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Life in Pennsylvania means just that:
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life without the possibility of parole.
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For us lifers,
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as we call ourselves,
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our only chance for release
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is through commutation,
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which has only been granted
to two women since 1989,
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close to 30 years ago.
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Our song, This Is Not Our Home,
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it tells of our experiences
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while doing life without
the possibility of parole.
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(Music)
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♪ I'm a woman ♪
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♪ I'm a grandmother ♪
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♪ I'm a daughter ♪
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♪ I have a son ♪
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♪ I'm not an angel ♪
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♪ I'm not the devil ♪
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♪ I came to jail ♪
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♪ When I was so young ♪
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♪ I spend my time here ♪
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♪ Inside these prison walls ♪
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♪ Lost friends to death's song ♪
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♪ Some go home ♪
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♪ Watch years pass ♪
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♪ People come and go ♪
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♪ While I do life without parole ♪
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♪ I am a prisoner
for the wrong I've done ♪
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♪ I'm doing time here ♪
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♪ This is not my home ♪
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♪ Dream of freedom, hope for mercy ♪
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♪ Will I see ♪
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♪ My family ♪
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♪ Or die alone? ♪
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♪ As the years go by ♪
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♪ I hold back my tears ♪
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♪ Because if I cry I'd give in to fear ♪
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♪ I must be strong, have to hold on ♪
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♪ Gotta get through ♪
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♪ Another year ♪
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♪ I am a prisoner
for the wrong I've done ♪
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♪ I'm doing time here.
This is not my home. ♪
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♪ Dream of freedom, hope for mercy ♪
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♪ Will I see ♪
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♪ My family ♪
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♪ Or die alone? ♪
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♪ I'm not saying that I'm not guilty ♪
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♪ I'm not saying that I shouldn't pay ♪
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♪ All I'm asking is for forgiveness ♪
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♪ Gotta have hope I'll be free someday ♪
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♪ Is there a place for me ♪
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♪ In the world out there? ♪
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♪ Will they ever know that I'm chained ♪
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♪ Is there a [????] for the sin
of my younger days? ♪
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♪ Because I've changed ♪
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♪ Lord knows I've changed ♪
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♪ I am a prisoner
for the wrong I've done ♪
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♪ I'm doing time here.
This is not my home. ♪
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♪ Dream of freedom, hope for mercy ♪
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♪ Will I see ♪
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♪ My family ♪
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♪ Or die alone? ♪
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♪ Will I see ♪
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♪ My family ♪
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♪ Or die alone? ♪
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Brenda Watkins: I'm know
to you as Inmate 008106
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Incarcerated 29 years.
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My name is Brenda Watkins.
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I was born and raised
in Hoffman, North Carolina.
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This is not my home.
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(Applause)
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Thelma Nichols: Inmate number 0B2472.
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I've been incarcerated for 27 years.
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My name is Thelma Nichols.
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I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA.
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This is not my home.
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(Applause)
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Dannielle Hadley: 008494.
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I've been incarcerated for 27 years.
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My name is Dannielle Hadley.
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I was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA,
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and this is not my home.
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(Applause)
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Inmate 008309.
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I've been incarcerated for 27 years.
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My name is Theresa Battles.
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I'm from Norton, New Jersey,
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and this is not my home.
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(Applause)
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Debra Brown: I am known as Inmate 007080.
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I've been incarcerated for 30 years.
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My name is Debra Brown.
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I'm from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
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This is not my home.
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(Applause)
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Joann Butler: 005961.
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I've been incarcerated for 37 years.
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My name is Joann Butler,
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and I was born and raised in Philadelphia.
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This is not my home.
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(Applause)
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Diane Hamill Metzger: Number 005634.
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I've been incarcerated for 39
and one half years.
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My name is Diane Hamill Metzger.
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I'm from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
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and this is not my home.
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(Applause)
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Lena Brown: I am 004867,
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incarcerated 40 years.
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My name is Lena Brown,
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and I was born and raised
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
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and this is not my home.
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(Applause)
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Trina Garnett: My number is 005545.
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My name is Trina Garnett,
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I've been incarcerated for 37 years,
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since I was 14 years old.
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Born and raised in Chester, Pennsylvania,
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and this is not my home.
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(Applause)
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♪ Will I see ♪
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♪ My family ♪
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♪ Or die alone? ♪
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♪ Or die alone? ♪
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(Applause)
closed TED
