Kenneth Foster Journal Entry from August 30
Resurrection: August 30th, 2007
Like thieves in the night they swooped me up. It was the eve of my
own State sanctioned murder, approximately 8:20 PM and I was
listening to shout-outs pour in to me on 96.1 KDOL.
Unexpectedly, there was a knock at my cell door.
There stood a death row Lieutenant and 2 Wardens (Simmons and Hirch.)
"Strip out!" was the Lieutenant's order. "For what reason?" I
responded. "Because we told you to" was all that I got back. Having
no idea what the situation could be I complied with the order.
Though I was being provoked I didn't want to act before knowing what
the situation was. I stripped out and exited the cell. I could feel
in my bones that something wasn't right. And as we exited the pod my
feelings were true - there waiting for me was a 5 man extraction team
and all of the shift supervisors (several Sergeants) and to top it
off several plain clothed people (at first I thought these were
Sheriffs, but later found out that it was the TDC Regional Director
Mr. Treon and the Warden from the Walls Unit.) As soon as I set my
eyes on this circus like spectacle I immediately dropped to the
ground and announced that I wasn't going anywhere until somebody told
me where I was going and why. In his typical tyranical rage Warden
Hirch said "I told you we'd tell you when you got up the hallway." I
told him that if he wanted me to cooperate with him that he needed to
give me some understanding to what was going on and that's when he
told me that I was being taken to the Walls Unit right then.
I needed a minute to think, so I stood up. By this time I had ankle
chains on, so I began shuffling down the hallway. I was placed in an
isolated cage and was again told to strip down. I saw this as
nothing but a degrading process and I began to voice that. I looked
at the Lieutenant and told him that all he was doing he just did 5
minutes ago and that all this was being done just to provoke me and
degrade me. I put on the clothes they gave me and was cuffed again
and as soon as I stepped out that cage I laid down in protest. I
emphatically stated that I was not going to participate in what they
were trying to do to me. I told them that I would not dignify this
lynch show. I told them the only thing that I could and that is that
they were terrorists and they were only terrorizing. It wasn't bad
enough that I was set to die the next day, but I was basically being
terrorized in the middle of the night. I was chained all the way up
and placed on a stretcher and i was carried to a dark tinted van
where I was loaded in the back. I saw other death row prisoners
watching me through their windows. I could only hope that word would
get to my DRIVE comrades. There is no doubt that DRIVE planned to be
in motion with civil disobedience against the wrongful murder that
was sitting over my head and alongside of that vibe of resistance was
a lot of rumors about something violent to take place. I did the best
I could talking to the Staff assuring them that DRIVE does not
condone violence in regards to this Struggle, but nevertheless
extreme precautions were taken. And it wasn't just the vibe of DRIVE
that was felt, there was a whole other vibe that was being felt and
that was the disapproval of the people. There was social discontent
being exuded and the system felt it. And that led to this expedition.
I was loaded into the van and ran smack into a 4 car SWAT team escort
to the Walls Unit. We had a caravan on our way there and there were
a lot of officers armed to the teeth with handguns, shotguns, assault
rifles in every car. There was enough arsenal to wage a small war.
Though I was sickened by the whole process I can't lie and say that I
didn't feel that every execution should have this type of security
concern. There is no way that people should be able to be friendly
while being escorted down the road and murdered. What this proved to
me is that when the people rise up their strength will be
acknowledged.
It was about a 45 minute drive to Huntsville. I silently watched the
street signs as I went. We arrived at the Walls, a Unit that
resembled more of a College than a prison. It seemed that I was
taken into the heart of the Unit somewhere deep behind a maze of
streets and buildings. I could only think in my mind that they was
taking me to the death chamber, the place that had taken so many men
that I knew. As the van backed up and they opened the door to take
me out, I would not walk, so they gladly packed me into the death
house. I was dropped on the floor, my wrists were in excruciating
pain. I was being told to stand up, but I would not. I only grabbed
my wrists which were now bruised and hurting. I looked around the
room and I was surrounded
by approximately 10 officers and while I wanted to continue to
resist, I took great notice that no use of force camera was rolling.
I felt the set up, thus I didn't give them what they wanted. I
allowed myself to be fingerprinted and then I was placed in the death
watch cell.
After I gained my composure I surveyed the room. It was one of the
most intensely cold and numb places I had ever seen. It was a narrow
room with about 4 other cells. I was in the very first - just a few
steps away from the death chamber. In front of my cell was a long
table with drink containers and several Bibles. Straight up - it was
like a funeral home. I couldn't help but to again look towards the
death chamber. It was a big steel door with a square window at the
top. It was a one way mirror, so one could not see in. I just
stared at it. I couldn't help but to think about my good friend John
Amador that was just executed hours before. I felt his presence with
me. I thought of his last words which were so profound. I was in
the Texas catacomb and yet while i was there i didn't feel death
calling me.
I began pacing my cell for a moment. The Unit Wardens spoke to me
and were very respectful. They offered me food and drink, but I
refused. For years I had been living off of polluted TDC faucet
water, so polluted TDC faucet water would do me just fine then.
Slowly but surely my property was gone through and give to me piece
by piece. I then began to sort through my property and divide it up
for my family (just in case.) Once I got things pretty situation I
remembered that I had something to do for my wife I had a letter to
read that she had specifically wrote for me if I got to the point
that I didn't feel I'd get a stay. Though that feeling had never hit
me 100% I felt that this time was as good as any. I reached into her
folder and grabbed the letter that she had written: "You cannot read
this unless you are not granted a stay. Open/read this no earlier
than the morning of August 30th" on the front. While I wasn't unsure
of the stay it was approximately 2:30 in the morning of August 30th
and I was across from the death chamber, so I felt now was the time
to read that letter. What I opened to was one of the best love
letters of my life. In no way did it feel like a goodbye letter and
in fact was an - I will see you later letter. My wife and I are
resolute on the fact that we are soul mates and no matter in this
life or the next we will continually swirl around each other. Her
letter did nothing short of hold me up during this time. It was a
beautiful speech made to the man whose heart only she understands.
And I was at peace with it. Something in me told me that those would
not be our last love letters.
I finished getting situated around 3:30 AM and fell into a hard
sleep. But, I could not sleep long. I was up by 6:30 AM. I woke
feeling nothing but love in my bones. It was such an amazing
feeling, because even though I stood hours away from my scheduled
execution I didn't feel any fear. I just felt love surrounding my
body and stood head up as I had been doing. I washed up, but was
allowed a shower around 7:30. By the time I finished and got dressed
I was ready to go see my family at visit. I was ready to face the
day head on.
I started off my visits with my most beloved revolutionary sister and
brother Walidah Imarisha and Ray Ramirez. I only had 4 hours to
visit with everyone, so we knew that our exchange would be short and
sweet. I was already in the mindset that I wouldn't be doing any
goodbyes, but right off the bat the latest media news was what was at
hand. Reports of the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles
Times plus more - was the topics.
Movement, movement and more movement was all we had to talk about.
There was no time for goodbyes. We wrapped up our visit in about 40
minutes and we ended with fist in the air and revolutionary salutes.
My next visit would be with my childhood cousin Beverly Fisher and
close friend from France Emilie Artaud. I hadn't seen my cousin in
over 11 years, so that was such a warming thing. Again - no time for
goodbyes - news of activism in France and mobilization for the day.
Things were positive and as my friend Emilie was ready to leave we
exchanged smiles. Up next was the man himself, my super star point
guard of the team Adam Axel. Here is a young man that was able to
move mountains and I have no doubts that if it wasn't for him, I
might not be where I am today. His efforts alongside of the CEDP
proved to be life savers. Our visit was so very upbeat and nothing
but victory was tapping at our minds. My father found his way in
inbetween everyone else and I have never seen my father so alive and
positive. His mind was already convinced that victory was ours and
no one or nothing could convince him to otherwise.
We all had good talks and as those visits winded down my wife and my
grandparents came in. Everything was joyous. It had been years
since I had seen my grandmother and though ailing with Alzheimer's
she was as beautiful as ever to me. In fact everything was
beautiful. Not once did we feel a need for a goodbye, so after I
spoke with my grandfather he departed the visiting room with my
grandmother just leaving me and my wife. There we sat hand in hand,
eye to eye talking about this future that we had together. We talked
and talked. I told her about her letter that I read and we just gave
a knowing smile to each other. We had decided to spend the last hour
with each other and as the time got closer to 12noon I noticed my
father walking up to our booth. Neither of us was expecting that, so
we looked over to him as he approached and when he got near us he
just threw his fist in the air and screamed - "^, 1!!!" He yelled to
me that the Board had voted 6-1 in my favor. Next to my wifes
screams for joy all I could do was let off a grin from ear to ear.
As my wife and father embraced I could only tell my father to give
her a kiss for me. And while my father was saying that it was all up
to the Governor at that point I knew that there was no more guessing
to it.
When the Board didn't deliver their decision on the 28th as planned I
knew that something greater was in the works. I knew that they were
feeling the pressure and would want to consult with the higher ups.
As I told my supporters - if the decision comes back negative it's
over. That would be a sign that nothing else would go for me.
But... if it comes back in my favor I knew that it had been decided
that I would live. So, when that 6-1 came down I knew that victory
was mine. My father left the visitation room leaving me and my wife
to rejoice amongst each other. We gave each other kisses and I
pointed something out to her. I told her that I was always looking
for the signs from God. Once upon a time as a youth I didn't know
how to pay attention, though I was always getting signs. Now I'm
very much more alert. And while I had been getting mixed signals
from all the bad dreams my closest friends were having one sign came
right before I left the death chamber to go to visit. The night
before when all my property was taken and searched they took all the
shoe strings from my shoes. I had not known this, because they kept
my shoes and said that they would give them to me when I went to
visit. So, that morning before visit I told them that I had some
tennis shoes and some boots and that I would like my boots. As I got
dressed and my boots were handed to me and I saw the missing laces I
could only crack a very wide smile, because my mind drifted to my
poem "The Final Call" where I start saying:
"I'm coming straight off death row in boots with no laces."
I pointed this out to them and before I closed my visit with my wife
I reminded her I'm coming straight off death row. She replied
emphasizing "OFF!" I smiled and concurred. "Yes, OFF!" We ended our
visit with a kiss from behind the glass and I was escorted back to
the death chamber. As I was placed in the cell I spoke to some of
the rank that was around me. I let one of them know why my family
was so excited. I know that they were monitoring all attitudes,
actions and behaviors, so I wanted them to know why my family got so
excited. The guard looked back at me and said "well, today just
might be your day." No sooner than he said that the Warden walked
through the door on his cell phone. He looked at me and said,
"They're commuting your sentence." I guess I was kind of surprised
that he told me just like that, so I was like, "That's it? It's
done?" He said, "Yeah, your sentence was just commuted. We'll have
you out of here in just a few." My head was tingling and I wasted no
time to drop to my knees and say a little prayer of thanks to the
Most High, because I knew that He had had His hands around this
situation. A few minutes later I was headed back to Polunsky.
On the drive back everything seemed brand new. Even officers were
telling me that I had a new chance at life and I knew that. The sky
was brighter and my heart was lighter. I got back to Polunsky Unit
and was just hoping to be able to get around some comrades. While I
was in a holding cell I had the fortune to see my best friend and
mentor Tony Ford pass by and he had a smile so big on his face that I
would have swore he had 2 mouths. That was a perfect passing,
because that was my best friend and I'm glad he got to see my face
before I left. I was placed on a pod where I only stayed about 30
minutes. As I walked through the door there was an elder comrade of
mine in the dayroom - Harvey Earvin - and I went up to the bars and
let him hug me.
I went into the cell and had only enough time for about 3 persons to
send me short kites of congratulations. And in no time a team came
to pick me up.
They wanted me OFF death row and I was ready to go. In just that
fast of time I was being moved off death row and sent to the Byrd
Unit to be reprocessed as a general population prisoner. Having had
an international campaign, an armed SWAT team escort and a political
commutation there wasn't too many people that didn't know who I was.
Most had good things to say to me and one guard even came up to me
and asked how I was being treated. I told him that I was being
treated ok thus far. Not knowing if this was a man of importance I
asked him who he was. He simply replied "Just an officer."
But then he added in "I listen to KPFT everyday. And Democracy Now!"
I could only smile and say - "Right on, brotha!"
And Right On it has been. After a 10 year battle of fighting the
death penalty I can finally sit back and breathe a bit. I can
finally let off a small sigh. I've said if from the beginning that
as long as the battle was on that I couldn't do that. And though the
war isn't over a huge battle has been won and I can finally sit back
and exhale and even let go a few tears of joy joyous tears that say
that I'm going to continue to have the fuel to do positive and great
things. I have so many to live for so many that didn't get the
chance to carry on that greatness they attained while on death row.
I can't speak for the men that have gotten off death row before me,
but I know that I'm ready to do something phenomenal. This will not
be a wasted opportunity. So many people stood by my side, supported
me and believed in me and I owe them something. I owe them 100%
effort and dedication to the struggle we merged in on.
I can't help but to think about those I left behind - the others that
now sit on death watch. This has been such a traumatic journey and
there are so many pains and scars. I hope that my fight has given
some new hope to the struggle showing that the impossible can be
done. And if it ever happens once it can happen again - and it must!
History was made on August 30, 2007 and it's this day that I pray
HOPE was resurrected amongst our fighters in an otherwise grim minded
people where over 400 murders have brutalized us.
Today is a new day and we're taking Texas by the horns and we're not
letting go. We can't let go until we break the beast and I can't
help but to end in the same way that I ended my almost prophetic poem
"The Final Call":
"These words are a prose of focus on death row... of letting go of
the fear and hate of Selves... let's take it off the shelves and
activate the way... the way today is leaving the gates... and the
point I was trying to make it -- I'M COMING STRAIGHT OFF DEATH ROW!"
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