The Echols start-up conference kerfuffle

FedEx pulls sponsorship of Memphis startup conference where Damien Echols will speak:

I’m glad I wait until these events are over before posting about them. One reason is I don’t want to give this convicted child killer any advance appearance publicity, and it really turned out to be a non-story. The only reason I’m posting about it is that it’s so damn funny.

Anyway Damien Echols of the West Memphis 3 infamy was invited to a start-up conference that was held in Memphis. He was there to talk about how the world has changed since his imprisonment. Well, there are three child killers walking loose now but that’s beside the point. Also, why would anyone invite this clown to a startup conference? Has he developed an app that will kill children for you? Actually, he did, they’re called Baldwin and Misskelley, but I digress.

In the wake of the announcement of Echols’ appearance at the conference shipping giant FedEx pulled out of the conference.

A FedEx spokeswoman said the conference agenda moved “pretty significantly” away from the startup business and entrepreneurial agenda that fits the FedEx brand.

“It’s my understanding he’s going to talk about how technology changed, but that didn’t match with our understanding of it being an entrepreneurial, startup event,” said FedEx’s Shea Leordeanu.

“I think any corporation, when you’re going to be involved in an event, you want to make sure it matches your brand.”

Who wants to be known as the shipping sponsor of child killers?

So in response Echols released the following…

“I am blessed to have the support of hundreds of thousands of people from around the globe, from New Zealand to Norway, many whom worked tirelessly to free me, Jason and Jesse. After close to 20 years imprisoned on death row, I have endured greater hardships than FEDEX making a rash decision without knowing very much about my case. It is more a measure FEDEX’s lack of corporate integrity and decency than it is about my struggle to clear my name. “

Ignoring all the obvious bullcrap in this statement just how many of those hundreds of thousands of people attended Echols’ talk? About this many…

I don’t know what Echols speaking fee is, but it looks like pretty soon you’ll be able to book him for a plate of Waffle House hash browns.

But again whatever he’s making he’s making off the blood of the three children who were brutally murdered and mutilated at his hands.

Thanks to Shaun Wheeler for the photo.