Tag: victoria ann thorpe

Spokane author Victoria Ann Thorpe, and a small group of supporters, began a 185-mile “Peace Journey” across the state Tuesday night — hoping their steps will lead to the end of the death penalty in Washington.

The pumping sounds repeated over and over through a reggae tune on my car stereo, “I’m a Human being y’al!” hit me hard since I had just left the visitors’ room for the death row residents in the Washington State Penitentiary. Michael Franti’s song, A Little Bit of Riddim, was washing over my ears as I drove out of Walla Walla. It was my initial visit to the small city of Walla Walla, Washington State Penitentiary, and my first time to meet the man on the other side of the glass partition.

Today Victoria Ann Thorpe, of Spokane, began a 17 ½ day journey across Southern California — one day for each year that her sister , Kerry Lyn Dalton, has survived on California’s death row.

“My purpose for this walk is to honor Kerry’s life and bring public awareness to her wrongful conviction,” said Thorpe, author "Cages."

They stand in front of River Park Square, shackled together, heads down, nameplates dangling around their necks, bearing the names of men and women killed on America’s death row.

Cal Brown.
Teresa Lewis.
Cameron Todd Willingham.

Behind them, stands Victoria Ann Thorpe. Dark makeup paints her cheeks and she waves a bloodstained-painted sign above her head, “Their blood is on our hands.”