Reflections of a cold blooded murder! Heliberto Chi
by Capital X


Yesterday was a day I will not soon forget. About 5pm I arrived at the Walls Unit in Huntsville, Texas to protest yet another execution. It had been less than 48 hours since I had protested the last one. The execution of Mexican Nationalist Jose Medellin. Yesterday it was Heliberto Chi a Honduran Nationalist.


I seen Heliberto's name on the upcoming executions list but I really don't have the time to check into every single prisoners background and case. I wish I could be there for every single prisoner but given my situation it's just not possible. What drove me to attend the protest of Heliberto Chi's execution was the fact that his family was at the protest for Jose Medellin. I met his mother, his older and younger brothers as well as some of his cousins and friends of the family. It touched my heart that they were out there supporting Jose when they themselves were to face the killing beast in just a matter of hours. They didn't know Jose personally but they sure could relate to what he and his family were going through. Talking to Heliberto's brother I learned that the same exact issues as in Jose's case were in the forefront. Like Jose, Heliberto's rights according to the Vienna Convention Article 36 had been violated. The only difference was that in Heliberto's case being of Honduras a treaty signed back the 1920's with the US was also not being honored.

The unity was strong among the Chi family and other supporters from Honduras, I was moved by their love and their faith enough that I promised them I would be at the Walls Unit for Heliberto when they asked me to.

When I arrived I was really not surprised that there wasn't nearly as much media as there had been for Jose Medellin. For the first half hour it was just me and the usual group of protesters lead by Gloria Rubac. Gloria is a powerful force in the abolition movement, she is truly an amazing lady. She has a powerful voice and is fearless in using it in the face of the beast. Chi's family and supporters slowly arrived and we were quickly joined by Heliberto's older brother who spoke out loudly in behalf of his brother.

Unlike the protest for Jose this day the execution went on with no delays. I don't know how to express the helpless feelings one wrestles with in words. It is not a good feeling. The only comfort I found for myself personally was the fact that I was told Heliberto was strong in his faith. He had no doubts he was saved and would be with Christ free from the grasp of the Texas killing beast.

Only one family member chose to witness the execution, Heliberto's cousin. He raised his fist to us as he entered the Walls unit. Guards found this jester amusing. Most of the guards posted outside the Walls Unit yesterday found the entire event to be very amusing at times laughing and smiling all the while a mother and siblings pain and grief flowed. I confronted the cold hearted bastards. I got on the mic and channeled my anger as positive as I could and let me tell you it was not easy to contain myself. At one point Kristin Wood had to walk over and hold me back. Emotions were flowing hard and deep. Fresh on my mind were all the negative comments pertaining to Jose Medellin I had read earlier. Comments made about Heliberto were no better. I find it extremely difficult to understand that people can not see past the crime itself. They only see the crime and the picture of a monster that the media has made of a fellow human being. People let themselves believe that we are standing up for the crime, standing up for criminals. They refuse to see that this is the furthest thing from the truth. We are standing up for a human life.

I have lost many people to violence. I know all to well what it feels like. There was a time that I was motivated by rage wanting revenge. I learned the hard way that nothing comes of revenge, nothing at all. Though forgiveness and compassion are the most difficult path, it is in fact the true way no matter what it involves. We care and feel for the victims and the families. To think otherwise is ridiculous. Looking deep for answers I can only come to the conclusion that ignorance is what has people acting out in the manner they do. Here we call for an end to killing. We promote peace and love and in return those that support the death penalty call for our deaths. They threaten us and our families. Here they are saying kill all murderers and those that fight for them. Kill them all. What makes these people any better then those that have committed the act of murder? If you threaten to kill me because I am trying to value and save a human life, what does that make you? If I happen to in fact get killed would you still support the same punishment now that you would be a murderer? Proponents just don't make any sense at all. Though I believe them to be ignorant fools I still wish no harm to fall upon them. I pray for them because that's all I can do.

I have seen first hand the pain the death penalty breeds. Mothers, fathers, siblings crying and trembling with grief. There is no way in hell I could ever support a system that totally disregards the pain and suffering they cause. The families of prisoners were not found guilty but yet they are punished as well; this is a fact. Again ignorant people believe they also get what they deserve; to me this is just insane. To try and justify this is totally insane. The state knows they are wrong for writing off the harm they cause. They deal with it by simply turning their backs. For all those that support the death penalty, prepare yourselves well for if you or someone in your family falls victim don't think for a minute because you support the system you are going to get special treatment. You will be treated just like everyone else that has had to deal with this system, like a piece of shit. Then you will join the thousands of others who at one time sang the same song you now sing, "it will never happen to me".

Moments after entering the Walls unit Heliberto's cousin exited. He seemed to be hysterical. They had to help him walk across the street. When he reached where we were standing he was crying uncontrollably. In tears he explained Heliberto's last moments. Unlike many who are pro death penalty and unlike those who administer the death penalty would, Heliberto went out fearless, praying to God. After addressing the press and family I made my way to Heliberto's cousin to try and comfort him. I hugged him and he hugged me back so hard I almost couldn't breathe. His grief shot through me and I couldn't hold back my tears. We prayed together and he thanked me for being there for Heliberto and his family. I then hugged Heliberto's mom and his brothers.

Heliberto's older brother asked me to go to the viewing. He told me to film and take pictures to show the world what Texas does. I told him I would go. For some time I had told myself not to get to personally involved but the truth was it was to late, I had to go. Moments later there I was watching Heliberto's family softly weeping over his body. They were touching him and kissing him. I stood there silently praying. I felt as I had lost a brother. The tears came again.

As I stood there praying I thought of the victim and his family. I could see clearly what they must have endured especially when Heliberto's older brother arrived and began to frantically wail. I truly tried to make sense of it all but I couldn't. Here arms length away lied a man who so many wanted dead because he killed some one and because he caused so much pain. Why can't anyone see the fact that the state of Texas is no better. They killed this man and caused many the same pain he was accused of inflicting, the same. Heliberto's family did nothing to deserve the pain Texas caused them. Anyone that says it was Heliberto's fault is ignorant because the state of Texas had a choice. They are worse than any criminal I have met or read about without question because they are not young and stupid. They are not drunk or high on drugs when they kill. They are cold and merciless.

Heliberto's family turned to God. They held hands as a preacher read from the Bible. Then we all prayed. The tears turned to joy. Joy that Heliberto was free. They started to sing celebrating his new found freedom. Their faith was truly incredible. See in the bible is says that when we lose a loved one yes we will surly miss them but we should be happy for they are now with Jesus. It is natural to morn for the loss of a loved one but if you are with God you know they are better off and that you will see them again. Those that can not find peace and let go, to forgive and let love and compassion heal surly suffer but the fact is it doesn't have to be like that.

I left as the family was singing. I didn't take pictures and didn't film as his brother asked me to because I just couldn't. I was a wreck and so was my dear friend who accompanied me. We just wanted to get the hell of Huntsville. We were sickened by what Texas had done. Thinking that citizens in Texas are proud of their system made me wanna throw up. They say the death penalty should be imposed on the worst of the worst well I can't think of anything worse then those that torture a human being by locking them in a cage for years then taking them and killing them as they stand around watching. They are sick bastards.That's all I can say they are truly sick. May God have mercy on Texas for I believe one day they will grovel for what they are doing. We may have lost another battle, but the war is not over.