In Texas, a man is attempting to save the life of a convicted murderer who tried to kill him. Rais Bhuiyan is suing Gov. Rick Perry in order to stop the execution of death row prisoner Mark Stroman, scheduled for Wednesday. Stroman shot Bhuiyan in 2001, partially blinding him in the wake of September 11. Stroman, an Aryan Brotherhood member, also killed two men at the time, including a Muslim man. All of his victims were from India or Pakistan. Stroman’s half-sister was killed in the attack on the twin towers and claimed her death fueled his rampage. Bhuiyan is now calling on Perry to heed his demand for mercy and lower Stroman’s punishment to life in prison, arguing the attack was rooted in ignorance.

Rais Bhuiyan: “September 11 did a horrible thing not only to U.S., to all over the world. This is a time we should take a new narrative. We should take a new narrative of passion, forgiveness, tolerance and healing.”