"All we can do is keep going up against then as long as Ray is alive because when he dies it will not be possible to establish the truth of his innocence in a court of law"
About this Quote
This quote by William Pepper, who is understood for his work as a lawyer and author, shows a solemn commitment to the pursuit of justice under laborious situations. The particular context includes advocating for the innocence of James Earl Ray, who was convicted for the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. What Pepper is interacting here is the seriousness and necessity of consistent legal efforts to exonerate Ray while he is still alive.
Pepper highlights the irreversibility of death in the legal world. Posthumous efforts to develop innocence, though they might clear one's name in the historic sense, do not provide the same legal recognition or personal vindication as a living acquittal. This highlights a wider aspect of the justice system: the value of timely resolutions and the finality that death gives a person's chance to gain from them.
The quote likewise carries an emotional weight. It shows the anguish and limitations dealt with by those who believe in Ray's innocence and battle against an entrenched legal verdict. The phrase "keep taking on them" suggests a continuous fight versus a powerful, maybe indifferent or hostile, system. There's a ramification of a David-vs-Goliath struggle, emphasizing both the nerve needed and the unrelenting nature of their venture.
Additionally, Pepper's words communicate a legal viewpoint where evidentiary limits and procedural opaqueness create formidable barriers. As time progresses and Ray's health lessens, Pepper points to the decreasing chance to reverse the conviction through the judicial processes due to absence of new evidence or necessary legal option.
In essence, Pepper's quote articulates a race versus time and systemic inertia. It is an appeal to honor reality and justice within the boundaries of mortality, highlighting a belief in Ray's innocence and a commitment to fighting what Pepper views as a serious injustice.
