What Are The Stereotypes Of The West Memphis Three Trial

As Damien Echols once said “In the US, from the time you’re old enough to speak you hear about how you’re innocent until proven guilty and you have all these rights. Part of me was still thinking that someone’s going to put an end to this, someone’s going to stop and do the right thing.” (Damien Echols) Everyone has the right to a fair trial, unfortunately that’s not always the case. In a community blinded by stereotypes three boys, from West Memphis, Arkansas, we’re wrongly accused for the gruesome murders of three eight-year-old boys. Based on views held purely by stereotypes, including the fact that they listened to Metallica and read Stephen King, the three outcasts were wrongly accused of murder. All sentenced to life, with the exception of Damien Echols the supposed ringleader, the boys’ thought their lives were over at the age of eighteen. Which would have been true if it weren’t for many Hollywood celebrities stepping in to help free the West Memphis Three. Since this changed the way people viewed stereotypes as well as showed the power celebrities have on social influences The West Memphis Three Trial had a lasting effect on American society and social norms. Before someone can

These advocates rallied behind the West Memphis Three; holding benefit concerts to help the Three accused. Peter Jackson and his partner Frank Walsh put their attention into funding DNA work, hiring forensic experts, and even hiring expensive private investigators (Hollywood). In 2007 Echols started a petition for a retrial. Echols’ defense lawyer submitted new DNA evidence linking Terry Hobbs, stepfather of Stevie, to the crime scene along with new statements from Hobbs’, now ex-wife. The three were given a retrial and were finally