by Rob Pezzeca
I just wanted to update everyone on today’s event in sci coal township. It went GREAT. I opened it up after a brief welcome from our Superintendent Thomas McGinley. Then I turned it over to my cohost Derrick Stephens. We then had guest speakers Lt. Governor Mark Singel who spoke of his time on the board of pardons as well as mercy, compassion & 2nd chances. We had Professor Tarika Daftary-Kapur from Montclair State University in NJ who spoke on the brain science of the juveniles & how it should be applied to other age groups. We had former speaker of the house Bill DeWeese. A great guy who energized the room & spoke of how when he came to prison he was told he wouldn’t make any friends. He left prison with a bunch, all lifers. His wife, Sen. Camera Bartolotta spoke on 2nd chances, how she supported them, why her bill SB197 is a 4-1 vote & how she is pushing for it. I was extremely impressed by her. Sen. Street came & updated us on his bills. He spoke of how sb135 has little support but his medical parole bill had more. He is waiting to hear from Sen. Baker on language. We were told that some law passed by general assembly in 1970 makes parole eligibility illegal so there are alot of hurdles to go through so sb136 is being heavily pushed now. We had lunch. It was an impressive spread but these events are not about food. Its about networking. I met new DOC Secretary Laurel Harry, executive deputy secretary Kelly Evans, Treatment Director Tracy Smith & I spent a lot of time with Lt. Gov Austin Davis. After lunch our Superintendent spoke of 2nd chances, people he supported for commutation. He passed the mic to Lt. Gov Davis who spoke of change & how he will change this system. Then we put on the 4 lifers who spoke on victims (Mr. Pippen), compassionate release (Mr. Bryant Arroyo), LWOP (Mr. Derrick Cramer) & commutation reform (Mr. Robert Pezzeca). After that we put on accomplished attorney Keir Bradford-Grey. She spoke on the system as a whole. DOC central office staff were in attendance as was sci Dallas Superintendent Kevin Ransom. I was honored that 2 ladies from the bucks county public defenders office came who have known me since I was a child, Debbie Weinman & Christi Dunleavy. Both women were blown away at my transformation. I told them we wanted them here because they see us when we are at our worst, after we’ve committed our crimes. I wanted them to see us when we are at our best. And they did. We then broke down into 4 large groups for discussions. Each group had a different topic of discussion. It was an amazing day that could not have happened without the help & support of our Superintendent Thomas McGinley. I believe he can help be the face of change. Bringing lawmakers in to meet with corrections experts who support this movement of positive change is crucial. Senator Nikil Saval spoke & he is just an amazing human being. Superintendent McGinley told him he is welcome here any time & they would be talking in the future. We must bridge the gap & bring people together. I had an amazing closing prepared BUT we were given a choice. 15 mins for a closing or 20 more mins for the 30 lifers in attendance to have free time building & connecting with the outside guests, me and my cohost Derrick Stephens chose to forego our closings. The guests really enjoyed the day & my heart couldn’t have been happier with the day. I wish more of our guests could’ve come in but it was a packed house. State Rep Amanda Brown was supposed to come with 2 legislative aides but didn’t show. Neither did state Rep Joanne Stehr or Sen. Schlegel-Culver. My juvenile lifer brother Jamar ‘Marbles’ Sowell was denied entry. During the event I was told there was a separation on him from the prison. We were upset but the doc said he cannot enter this prison. During my commutation reform speech I called on Lt. Gov Davis to travel sci Muncy next to meet with our sister lifers. He promised me that he would. honestly believe him. He sat with me & Derrick for awhile & we talked a lot. He told me before I even made my speech that yes he’ll go to Muncy to meet with the lady lifers. Its time for the women to reach out to his scheduling secretary Melanie Brown. She is a good woman who will help facilitate this. We had a great day & SJU professor Mike Lyons skipped after confirming so we hope he is OK. Following will be a list of all guests who attended. Today was called Changing the Narrative: We are not our crimes, come learn that we have grown to become so much more. Any questions email me. If you have a publication, please have this email published. Lifers state wide need to know today happened & we all can do these events. HRC’s The Movement, Graterfriends, Daughters, & CADBI newsletters. Please publish this.
Forever Grateful, Rob Pezzeca
Guest denied are DA Krasner & his entire office. Jamar Sowell, Yvonne Newkirk, George Yusef Jones, Thomas Young, former chief of staff to state rep Bullock. Amy Sortino- McAndrews, Felix Rosado commuted lifer.
Approved are: Senators Saval, Bartolotta, Street. Attorneys: Cassie Grainge Helen Levin, Teri Himebaugh, Keir Bradford-Grey, Emily Satifka, Andrea Lindsay, Debbie Weinman, Christi Dunleavy, Angus Love, John Hargreaves, Basym Hasan, Elaine Selan, Professor Tarika Daftary-Kapur. Pennie Hockenberry; Victims Advocate Office policy director, Emma Boorboor, Aide to Sen. Saval, Bill DeWeese, husband to Sen. Bartolotta, Dr. Tom Zeager, & Peggy Platt, Justice & Mercy, Shelley Watson, secretary BOP, Jamie Goldstein, BOP, Steven Williams, LGS legislative & policy dir., Lt. Gov. Davis, Marcie Marra, FAMM, Former Lt. Gov Mark Singel.
Lifers in attendance are: Robert Pezzeca (creator of event), Derrick Stephens (cohost), Derrick Cramer, Virgil Tuttle, Bryant Arroyo, Tito McGill, Frederick Willis, Draye Durham, Oscar Lugo, Nyako Pippen, Dominic Salvatore & his dog Ranger, Jay Sanders, Gary Gerber, Nathaniel Scott, Shawn Harris, James Morris, Carlos Meja-Castillo, Perry Poole, Raymond Armstrong, David Lee, Denovian Royster, Matthew Murphy, Kevin Coleman, Robert Jones, Harlow Cuadra, James Corley, Brian Parnell, Shelby Zablotny, Byron Lawrence. Mr. Beyah Sulieman was approved to attend but was very sick so he skipped the event so he wouldn’t infect our outside guests. He was missed but his selfless act was very appreciated. Thank you brother. We tried to get Project HOPE cofounder Evan Wiles approved to attend in Mr. Suliemans place but it was denied. All speeches by outside guests were recorded for the remainder of the lifers population to see on tv & it was a joy to finally meet Elaine Selan. She is this tiny little woman who keeps such amazing commutation stats & spends so much time doing it. We love you & Thank you Elaine. I made a last minute plea to get Amy Sortino-McAndrews in as well as Rupalee Rashatwar & Nia Holston from Philly ALC approved to come in but I was told its too late. Ellen Melchiondo was unable to attend so we repped the lady lifers for her. Basym Hasan wants to put together a trip there to do an event. I will assist in whatever capacity I’m needed. He is a great guy who is 100% supportive. Straight Ahead was unable to attend so they were missed as well. One day we hope to do this on the street. Take care & Thank you. Rob
Read more about the Seminar in this article on Workers World: “Incarcerees organize unprecedented seminar against life sentences” by Joe Piette, posted June 20, 2023
Right to Redemption 