Trump's turkeys - Wishbone and Drumstick - were no joke to prisoners seeking mercy

On November 21st, President Trump pardoned two turkeys, Wishbone and Drumstick. In his speech, he said he had overturned many of President Obamas executive orders, but he will not overturn the pardon of last years turkeys, Tater and Tot. I watched this PR spectacle with sadness because its a mockery of what clemency should be about. The turkey pardon has become a publicity stunt that insults the sensibilities of over 2.2 million incarcerated souls that currently defines our nation as the largest penal colony on the planet. To pardon two turkeys on the White House lawn in front of spectators and tv cameras is hypocritical, at best.

The Washington Examiner reached out to the CAN-DO Foundation, seeking quotes from a handful of prisoners about how it feels to watch turkeys being pardoned each year, while so many desperately yearn for the chance to do what the rest of us take for granted. Three prisoners we advocate for were quoted, but so many individuals who should have received clemency are suffering and wanted to share their thoughts on this topic. The CAN-DO Foundation has a Guardian Angel program that corresponds with over 200 prisoners who yearn for an opportunity to return home, fill that empty chair at the table, and repair the damage imposed upon family members who also suffer along with their loved one in prison. I hope President Trump will find it in his heart to forgive people who have been punished harshly for an offense that no longer defines who they are. We are more than our worst mistake. Here are some quotes about Thanksgiving from several people the CAN-DO Foundation advocates for.

Nancy Ferneau - serving 25 year sentence for drug conspiracy

I am a 66-year old woman who has served 14 years on a conspiracy charge. I was offered 8 years if I would cooperate, but I went to trial because I was not guilty of all the allegations. I thought we had a fair justice system in this country, but I was wrong. During the past 14 years I was denied clemency, denied compassionate release, and am still old, broke down and sick. Too bad I'm not a turkey, but this is no joke to people who want to go home to their families and not die in prison, or have their family members die before you get home. Watching turkeys get a pardon while serving a 25 year sentence is demoralizing.

Michelle West - 1st offender serving double life but 25 years

I am extremely thankful my daughter, Miquelle, was able to bounce back mentally after the devastating blow from the news of my clemency denial last year. We both thought I would be released after she was invited to the White House for a "Life After Clemency" summit. Daily, I pray for mercy if not for me, for my only child that has spent the holidays without her mother for 25 years. She continues to advocate for my freedom using the #FreeMichelleWest on Instagram. Despite the distance my incarceration has imposed on us, we remain extremely close and Im so proud of her career as a successful fashion designer who works for Revolt TV who did a documentary on Miquelles quest to free me.

Angela Wright First offender serving 30 year sentence for drug conspiracy

With each passing year - 11 to be exact, I envy the turkeys whose lives are spared while I'm overlooked as a first time non-violent drug offender.

Craig Cesal - 1st offender serving a LIFE sentence without parole for marijuana

I have served nearly 16 years of a life sentence for conspiring to distribute marijuana. This was my first criminal conviction, and my company repaired trucks used by drivers who trafficked marijuana.

Drug offenders, including marijuana conspirators, face life sentences in federal court if they proceed to trial. There are over 1,000 prisoners serving life sentences for drugs, where no one was hurt. Two turkeys did not even have names until this week, but President Trump showed them mercy. Logic and mercy should compel a look to those drug lifers, like myself, because unlike Wishbone and Drumstick, I have a daughter who is suffering due to my incarceration. I have expressed remorse, and yet my clemency was denied.

Charles Scott - serving 51 year sentence

It would mean the world to me to spend one free day with my daughter, grandson, and family, because I can provide so much insight through my mistakes that would benefit them from falling victim to the same pitfalls. I continue to pray for the leadership of this country and maybe one day God will put it on their heart to understand that all have fallen short and that forgiveness is the true testimony of being a great leader. Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow men and women behind bars.

Terry Anderson Clemency recipient after serving 19 years on a 30 year sentence

Receiving clemency was the happiest day of my life, even though I had to serve another year and take the drug program. My halfway house was taken away and I feel that if President Obama were still in office, I would be home today, because the climate in prison has turned so oppressive, but I will be home next year, this time, and no one can take that away. Trump let two turkeys go home after their pardon. I wish he would focus on letting some people go home that have been locked up in wire cages for over 20 years!

Michael Montalvo - serving a life sentence without parole for drug conspiracy

Its disturbing to watch Trump pardon turkeys while Im serving my 31st Thanksgiving in federal prison for a 1986 nonviolent drug conspiracy based on the words of an informant--no drugs were seized in my case--just an informant who got less time. I am 72, miss my family and want to start a life with a woman who is waiting for me to return to society.

Barbara Jean Pacheco - serving 20 year sentence for drug conspiracy

I wish I could be that turkey. I prayed for clemency, now I pray to be a turkey. Still praying for a miracle after 10 years in prison. I am here for being associated with someone who sold dope and cut a deal to testify against me. I have a husband who is waiting for me to come home and I am thankful for his unwavering devotion to me during this nightmare.

Cloretha White Peak 1st offender serving LIFE plus 25 years

Funny, I no longer eat turkey so I guess I've shown mercy to many turkeys. When will I reap the same benefits of compassion and be allowed to sit at the dinner table with my loved ones and give thanks on a day commemorated to remind us of our gratitude. I've watched on the sidelines for the past 23 years as presidents pardon turkeys, praying one day to be among the lucky few. Unfortunately, there are too many turkeys and I don't stand out enough for selection. What is this tradition supposed to represent? Why is the irony of this silly tradition lost on everyone except the ones that are behind walls looking for the year of Jubilee to come?

Roberta Bell 1st offender serving life without parole

In prison, Thanksgiving is just another day. But I am thankful to have friends and family pulling for me. I dream about being at home with those people sitting around a big table sharing stories and laughs and watching football. A day where I imagine sitting with my children or popping up at their jobs to surprise them. I've had that dream a million times, like the Publisher's Clearing House. A day where I sit and think about what it will be like when I finally get to meet my granddaughters and play with them. I have about a dozen songs that I made up just for them, I dream about hugging them, making them laugh, and dancing for them. So, yes today is like any other day, but I take the time to make sure I reflect on just how thankful I am for the ability to dream and hope and pray that one day, I will be deemed worthy of a second chance. I'm not the only one who has that dream and deserves mercy.

Adam Bentley Clausen - Serving 213 years

One more year, two more turkeys and thousands of people far more deserving are again left waiting for an elusive reprieve that would allow them to someday rejoin their families. Pardoning turkeys is good PR. Pardoning select human beings produces thankful, productive supporters. Please consider clemency petitions, especially for those with excessively long sentences.

Lori Kavitz - 1st offender serving 24 year sentence for drug conspiracy

I haven't seen my sons in 12 yrs. I have 3 grandchildren that I have never met. I have been in prison for 16 years serving time in Florida. I belong in Iowa but because of a camp closing I was moved here 7 years ago. Now my halfway house time has come and gone due to the closing of those, too, even though I had already signed a contract with the Bureau of Prisons that I thought was binding.

I try to keep a positive attitude and be thankful for the blessings I do have. But to add insult to injury, I watched Wishbone & Drumstick get the pardon that I was praying for - even my Judge wrote a letter to the Pardon Attorney practically begging him to approve my petition . If Trump was attempting to be humane....maybe he could be more sensitive to human beings.

Tim Tyler - Clemency recipient after serving 26 years on LIFE without parole

I certainly know how it feels to get some mercy from a President. My mom was counting on celebrating our first holiday this year, after 26 years. But they took my halfway house date so I will be spending my 26th year inside the prison for the holidays. But I am one of the lucky people that was given a clemency by President Obama. I am thankful to him every single day. It is a very different feeling to see people that I have known in some cases for 20 years serving a life sentence, while I have a release date. I am thankful for this second chance. My mom wishes it could be for this year's holidays but we will be together next year. With all of the bad things happening in the world, it is just good to be alive.

Nicole Walker 1st offender serving 10 years for drug conspiracy

This is my 6th Thanksgiving in prison and Christmas will be my 7th unless President Trump decides to give out some pardons and commutations as a grateful and thoughtful gift to those of us who would like to be home with our families eating a REAL holiday meal in the company of our loved ones. It would be my first holiday with my grandson, who is 2 years old. Instead of turkeys, how about using your pardon privilege for some of us folks who have a petition pending at the Office of the Pardon Attorney?

Blake Stover - 1st offender serving LIFE plus 30 years without parole

I was indicted for a drug conspiracy spanning some 13 years. I proceeded to a jury trial and was convicted. As a first-time offender I was sentenced to LIFE plus 30 years. In the 13 years of the alleged conspiracy the only drugs ever confiscated were 4.89 grams of methamphetamine, none of which was directly attributed to me. I was never caught selling drugs, buying drugs, nor talking about drugs. One would think that cases such as mine would be more worthy of a pardon than two turkeys. Pardoning two turkeys is a mockery of the President's power to right many wrongs that have taken place in unjust sentences.

Elda Juanita Regalado - serving 26 year sentence for drug conspiracy

I cried this morning. I miss my home cooking and baking for the holidays, always making everything from scratch. I pray that everyone appreciates their ability to be with loved ones, and I would like to urge the public to write their representatives seeking mercy for those of us who desperately want the same opportunity to be with family. If nothing else, urge Congress to mandate furloughs for prisoners because that is something the Bureau of Prison can give us, but they no longer grant them, even if we qualify.

Cedric Lamont Dean - Was due to be released November 6th, but lost his halfway house date.

I am so grateful for the bountiful blessings that God has bestowed upon me this year. I am anxiously awaiting my release to extend my gratitude.