Tom the Dancing Bug by Ruben Bolling for June 17, 2000

Transcript:

Hey, kids! Did you hear about the students in Illinois who investigated the conviction of a man on death row as a class project -- And proved his innocence?! Sound like fun? Then send away for your kit to... Free a DEATH ROW INMATE! It's fun! It's cheap! It's educational! It's shockingly easy! 1: Choose "your" condemned prisoner by reviewing the prison rolls or leafing through the ads of a glossy magazine (They're "IN"!) Boy: here's one! 2: Examine the trial records. Boy: The defense lawyer slept through the trial. Girl: The only witness was given a deal by the prosecution. 3: The state isn't required to do a DNA test -- but you can raise the funds for one with a bake sale. 4: Chances are good you'll have proven your death row inmate innocent! You're a hero! Ask an expert! Should you investigate cases in which the defendant has already been executed? Texas Governor George W. Bush says: Bush: NO! All defendants who've already been executed were guilty! What did you learn, kids? Boy: An innocent man was set free! The system works! Girl: Now let's buy an ant farm! DELUXE PACKAGE, inluding li'l DNA technician set $9.99 LEGAL EAGLE LEARNIN' PACKAGE, including appeal forms, and Lexis/Nexis software $7.99 POINT-OF-LIGHT JUNIOR JUSTICE-HELPER PACKAGE, including Action Crime Scene Diorama Set $4.99