NOT WORTH KILLING
R&B are honoured to bring us John Mutz and Eric Ivey's moving short 20-minute documentary film on 20th November, and to have John Mutz and James Alexander with us to share their thoughts on grace, compassion, and the power to change.
Mitchell Rutledge grew up in a broken home with a father he never knew. His mother was a child of 13. who herself died at 16. He was illiterate. As a teen, he roamed the streets with drug dealers and prostitutes. With no real family, without schooling, without love of any kind. He became a convicted murderer serving life without parole in an Alabama state penitentiary.
Not Worth Killing is his story with Sr Lillian Oliver, IHC, a teacher in Southern California, who read Mitchell's story on death row in a Time article, that outraged her. "Forget him", the article concluded, suggesting that with an IQ of 84, he was not worth killing. She recalled “I will not forget you! .. says the Lord". Isaiah 49:15-16.
Today, Mitch serves as a mentor and guide to many of the lost young men in the penitentiary. He has a wide circle of correspondents and friends. Many, including his warden, have spoken up for him. "There may be no inmate in the United States who is more rehabilitated than Mitchell Rutledge," write Burton and Anita Folsom, in their book, Death On Hold. He remains incarcerated.
John Mutz is a member of the Immaculate Heart Community (IHC).
He is a former police captain with the Los Angeles Police Department and led a new model for the police service after meeting members of the IHC in connection with the Blythe Street project.
John produced Not Worth Killing, inspired by the story of Lillian Oliver, a member of the IHC, and her friendship with Mitchell Rutledge for over 30 years.
James Alexander was trained as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor and worked in Sonoma County upon his re-entry.
He facilitates the Quaker’s “Alternative to Violence” workshops that have been offered in the prison system as well as in the community.
He is a frequent speaker sharing honestly about his experience in prison. He is the author of “Courage in the Face of Cruelty," a book about his 28 years in the Californian prison system.
