USA - Texas. Victim opposed to the execution of Mark Stroman

Victim opposed to the execution of Mark Stroman. Shortly after the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001, a man named Mark Stroman roamed the Dallas area committing a series of hate crimes that in his mind constituted retaliation. He murdered 2 men he thought were Middle Eastern (one was a Hindu from India the other a Muslim from Pakistan) and attempted to kill a 3rd, a Muslim from Bangladesh named Rais Bhuiyan. For the 2 murders, the state of Texas sentenced him to death, and he is now scheduled to be executed on July 20. Yet more killing. But Rais Bhuiyan (who is blind in his right eye because of the shot that was meant to kill him) is opposed to the execution and is campaigning to stop it. He has the support of the Dallas Morning News which wrote in its Sunday editorial: “We wish to give that campaign voice. It delivers a potent message to a nation still torn by the loss of 9/11. It resists the cycle of revenge that doesn’t stop until someone has the courage to say enough”. In a letter to the newspaper, Bhuiyan himself had said a few days earlier: “Mark Stroman, a white supremacist, was in the middle of a shooting rampage to express his anger toward those of Middle Eastern descent. He shot and killed Waqar Hasan, a Pakistani immigrant, on Sept. 15, 2001. He shot me, an immigrant from Bangladesh, on Sept. 21. He shot and killed Vasudev Patel, from India, on Oct. 4. We were all shot while working at gas stations and convenience stores in Dallas. One single incident after 9/11 changed my life and has helped me realize that hate doesn't bring a peaceful solution to any situation. Hate only brings frear, misery, resentment and disaster. It creates obstacles to healthy human growth, which in turn diminishes society as a whole. Stroman's hate brought only more pain and suffering to an already mourning nation. For his actions, he was found guilty on April 3, 2002, in the dath of Patel. His execution is scheduled for July 20. I am requesting: 1. Pardon Mark Stroman. Lower his punishment from the death penalty to life in prison without parole. 2. Bring awareness of hate crimes and offer education for their prevention. 3. Offer psychological, emotional and financial assistance for the victims of hate crimes. Hate doesn’t bring any good solution to people. At some point we have to break the cycle of violence. It brings more disaster. Please help me educate others by signing a petition to the chair of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, asking for Stroman's death sentence to be commuted (This petition can be found at www.worldwithouthate.org)”. (see also Apr. 4, 2002).