BASTROP, Texas — Calls to halt the execution of Rodney Reed continue.
- Reed is scheduled to be executed Nov. 20
- Scheduled hearing for this week canceled
- U.S. Supreme Court may review case
Reed was convicted for the 1996 rape and murder of 19-year-old Stacey Stites, crimes he said he did not commit. Reed’s family held a rally Wednesday afternoon outside of the Bastrop County courthouse, where the district attorney’s offices are.
READ MORE | Timeline: Rodney Reed on Death Row
The protest, which took place just a week away from Reed’s November 20 execution date, comes after a scheduled hearing for Reed was canceled, when the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals stepped in. The issue is over which district judge has the authority to preside over the case, but ultimately attorneys for Reed are seeking to void the execution date entirely.
Photo of demonstrators at a rally for Rodney Reed on Nov. 13, 2019 (Develon Douglas)
“Rodney is standing on truth. He is doing well. Of course, quite naturally fear is there but his faith compels him to look forward to his freedom,” Rodrick Reed, Rodney Reed’s brother, said.
READ MORE | Hundreds Rally at Governor’s Mansion to Demand Rodney Reed’s Execution be Halted
Among the dozens demonstrating was one person, who also understands what it is like to fight for a family member on death row. Delia Perez Meyer said like Rodney Reed, her brother Louis Castro Perez is an innocent man. He was convicted in 1998 for murder.
Photo of Delia Perez Meyer at a rally for Rodney Reed on Nov. 13, 2019 (Develon Douglas)
“It’s really the worst possible thing that can happen to family. It’s traumatizing,” Perez Meyer said. “Knowing that they’re innocent just sort of exacerbates the pain, we know that they are loving, caring men.”
Both men have been waiting for their execution date for more than 20 years, and in that time, Perez Meyer has been standing in solidarity with Reed’s family.
A person signs a petition to stop Reed’s execution (Develon Douglas)
“There’s many of us that are very, very close and there’s a lot of people that support us and give us that faith and strength and the hope that we need, that together we can bring our brothers home,” Perez Meyer, who is also an advocate against the death penalty, said.
Supporters said new witnesses and evidence will exonerate Reed, a fate that is currently in the hands of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals and Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott still has not spoken publicly about it.
Photo of demonstrators at a rally for Rodney Reed on Nov. 13, 2019 (Reena Diamante)
“We’ve heard nothing from the Governor, as well, as we’re hoping that he sees this and he has compassion for the family, for the community, for the constituents, and does the right thing in this case,” Rodrick Reed said.
Rodney Reed’s family tells Spectrum News they will be traveling to Washington, D.C. to hold a demonstration outside of the U.S. Supreme Court, because it will decide whether to consider the case. If the Supreme Court does, the execution will be on hold.