Testimonies
Linda Manning, Ph.d., FRIEND
The first time I visited Abu Ali Abdur’ Rahman on death row at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution, I was nervous. But he was not what I expected. Immediately, Abu impressed me as polite, intelligent, and curious. I knew that Abu was someone I wanted to know better. At the time, his lawyers believed he would be executed in six months.
That was 17 years ago. Because of multiple stays and appeals, Abu’s case continues. And over those 17 years, Abu has continued to impress me. I consider him to be a dear friend. I am his spiritual advisor, and he continues to be my spiritual teacher. Since he lives on Death Row, however, in the public eye his story is frozen in time. And that story, told at trial, is a false narrative filled with lies.
In 1986, Abu (then known as James Lee Jones) became involved in an organization known as the Southeast Gospel Ministry. The leader of this organization was his boss at work. This organization had a ‘para-military’ group dedicated to “cleaning up” the Black community by getting rid of drugs and prostitution. Because of his own childhood of extreme physical and sexual abuse, Abu was determined to stop predators, especially those who preyed on children…Read more.
ALi SOKOLOWSKI, FRIEND
This beautiful friendship began when I decided to attend a training on the death penalty hosted by current visitors at Riverbend Maximum Security Institution (RMSI).
I’d read the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson and found myself passionate about the injustices happening inside prison walls. I thought I’d just learn more, hear from the visitors, and head on out.
The leader of the training, Joe Ingle, had different plans for me. I was walking out of the training and he said, “I have someone that wants a visitor and I think you’d really get along.” I wasn’t sure what to think—after all, I was just here to learn more and head on home. Before I could think much more about it, I agreed…Read more.
Phyllis D.K. Hildreth, teacher and colleague
I am Phyllis Hildreth. I am currently the Director for Grants Management and Strategic Partnerships at American Baptist College. Prior to my current position, I served as the Academic Director for Lipscomb University’s graduate Institute for Conflict Management, and past chair of the Metro Human Relations Commission. Prior to moving to Tennessee in 2005, I served the State of Maryland as the founding Managing Director of the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, Deputy Secretary for Administration of the Department of Juvenile Justice, and Chief Counsel for Administration for the statewide Office of the Public Defender. I began my legal career as an Assistant Public Defender representing indigent parents and children in dependency and delinquency matters before the Baltimore County Juvenile Court.
Mr. Abdur’Rahman is a peacemaker within the prison. Largely because of his efforts, Unit 2 at the prison, which houses death row inmates, is the safest Unit in the entire Tennessee prison system. It is the place where correctional officers feel the safest, and it is the place where they prefer to be… Read more.
Ed Miller, FRIEND
I am a person whose parents provided love, care and many beneficial opportunities for me. My father was a successful businessman, and my mother was a university professor. They made it possible for my sister and me to receive college educations and to earn graduate degrees. I participated in Boy Scouts and earned the Eagle Scout award. I served in the United States Navy and earned the rank of Navy Captain. I participated in religious activities as a child, teenager and adult. As an adult I have been active in the Episcopal Church and have served in many parish and diocesan positions. I have served as President of the Episcopal Churchmen of Tennessee.
My life changed in 2011 when I became interested in the death penalty. Before then I did not have strong feelings about the death penalty, one way or the other. But in 2011 I was introduced to Abu Ali Abdur’Rahman, an inmate on death row who was sentenced to death in 1987. I began visiting Abu on an almost weekly basis. In these meetings I came to know about Abu as a person with dignity, a deeply spiritual person. We often spoke about our faiths and religion… Read more
Rev. Janet Wolf, TEACHER
In December, 2011, I received permission from the administration at Riverbend to expand our SALT classes, Schools for Alternative Learning and Transformation, to work with residents in Unit 2, death row. I convened a meeting of those interested and asked what they most wanted to learn. I admit I was surprised when Mr. Abu Ali Abdhur’Rahman asked for sessions focusing on community building, conflict resolution and nonviolence. He explained why this was so important and others soon agreed. Our first classes in Unit 2 started in January, 2012, and the 12 inside members named our group the Community Building and Conflict Resolution Circle…Read more.
Q & A with ABU Ali Abdur’ Rahman
Q: What are you most passionate about?
A: I am very concerned about domestic violence, mental illness, and racism. I was tortured as a child; I’ve been raped; I have mental health issues. No child here in America should be treated as if they are not human based on the color of their skin or not having the means to help and heal themselves. No adult based on the color of their skin or not having the means to help and heal themselves should be treated as if they do not matter. If this problem is not rectified, my situation is the end result.
