Ireland Gene Beazley is the father of Napoleon Beazley, who was seventeen years when he fatally shot John Luttig in Tyler, Smith County. The death sentence and execution of Napoleon Beazley sparked international protest; within three years of the incident the U.S. Supreme Court banned the practice of executing people who were juveniles at the time of their crimes. In Video 1, Beazley describes family life up until the time Napoleon was arrested; the apparent determination of officials to execute Napoleon before he was even arraigned; the trial and legal proceedings; and the effects of the tragedy on the family. In Video 2, Beazley additionally describes how faith, prayer, and the support of Black churches, family, and community enabled him to get through these tragic events. This interview took place on April 3, 2008.
Contributor | Contribuidor:
Beazley, Ireland (Narrator), Texas After Violence Project (Contributor), Raymond, Virginia Marie (Interviewer), Solis, Gabriel Daniel (Videographer), Solis, Gabriel Daniel (Transcriber), Jones, Tamica (Transcriber), Hinz-Foley, Sabina (Transcriber), Mason, Susanne (Transcriber), Evans, Mark (Transcriber), and Ambrosini-Bacon, Kimberly (Proofreader)