyone I could write. I’d plot to do the vilest things to the men around me. I was a sad and pathetic critter.

And then one day in early 2009 I received a letter from an Angel. It came floating into my cell all wrapped in red. Of course when I read Almut was a Doctor my first thought was, “hot damn cha-ching I hit the Jack Pot!, a Dr., a Dr. !” And the more I read the/her first letter the more hate I felt. Of all things she was a spiritual person. And I loathed anything spiritual. So I thought forget about it and threw the letter away, so I thought. One day a few months later in August 2009 I was cleaning my cell and going through some papers and what did I find? Yep, the Angel Almut’s letter. This was a head scratch moment for me. By this time I’d really began to struggle within myself. I’d become disillusioned and tired of the Outlaw lifestyle I was living, tired of the hate, tired of every thought being sick thoughts. Unbeknown to me this was my Soul and mind seeking desperately for the one nourishment it’d never had or known it lacked, that being LOVE. My Soul was beginning to register that part of it was missing. So when Almut’s letter reappeared I answered it and today I am a loved and loving and completely different man. I am my true Self and on a journey with my Soul Mate to heal my hate and the world and discombobulate the ignorance of selfishness. The pure simple LOVE Almut has shown towards me from that first letter to the simple beauty of her heart and Soul continues to surprize and inspire me to be a better man each day. Our one LOVE together spreads to the hate filled hearts of the men who live in these cells around me. Some of them never known LOVE or kindness until now shown to them by myself and Almut. Men who could care less if the sun comes up now will pray for Almut to have safe journeys so she and I can share our visits.

Our LOVE has planted seeds of hope and generosity in the fields of the bleakest Souls and our belief is with constant care and devotion our LOVE will be rewarded with fields of crazy wildflowers growing from inside those fellow fields of dire misery. Our LOVE, Almut’s LOVE changed me into a man of LOVE and peace. Our LOVE has fortified Almut’s Soul and in turn she has become more confident with an inner strength that moves mountains. Yes, I still have bad days, when the negative and darkness try to reclaim me. And Almut has bad days, too, when she looses hope and allows her fears to override her LOVE. But I quietly turn my thoughts to my future with Almut and all our dreams of home, a peaceful planet where LOVE abounds and our Family. Our LOVE saved me and is spreading around me in this prison. The convicts and officers alike notice the difference in me and they are slowly beginning to ask and wanting to know my formula and I happily tell them “the LOVE of my Wife.”

LOVE leads to finding Your true Self, and truth leads to finding Your life purpose, and with purpose comes hope, and with hope a future. If one lady who follows her heart and finds LOVE in the most unconventional place – a death house in America -, spreads LOVE, and heals one man’s damaged Soul, which spreads to those around him, just imagine the chances that can be made if we all follow our hearts, stop worrying about what society would think of us and reach out to those deprived Souls who need LOVE most, reach out to those who fell through the cracks and pull them back up on their feet, help them come out of the darkness and see the sunshine again and reach out to governments and voice Your views. Please join the collective consciousness, add Your positive vibes to mine and Almut’s and to the planet’s web. Let’s all heal the hearts that will heal our planet and humanity. LOVE is the only chance we have. LOVE is the only medicine to heal all sickness.

BLAYDE N. GRAYSON

37922

U-29/J-Bldg./D-Row

Parchman

Mississippi 38738

I was contacted last night by Judy Manning, a representative of Devin Bennett, MS Death Row Inmate. He is currently on a hunger strike, day 12, to protest the conditions at Parchman. Here is an update from Judy…

Devin Bennett #L4820 is currently on a HUNGER STRIKE @ Parchman Prison in Mississipppi. Today is his 12th day of not eating food. He is drinking wter only and trying to stay hydrated. Prison officials are checking his blood pressure and have drawn blood. Devin is doing this because of the inhumane conditions at Unit 29 J @ Parchman in Mississipppi. The roof leaks and water also come up through the floor, there are no screens over the windows to keep spiders, bugs or mosquitoes out, there is no hot water in the cells, no water pressure even in the shower, unsanitary showers, halls and cells, no incentives for good behavior or tier work. The list goes on and on. They are shaking him down every 30 minutes to make sure he doesn’t have ANY food items. Joe Barnes or WLBT spoke with Devin through me this evening and is going to try to get a response from MDOC before airing Devin’s on-air interview. I am going to try to post a petition ASAP. Need your help in passing this along. In the meantime, I need everyone to swamp MDOC with calls and mail. The phone number to Parchman is 662-745-6611. Ext 3401 for Warden Timothy Morris.”

August 8, 2012

Dear Ladies & Gentlemen of Mississippi’s Death Row:

My name is Charity Lee, and I am Founder & Executive Director of The ELLA Foundation™. Before I tell you about ELLA, and the reason for my letter, let me first apologize for the formality of a group letter. Currently, there are fifty-one too many of you on Mississippi’s death row, and while I wish I could contact you each personally at this time, the clock ticks, and there is much work to be done. I assure you, each and every one of you is a human being to me. I promise, should you decide to keep reading, and respond with questions or aide, you will hear from me individually.

I created The ELLA Foundation™ after my 13-year old son sexually assaulted and murdered his 4-year old sister, Ella, in February 2007, in the state of Texas. In what I hope was less than ten minutes, I became the mother of both a murder victim and murderer. Twenty-seven years before my son killed my daughter, my mother hired someone to kill my father, so I was already the the daughter of an alleged murderess and murder victim. All this murder makes me a 32-year veteran of the US criminal “justice” system.

The ELLA Foundation™ is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, based in Texas, whose mission is to prevent violence and to advocate for human rights through education, criminal justice reform, and victim advocacy. We encourage those facing great adversity to act with Empathy, Love, Lessons, & Action™ in the world, to allow that adversity to make us better people. As time passes, I am happy to tell you all you’d like to know about ELLA and myself but, for now, allow me to press on. Your families can learn more about ELLA at www.theellafoundation.com. If they don’t have Internet, they can call me personally at 210-601-9551.

I am writing to inform you that ELLA has partnered with Campaign to End the Death Penalty, a national grassroots organization dedicated to the abolition of capital punishment, with the sole purpose of opening CEDP chapters in Mississippi. CEDP has active chapters in cities and campuses across the United States-including California, Texas, Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C. It is time the people of Mississippi  impacted by the criminal justice system have a forum to make their voices heard, a forum to effect change. The ELLA Foundation™ and Campaign to End the Death Penalty are hoping to help foster that forum in Mississippi.

You may be wondering why the sudden interest in MS, and your lives, from CEDP and ELLA. I won’t speak for CEDP or Mark, but my connection to Mississippi is personal. In May 2012, I spent three days with the family of Matt Puckett, who was executed by Mississippi in March 2012. In that short time, I grew to love them. We share a common pain and beauty (that most of you can relate to): the pain of loving someone who has been murdered, someone who can be murdered, someone who may have, or did commit, murder. The beauty comes in loving that someone no matter what…no matter what…

Because I love the Puckett family, I decided I would do all I could to help them. All Mary wanted help with was bringing attention to Mississippi’s criminal justice system, so I said, “Ok!”. I just wasn’t sure how, yet, so I asked her to give me some time.

I travelled to DC to speak in front of the Supreme Court against the death penalty. While I was there, I learned CEDP wanted to start a chapter in MS. I emailed Mark, told him I would move to Mississippi for a spell, and do all I could to contact every single family of those currently on death row, and every family of those executed by the state since 1976, in the hope of bringing the families together for support, training, and advocacy work.

I arrive in Mississippi October 1, 2012 to do just that. I will do everything I can to help your families heal as best they can and teach your family what I’ve learned since my son murdered my daughter about how to be an effective and caring advocate for change and justice.

If you are interested in learning more about ELLA and CEDP, and what we are trying to help you and your families achieve, please contact me, Charity, at [email protected] or at 210-601-6551, or Mark Clements, whose contact information is included on the opposite side of this letter.

Until we talk again…love from ELLA, Ella, and me, Charity Lee….and remember….

“It may be when we no longer know what to do, we have come to our real work, and that when we no longer know which way to go, we have begun our real journey.” ~~ Wendell Berry

I look forward to hearing from you soon…

Charity Lee, Founder & Executive Director, The ELLA Foundation

TO: All Mississippi Death Row inmates

The Campaign to End the Death Penalty (CEDP) is a national grass roots organization
that fights aggressively against ALL executions here in the United States. My name is
Mark Clements a former Illinois State prisoner who received a natural life sentence for a
crime that I never committed. I was just 16 years old and found myself locked inside a
interrogation room getting beat and tortured by a white racist detective that worked under
the command of a corrupt racist Jon Burge. In Chicago Burge would round up African
American and Latino men, have them transported to the police station where he would
torture them to confess to crimes. I spent 28 years in prison before having my sentence
overturn which allowed for me to walk free and to unite with my family and friends.
While in prison it was the CEDP that came to my aid. All I had was my mother who since
died last year from cancer. I survived wrongful conviction just long enough to see my
dying mother. I am making a plead to each of you to get your family and friends involved
with the CEDP-Mississippi chapter. I believe that it is urgently important for each of you
to participate with a Campaign that is willing to fight for you. I strongly believe that
Mississippi has currently wide spread corruption within it’s criminal justice system and
behind the prison walls. What is the Campaign to End the Death Penalty? A family. We
want to build this organization with your family and friends, allowing them to have a
head of there chapter from among the group. If you are ready to fight against the death
penalty have your family and friends to contact Mark A. Clements, 847-276-1382 or email: [email protected].
The United States is the only country in the Western industrialized world that still uses
the death penalty. Since 1990, 30 countries have abolished the death penalty. Among the
74 countries who continue to execute, a tiny group accounts for the vast majority of the
world’s executions each year— China, Iran, Vietnam and the United States. In the U.S.,
more than 3,200 people live on death row. Since 1976, when the death penalty was
reinstated, more than 1,200 people have been executed in the United States. More than
three-quarters took place in southern states—and over 35 percent in Texas alone. For
decades, both Republicans and Democrats have competed to be “tough on crime,” and
throughout the 1980s and ’90s, executions skyrocketed. More recently, however, public
support for the death penalty has declined.
I look forward in hearing from you, your families, friends, church groups, and other
organizations in the Mississippi area that share equal beliefs.
Thank you all for your cooperation.
P.O. Box 25730
Chicago, IL 60625
847-276-1382 phone
847- fax
[email protected] e-mail
www.nodeathpenalty.org web