we're here because Mr Stevenson has
filed a motion to dismiss all charges
against Mr McMillan in this case now Mr
Stevenson since it's your motion I'd
like for you to speak to it first and
then we'll hear from the state
it's easy to see this case as one man
trying to prove his innocence
but when you take a black man and you
put him on death row a year before his
trial
and exclude black people from serving on
his jury
when you base your conviction on a
chorus testimony of a white felon
and ignore the testimony of two dozen
law-abiding black Witnesses
when any evidence proven his innocence
is suppressed and anyone who tries to
tell the truth is threatened
this case becomes more than the trial of
just a single defendant
it becomes a test of whether we're going
to be governed by fear and by anger by
the rule of law
but the people standing in the back of
this courtroom are all presumed guilty
when accused
if they have to leave here and live in
fear of when this very thing will happen
to them
if we're just going to accept the system
that treats you better if you're rich
and guilty then if you're poor and
innocent then we can't claim to be just
if we say we're committed to equal
justice under law to protecting the
rights of every citizen regardless of
wealth race or status then we have to
end this nightmare for Walter McMillan
and his family
the charges against them have been
proven to be a false construction of
desperate people fueled by bigotry and
bias
who ignored the truth in exchange for
easy solutions and that's not the law
that's not Justice
that's not right
I ask that this case be dismissed
immediately your honor
thank you
[Music]