A Message, A Radio Remote and Death Row: Keith LaMar

Last year on October 4th, Racketeer Radio KFQX brought you a groundbreaking live broadcast remote from Mr. Tipple’s Jazz Club in San Francisco, featuring New York-based jazz pianist Albert Marquès. The event showcased Freedom First, a collaboration that melds contemporary jazz played by a stellar ensemble of international musicians and Keith LaMar’s electrifying spoken word poetry—performed live via phone from the Ohio State Penitentiary.

Keith LaMar, a death row prisoner wrongfully convicted in the State of Ohio, was scheduled for execution on November 16 2023. His life now hangs in the balance with a new date set for January 13, 2027. But LaMar’s story isn’t simply about survival; it’s a testament to resilience, artistry, and the human spirit’s fight against systemic injustice. LaMar’s performances transcend art. They are a reclamation of agency by a man who has spent over 30 years confined under a death sentence. Through his words, LaMar shines a light on the cracks in a system that thrives on racialized injustice and state corruption.

Keith LaMar, was just 19 when he was first incarcerated in 1989 for a murder tied to a drug-related shootout in Cleveland, Ohio. In 1993, during the aftermath of a deadly prison uprising at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, he was accused of killing five inmates—a crime for which there was no forensic evidence linking him. Eyewitness accounts contradicted the prosecution’s claims, yet were withheld. Promised early paroles, other prisoners testified against LaMar, crafting a narrative that fit the state’s need for a scapegoat. His trial, held in an all-white county with a racially biased jury, sealed his fate: the death penalty.

For decades, LaMar has maintained his innocence. In his book Condemned, he meticulously deconstructs the state’s fabricated case, exposing the violation of his constitutional rights. The fight for justice in his case has garnered national and international attention, with advocates arguing that LaMar’s life is a symbol of broader systemic failures in the U.S. criminal justice system.

In November 2023, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a reprieve, moving LaMar’s execution to January 2027 due to the state’s inability to obtain the drugs required for lethal injection. For LaMar, the extension is not a pardon but an opportunity—a chance to amplify his voice, share his story, and continue the fight for his freedom. “I’ve been reminded that my days on this earth are numbered,” LaMar shared. “Four years is a lot of time if you make it count, if you step into every moment with the full weight of your being, which is exactly what I’m going to do.”

The Freedom First project began in 2020 as a series of concerts on the streets of New York City. Jazz musicians performed the standards that sustained LaMar through decades of solitary confinement, while he recited poetry over the phone. The music became a lifeline, not just for LaMar but for those who heard his message—a call for justice amplified by jazz’s improvisational soul.

This holiday season, you can be part of LaMar’s fight for justice. A petition on the Action Network is gathering signatures and donations to advocate for his freedom. Each name and dollar is a step closer to ensuring that LaMar’s story does not end with an execution but serves as a rallying cry for change.

While there are no scheduled dates for future Freedom First concerts, the spirit of the project lives on. Those who missed the October 4 broadcast can revisit the performance on Apple Podcasts or our Racketeer Radio KFQX archive page.

LaMar’s life and art serve as a reminder of the profound resilience of the human spirit. Whether through music, poetry, or advocacy, his voice carries a message that refuses to be silenced. To learn more, sign the petition, or donate, visit KeithLaMar.org. Let this season of giving become a season of justice.