Those who know Marcellus Williams know him as an avid poet who has spent much of his time behind bars seeking faith and writing. Tuesday evening, poetry lovers honored Williams ahead of Wednesday’s court hearing to determine whether he should be exonerated.
If words have power, poet Dacia Polk, better known as InnerGy, hopes her words serve as a change agent.
"Not just release that pint up trauma but also to heal,” she said. “This can be a possibility for so many others and it doesn't hit you until it hits you."
Those calling for justice united at Java in The Grove to come together as one voice. The Word Up spoken word event happens every Tuesday night, but the most recent showcase is in honor of one man: Marcellus Williams.
"Over the years we have amplified some of his poems…We put together a little booklet, it’s about 10 poems, of his together,” said Michelle “ML” Smith with Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty.
Wednesday, a judge could decide the fate of Williams, who's been sitting on death row for decades.
Williams is scheduled to be executed on Sept. 24. He's convicted of killing former Post-Dispatch reporter Felicia Gayle in 1998. St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell is trying to overturn the conviction, claiming DNA evidence does not link him to the crime.
It's why these poetry lovers are uniting, while clinging to hope the judge will side with the prosecutor.
"Lately in our court system in our state with wrongful convictions, there have been some success so I'm also leaning on that success,” Smith added.
"Maybe even poetry gave him hope. To be able to use that same thing that kept him sane during that time period that he is in this situation, I really believe that he deserves this,” Polk said.
Wednesday’s hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. in Clayton.