a Benefit Exhibition for the West Memphis Three
September 6 – September 20, 2003
Winona Ryder's speach from the Artists' reception, Saturday, September 6th 8pm


Hi my name is Winona Ryder, I’ll be your host for this evening. Thanks so much
for coming.

I’m here tonight with the WM3 Support Group because we believe that a terrible
injustice happened 10 years ago. It’s an injustice that involves six young
lives, three dead and three holed up in prison – convicted of a horrible crime
that we, and millions of others across the country and the world strongly
believe they did not commit.

Jason Baldwin, Jessie Misskelley were given live sentences without parole – 
Damien Echols is, at this very moment in isolated confinement in a Supermax
prison for 23 hours a day awaiting execution – despite there being absolutely
no physical or even convincing evidence against them.

We’re also here tonight to remember 3 Eight year old boys, Steve Branch,
Michael Moore and Christopher Byers, whose senseless murders in 1993, today
remain unresolved and in our opinion unsolved.

We would like to see Damien Jason and Jessie given new trials – this time based
on concrete evidence, actual facts and substance – instead of rumors, prejudice,
superstition and what amounts to a modern day witch hunt. We would like to see
a real proper investigation to determine who really did kill those three
children.

There are DNA tests available today that didn’t exist 10 years ago. If we can
pull together enough money, we can pay for these expensive tests – as well as
other legal and investigative fees. We’re all confident that the results will
show once and for all that Damien, Jason and Jessie are innocent.

If you don’t know about this case, there’s a lot of information out there about
it. You can start by renting two really exceptional and moving documentaries
called PARADISE LOST and PARADISE LOST 2: REVELATIONS. These films, which aired
on HBO, introduced this case to a larger audience, including me.

In addition to these films, there’s a great book called DEVIL’S KNOT:
THE TRUE STORY OF THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE. It’s available here if you want a
copy. This book tells the whole story, and once you’ve read it, you’ll
definitely understand why we’re all here tonight. Court documents and
transcripts are available on the wm3.org website along with a whole lot of
other documentation about the case.

This isn’t a “cause,” and you don’t have to be an activist to care about basic
human rights. This is a very sad and tragic reality. While we’re all here
tonight having fun, looking at art, these three young men are suffering in
prison.

Please buy great art, make a donation and know that 100% of the proceeds from
this exhibition will go into the legal defense fund. Thanks again for coming.