Second chances for Bobby Moore!

My name is Nicole Moore,

I have come to know Bobby as my Mentee and now friend. He truly is a remarkable human being. He is now facing a dire situation facing eviction, through no fault of his own. I have found him a secure new housing option, and we are reaching out to the community to help us raise funds to help him stay free and continue to be productive in  society where he belongs!

After nearly 40 years on death row, intellectual disability advocate Bobby Moore is celebrating one year of freedom! He has worked against numerous barriers of reentry in the midst of a global pandemic to build a life for himself and has done so with an inspiring generosity, resilience and optimism. In this moment of disconnection, let’s come together to celebrate Bobby’s one year of freedom and provide needed mutual aid and collective care for Bobby. 

 

Bobby’s Case: 

 

In 1980, The Texas Court sentenced then 20 year old Bobby Moore, who is intellectually disabled, to death, even though it's constitutionally illegal for the state to execute people with intellectual disabilities. In 2019, after years of legal advocacy and two US Supreme Court cases, Bobby was removed from death and re-sentenced to life in prison. Having spent nearly four decades on death row, Moore has served one of the longest death row periods in Texas.

 

Bobby's case is a landmark victory for disability justice. Not once, but twice, the US Supreme Court declared Texas's method for determining intellectual disability, a non-clinical standard which utilized decades outdated medical standard, relied on stereotypes and used the fictional character Lenny from Steinbeck's of mice and men as a Barometer, unconstitutional. Bobby's case helped determine new standards for how Texas defines intellectual disability in death penalty cases, not only saving his life, but saving for the life of many other current and future Texans with intellectual disabilities. 

 

Bobby was sentenced to death in 1980, before the sentence of life without parole existed, and thus he should've received a parole hearing 20 years after his initial sentence in 2000. Deprived of this hearing, Bobby finally saw the parole board in 2020 and received parole! 

 

Bobby’s current situation: 

 

After 40 years behind bars, the majority of which was spent in the most restrictive conditions on Death Row, a now 61 year old Bobby Moore is working hard to get on his feet in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. He has complied with his restrictive parole requirements, making it to his in person check ins 3 times a month, despite transportation difficulties. He secured a part time job; reconnected with his family; forged meaningful connections with community organizations; and adapted to a world that looks quite different than the one he was taken from four decades ago with a joy, gratitude and optimism. Despite all of the barriers he has faced, Bobby remains dedicated to his growth and future, treats all those he meets with a warmth and respect, and is firmly committed to making a positive difference in the world. He is pursuing his dream of being a motivational speaker, so he can share his story, continue to advocate for the intellectually disabled and incarcerated community, and mentor others with shared experiences.

 

Unfortunately, Bobby was in a car accident when he was in an Uber and injured his neck and back and is no longer able to work his restaurant job. Bobby is in the process of applying for Social Security Disability, but in the meantime, he has no source of income. He has been living with his sister, but is no longer able to live with her.

 

Bobby is looking for support, so that he can get an apartment and for the first time in his life, have a stable, safe and comforting home. He is also hoping to make necessary repairs to his car, so that he can have transportation tobecome involved in community organizations and pursue his dreams to be a motivational speaker.

 

As members of Bobby's support team, including former attorneys, mentors and friends, we urge you to donate to Bobby to celebrate his freedom, support him in his quest for peace and stability, show him the love and care he shows others, and stand alongside him as he advocates for a more just world for himself and others.

 
Any amount helps and we are beyond grateful to support second chances! 

Blessings! 
 
 Nicole Moore
Founder, CEO
The Rusty Diamond Network