tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71878222024-03-13T16:30:24.982-04:00Abolish the Death PenaltyAbolish the Death Penalty is a blog dedicated to...well, you know.
The purpose of Abolish is to tell the personal stories of crime victims and their loved ones, people on death row and their loved ones and those activists who are working toward abolition. You may, from time to time, see news articles or press releases here, but that is not the primary mission of Abolish the Death Penalty. Our mission is to put a human face on the debate over capital punishment.abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.comBlogger879125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-31023998712005408122013-07-08T14:33:00.000-04:002013-07-18T15:12:04.310-04:00Warren Hill: Another Unfortunate Case for Georgia<div class="js-tweet-text tweet-text">
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</xml><![endif]--><span style="color: purple;"><b>UPDATE at 3:10pm on July 18,2013: <a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav" data-user-id="37024843" href="https://twitter.com/MaxBlau"><strong class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Max Blau</strong>
<span></span><span class="username js-action-profile-name"><s>@</s>MaxBlau</span> </a><small class="time"><a class="tweet-timestamp js-permalink js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/MaxBlau/status/357939592537710592" title="3:07 PM - 18 Jul 13"><span class="_timestamp js-short-timestamp js-relative-timestamp" data-long-form="true" data-time="1374174423"></span></a></small>Judge Tusan: the Georgia law "unconstitutionally limits" <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" data-query-source="hashtag_click" dir="ltr" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WarrenHill&src=hash"><s>#</s><strong>WarrenHill</strong></a>'s access to courts and his Eighth Amendment rights.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: purple;"><b>Looks like Warren Hill will NOT be executed tomorrow night...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
state of Georgia is once again in the spotlight regarding a death penalty case
which, when examined by anyone with a sense of justice, makes the Peach State
start reeking of even more rotten fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or
perhaps a better analogy: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs" target="_blank">strange fruit</a>.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">No, this
is not quite a lynching any more than any execution could be termed as such,
but <a href="http://clatl.com/freshloaf/archives/2013/07/03/warren-lee-hills-execution-rescheduled-for-july-15" target="_blank">Warren Hill</a> now faces execution on Monday, July 15. Yes, Hill is guilty of
the murder which got him to death row, but we now know with certainty that his
execution would be in violation of a prohibition of capital punishment for
those found to have intellectual disability, which used to be referred to as “mental
retardation.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nX5qRm4D3AY/UdsE-jzQFiI/AAAAAAAAAiI/LKO2H9uvKl8/s1600/warren-lee-hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nX5qRm4D3AY/UdsE-jzQFiI/AAAAAAAAAiI/LKO2H9uvKl8/s200/warren-lee-hill.jpg" width="161" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Ironically,
Georgia was the first state to prohibit the execution of the intellectually
disabled. <span style="color: #1a1a1a;">In 2002, the U.S. Supreme Court outlawed
the execution of such people in <a href="http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/intellectual-disability-and-death-penalty" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Atkins v.Virginia</i></a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Still, Georgia
scheduled Mr. Hill’s execution date despite new findings from doctors who
previously testified as State experts that Mr. Hill does not have ‘mental
retardation’ (the legal term still used). Earlier this year, these three doctors
reviewed Mr. Hill’s case and revised their original diagnoses. Now, every
doctor who has examined him agrees: Mr. Hill has mental retardation. Even so Georgia
plans to move forward. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Of
course, the powers that be in Georgia just don’t seem to care what others
think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They executed <a href="http://www.naacp.org/pages/troy-davis-a-case-for-clemency" target="_blank">Troy Davis</a> nearly
two years ago now despite very real doubts about his guilt. More than 26 years
ago, Georgia killed <a href="http://mccleskeyvkemp.com/2012/04/22/25-years-after-mccleskey-looking-forward-to-legislative-fixes-of-supreme-court-error/" target="_blank">Warren McKleskey</a> after the U.S. Supreme Court denied relief
because doing so would have acknowledged the racism in our legal system. There’s
many other cases to discuss – they are all ugly with injustice.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Of course, all of this happens because the powers that be can
hide in the convoluted process of the law. In April this year, a Georgia court
ruled that it could not consider the new doctor findings because of procedural
barriers. In fact, no court has ever considered this critical new information
on its merits. With Mr. Hill days away from execution, it is unconscionable
that technicalities are standing in the way of fair review of the evidence.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">In addition to the unanimous doctor diagnoses, Georgia courts
have also repeatedly found that Mr. Hill is intellectually disabled. In 2002,
and again in 2012, a Georgia state court judge affirmed that Mr. Hill is a
person with mental retardation – but said that Mr. Hill did not meet Georgia’s
unique standard for legally proving it – the strictest in the nation. Indeed,
Georgia is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">only </i>state in the
country that requires a defendant to prove mental retardation “beyond a
reasonable doubt.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Now, as a result of procedural technicalities and the State’s
impossibly strict burden of proof, Georgia risks executing a person with clear
mental retardation. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">That is why Mr. Hill’s case has received extensive and diverse
outpouring of support from mental health experts, intellectual disability
organizations, legal experts, several of the jurors from trial, and even
President Jimmy Carter and Rosalyn Carter. Notably, the family of the victim
also does not wish to see Mr. Hill executed, specifically citing his
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Executing Warren Hill would violate the U.S. Constitution and be
yet another dark stain on the Georgia criminal justice system. <a href="http://www.peachpundit.com/2013/07/08/georgia-prepares-to-execute-mentally-retarded-inmate/" target="_blank">Even conservative death penalty supporters are saying this</a>. The courts should grant
a stay of execution to ensure that the State of Georgia does not put to death a
mentally retarded man.</span></div>
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abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-20061753686705580442011-04-15T22:26:00.000-04:002011-04-15T22:26:09.206-04:00Abolish the Death Penalty: Marie Deans - RIP<a href="http://deathpenaltyusa.blogspot.com/2011/04/marie-deans-rip.html">Abolish the Death Penalty: Marie Deans - RIP</a>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-79672223938142020002011-04-15T22:23:00.001-04:002011-04-15T22:25:15.576-04:00Marie Deans - RIP<span><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />“As we were about to finish the class this young girl raised her hand and said, ‘You have changed by mind. You have got to get around everywhere, you have got to give everybody this message.’ This is our First, Big, Public...: Here we are Folks and we mean it. It is not the end of our Journey, but it is a coming home. It feels that way to me. This Journey of Hope has got to go on until we reach real justice.”<br /><br />--Marie Deans on the Indiana Journey of Hope - the first Journey, which was then a project of MVFR, which Marie founded in 1976.<br /><br /><br /><br />Dear Friends,<br /><br />Henry called a little while ago to share the news that Marie Deans died earlier this evening. R.I.P.<br /><br />Once details are set, I'll share those here.<br /><br />I know that many of you have no idea who Marie was - she's been pretty much out of the loop for a decade or more. Here's a bit... Click on the URL's to see images. For those of us who were around in the 70's, 80's, and 90's (I started in 1988 or so), this woman needs no introduction. Love her or hate her, there's no denying she made a big difference.<br /><br />from <a href="https://mail.ncadp.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=645575205a1b4529bf1da74f3f027cc4&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.vadp.org%2fbanquet.htm" target="_blank">http://www.vadp.org/banquet.htm</a><br /><br />Marie Deans has been known as the “mother” of the anti-death penalty movement in Virginia. Since coming to Virginia in 1983, Marie has fought endlessly for legal access, more humane conditions on Virginia’s death row, and assuring legal representation for each condemned man. She provided assistance in over 220 trial level cases in Virginia, and only two of those defendants went to death row. She was part of the legal team in numerous clemency petitions, including those for Joe Giarratano, Earl Washington and Roger Coleman. She founded the Virginia Coalition on Jails and Prisons in 1983 and was forced to close its office in 1993 due to lack of funds. Having experienced the loss of her mother-in-law in 1972, Ms. Deans founded Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation in 1976. <br /><br />and from <a href="https://mail.ncadp.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=645575205a1b4529bf1da74f3f027cc4&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.journeyofhope.org%2fpages%2fmarie_deans.htm" target="_blank">http://www.journeyofhope.org/pages/marie_deans.htm</a> <br /><br />In 1990 Marie Deans and Joe Ingle were honored by the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty when they were presented the Abolitionist of the Year Award for their work with the Southern Coalition of Jails and Prisons.<br /><br />Marie Deans realized the need for a group for murder victims family members who were opposed to the Death Penalty after her mother-in-law Penny was killed. Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation emerged as the first organization of its kind, murder victim family members against the Death Penalty.<br /><br />Marie worked for many years with the Southern Coalition on Jails and Prisons before concentrating on the Virginia Coalition on Jails and Prisons. Marie Deans was one of first abolitionists of the post-Furman era movement.<br /><br />Marie has been a friend to many men on Virginia’s Death Row and has spent countless hours with their families around the times of their execution. 34 of Marie’s habeas clients asked her to stay with them on their deathwatches and until they were killed, and she did.<br /><br />The Joe Giarratano case is one of Marie’s success stories<br /><br />***<br /><br />I did not get around to sending a note to Marie until today. She won't get it in the mail, but maybe she'll get it anyway.... Here's the part that demonstrates just one bit of how she lives on in our movement today....<br /><br /><br />Dear Marie,<br /><br />I am so glad to be able to send you this little hug. I hope you are comfortable.<br /><br />And I am glad you have some time to reflect a bit on the world of a difference YOU have made in so many lives. Marie, you inspired me in so many ways. Most notably, I can still see and hear the welcome you and Henry gave to the Virginia Journey of Hope ...From Violence to Healing in 1996, when you talked about the evolution of the name to Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. [VADP started as Virginians Against the Death Penalty, then became Virginians Against State Killing, and when the annual Quality of Life poll in Virginia started asking if people preferred executions or life imprisonment and more than 50% preferred the latter - way back in the early 1990's, then went with what Virginians wanted - the current VADP.] It was on that Journey that I was inspired to start up CUADP, and it was your experiences coupled with my own that led us to take that name – Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. Of course, now that I’m at NCADP, CUADP has become defunct. BUT, I wonder if you know just how many others have followed in your footsteps with the “For Alternatives” motif. Let me tell you:<br /><br />Following Virginians…For Alternatives to the Death Penalty<br /><br />California Crime Victims… (and several local CA County Coalitions)<br />California People of Faith...<br />Citizens United…<br />Coloradans…<br />Floridians… (I started that one too!)<br />Georgians…<br />Louisiana Coalition…<br />Missourians…<br />New Jerseyans…<br />New Yorkers…<br />Oregonians…<br />Pennsylvanians…<br />South Dakotans…<br />Tennesseans…<br />Unitarian Universalists…<br />Utahns…<br />(I may be missing one or two)<br /><br />And perhaps most notable of all, the collaborative of funders [supporting] our movement calls itself FADP – Funders for Alternatives to the Death Penalty!<br /><br />SO, thank YOU for that.<br /><br />***<br /><br />I then went on to share with her a little about what MVFR is up to these days so that she can know the latest with her legacy, and shared some personal updates as well. I can't remember the last time I saw Marie, but I think it was at that VADP awards banquet referenced above. In any case, we should remember our elders in this movement....<br /><br />Have an excellent weekend...<br /><br />--abe<br /><br />Abraham J. Bonowitz<br />Director of Affiliate Support<br />National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty<br /><a href="https://mail.ncadp.org/owa/redir.aspx?C=645575205a1b4529bf1da74f3f027cc4&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.ncadp.org" target="_blank">www.ncadp.org</a><br />abe@ncadp.org<br />202-331-4090 - Office<br />561-371-5204 - Mobile</span></span>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-45370682323626911062009-10-09T15:37:00.001-04:002009-10-09T15:38:38.073-04:00World Day Against the Death Penalty"<a href="http://www.shoutingfromtherooftops.org">Shouting from the Rooftops</a>" on World Day Against the Death Penalty October 8, 2009<br /><br />October 10th marks the sixth anniversary of World Day Against the Death Penalty, an event begun by the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty to urge countries around the world that still implement capital punishment to abolish it.<br /><br />We hope you can join us in observing World Day Against the Death Penalty this year by joining our “Shouting from the Rooftops” campaign. Read the article about Cameron Todd Willingham and share it with friends; write letters to the editors of your local newspapers, using our online tool; and make a video of yourself and your friends and family shouting from rooftops about Cameron’s case and calling for an end to the death penalty.<br /><br />Each year, World Day has a theme, and this year the focus is on educating youth between 14 and 18. The goal is to teach young people – who will be the politicians, defendants, judges, attorneys and citizens of the future – that the death penalty is an attack on basic human rights. So when you do something especially meaningful this World Day Against the Death Penalty by “Shouting from the Rooftops,” don’t forget to involve your family members and friends!abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-37798121731921585982009-09-23T01:52:00.002-04:002009-09-23T01:55:29.179-04:00Shouting from the Rooftops!<a href="http://www.ncadp.org/index.cfm?content=96"><img alt="" src="http://www.ncadp.org/assets/images/Shouting_Banner.jpg" /></a>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-21537483128213088322009-03-31T08:30:00.007-04:002009-03-31T11:01:07.190-04:00Cesar E. Chavez... The Path to Nonviolence<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CABONOW%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="State"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14;"><span style="font-size:85%;">On what would have been his 82nd Birthday, NCADP presents this guest commentary about <a href="http://www.cesarchavezholiday.org/">Cesar E. Chavez</a>, by <a href="http://www.magdaleno.org/">Magdaleno Leno Rose-Avila</a>, NCADP's Death Penalty Abolitionist of the Year, 1994.</span>
<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14;">
<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14;">Cesar E. Chavez <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14;">A Clear Voice Against Violence <o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">As a community and farm worker organizer early in his career, <a href="http://www.ufwaction.org/campaign/chavezholiday?qp_source=web">Cesar E. Chavez</a> studied Gandhi, King and others, building a solid foundation<span style=""> </span>for his nonviolent political/moral position. </p><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/ABONOW%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" /><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">When I first met Cesar I was not <span style=""> </span>impressed by either his speaking style or his being a vegetarian. And he was far too religious for me. I did not understand how this humble man with an eighth grade education could plan to lead a revolution believing in and practicing <span style=""> </span>nonviolence. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">I was in my twenties and I wanted action… a revolution like Che’s.<span style=""> </span>I wanted to confront those who did violence to our community with a taste of their own violence…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SdIRawdZxtI/AAAAAAAAAWk/3V0cUWC6Oi4/s1600-h/chavezkennedy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 251px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SdIRawdZxtI/AAAAAAAAAWk/3V0cUWC6Oi4/s320/chavezkennedy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319333261260474066" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">In later years I learned that his position of nonviolence was a wonderful place <span style=""> </span>from which to respect all life - even the lives of those who hate you and what you stand for. On the picket lines Cesar would not let us respond with swear words and name calling to those who would call us by the worst of names. Instead he would make us shout to them in the following manner.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><u>
<br /></u></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><u>BROTHERS, SISTERS JOIN US … JOIN THE STRIKE … WE DON’T WANT TO HARM YOU… WE MUST ALL WORK TOGETHER FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL FARMWORKERS</u></i>… </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">So it was this calling of our enemy brother and sister that made us value their lives as much as we valued our own. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">When some of our strikers were killed by agents of the growers Cesar instead lead us in prayer, forgiveness and a re-dedication to our strike, our boycott and our commitment to non-violence.</p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cesar Chavez, and co-founder of the <a href="http://www.ufw.org/">UNITED FARM WORKERS UNION</a> Dolores Huerta, were always voices to stand up against violence including the penalty of death. Today Dolores <a href="http://www.deathpenalty.org/downloads/Nov30WilliamsRelease.pdf">continues to raise her voice against this act of violence</a>.
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<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Cesar’s example turned the minds and hearts of young militants like me and many others from a road filled with revenge to one of forgiveness and reconciliation. At first it was hard to be non-violent but as the years and tests passed, I personally found a new freedom in <a href="http://www.journeyofhope.org/">forgiving</a> and by loving my enemies. It is when you truly embrace non violence that you can find a peace and liberation that can help others to heal and live full lives. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Cesar today would have called Governor Bill Richardson and would have thanked him for <a href="http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/documents/richardsonstatement.pdf">abolishing the death penalty</a> in <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">New Mexico</st1:place></st1:state>. <span style=""> </span>And then would have asked him to make calls to convince the other governors.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">He, Dolores, the Filipinos and others at the core of this non-violent movement encouraged that we all become strong and dedicated voices in our communities, for non-violence…</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">
<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">And yes we can overcome violence and change our world for the better. We can, and we will <a href="http://www.ncadp.org/">abolish the death penalty</a>. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14;">
<br /></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-size:14;">SI SE PUEDE ... YES WE CAN<o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><u>
<br /></u></i></p><p class="MsoNormal"><i style=""><u>DREAM A BETTER WORLD.<o:p></o:p></u></i></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Written by Magdaleno Leno Rose-Avila </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Former <a href="http://www.ufw.org/">United Farm Workers Union</a> Organizer </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Founding Executive Director <a href="http://www.cesarechavezfoundation.org/">Cesar E. Chavez Foundation</a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>Executive Director <a href="http://www.socialjusticefund.org/">Social Justice Fund NW</a></p> abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-48061719329496776532009-03-27T12:13:00.002-04:002009-03-27T12:23:57.002-04:00Montana Takes Another StepOn Wednesday the Montana House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the death penalty repeal bill in that state. Click here for coverage from the <a href="http://www.helenair.com/articles/2009/03/26/top/top/50st_090326_death.txt">Helena Independent Record</a>. The committee is expected to vote next week.<br /><br />The Montana Standard is running the death penalty as its Question of the Week. Go to that site, scroll down to find it on the right, and <a href="http://www.mtstandard.com">Vote for Abolition</a>!<br /><br />And visit the <a href="http://www.mtabolitionco.org/">Montana Abolition Coalition</a> for more details. Urge anyone you know who lives in Montana to <a href="http://www.mtabolitionco.org/act/updates.html">be sure to sign up</a> on that site and to <a href="http://www.mtabolitionco.org/act/actnow.html">take any actions requested</a> of Montana residents - such as contacting MT State Reps ASAP!<br /><br />Go Montana!<br /><div><blockquote type="cite"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="word-spacing: 0px; font-family: Helvetica; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; text-transform: none; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); text-indent: 0px; white-space: normal; letter-spacing: normal; border-collapse: separate; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><div vlink="purple" link="blue" lang="EN-US"><div class="Section1"><div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></div></div></div></span></blockquote></div>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-40717935846098856022009-03-18T20:20:00.000-04:002009-03-18T20:55:04.696-04:00Abolition - It's Just Common Sense<p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">Last Friday, March 13, 2009, as I sat in the gallery of the New Mexico Senate listening to that body debate whether to pass a bill to repeal <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">New Mexico</st1:state></st1:place>’s death penalty statute, I felt very much like I had been there before. In fact, 15 months ago, <a href="http://deathpenaltyusa.blogspot.com/2007/12/nj-assembly-vote-tally-board-121307.html">December 13, 2007 I was in the gallery of the New Jersey Assembly</a> listening to pretty much the same debate. As in <st1:state st="on">New Jersey</st1:state>, <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">New Mexico</st1:state></st1:place>’s legislature sent the bill to the Governor’s desk, and today, Governor Richardson signed the bill. This makes <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">New Mexico</st1:state></st1:place> only the second state since 1965 to legislatively repeal its death penalty.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">As a person who used to support the death penalty who is now working to abolish it, I feel both proud and privileged to have so far been a part of two successful repeal campaigns. It validates my own experience, clearly demonstrating that the more you know about the death penalty, the less you like it. I find validation in the years of daily grind, working on the front lines to sow and tend to the seeds of abolition, and helping other individuals and groups do so as effectively as possible. And it validates my experience that no one can do this alone – <a href="https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/206/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=12">it takes a team of many</a>, and it takes time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">To me, this victory comes not as a surprise, but with a very happy sigh of relief. Moving any bill through a legislature and all the way to an executive signature is no small feat. I’m relieved that we did it *<b><span style="font-weight: bold;">this year</span></b>*. I will not be surprised to see at least one more legislative repeal in another state this year, and I will not be surprised when we finish this job across this country sometime in the next decade or two. <o:p><br /></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">We will finish this struggle. We will finish it just as long as leaders like the legislators who sponsored and pushed these bills in <st1:state st="on">New Jersey</st1:state> and <st1:place st="on"><st1:state st="on">New Mexico</st1:state></st1:place> continue to step forward. We will finish this struggle as long as people of faith and people of good conscience – regular people making themselves heard - continue to raise their voices in concert with all those who participated with the <a href="http://www.nmrepeal.org/">New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty</a> and its many coalition partners. We will finish this struggle as long as scholars continue to uncover <a href="http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/">the facts</a> about the failures of the system. We will finish this struggle as long as more and more members of the law enforcement community continue to step up and show us how it is wrong and does not work as a tool to fight crime. We will finish this struggle as long as “Voices of Experience” like <a href="http://www.mvfr.org/wp-content/uploads/mvfr-nion-new-mex3.pdf">murder victim family members</a> and <a href="http://www.witnesstoinnocence.org/">survivors of wrongful conviction</a> put an undeniable face on this issue. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;">We will finish this struggle because it is the common sense thing to do. Our challenge is to help more people understand why the death penalty is a bad public policy, and give greater backing to legislators and governors willing to stand up for what is right. Our challenge is to <a href="https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/206/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=12">support the people and organizations doing this work</a> day in and day out. Our challenge is make and keep a promise to leave this world a better place for our children by working to abolish the death penalty in the United States and worldwide. It’s just common sense.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" >Today is Abolition Day in </span><span style="font-size:180%;"><st1:place style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" st="on"><st1:state st="on">New Mexico</st1:state></st1:place></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" > – March 18, 2009. I am keeping my promise.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-5868260974885070782009-03-18T20:15:00.000-04:002009-03-18T20:53:45.456-04:00Governor Richardson's Press Release<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/ScGXJz_eH2I/AAAAAAAAAWc/hfuL-_gLQ_Q/s1600-h/NMgovletterhead.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 86px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/ScGXJz_eH2I/AAAAAAAAAWc/hfuL-_gLQ_Q/s400/NMgovletterhead.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314695230104936290" border="0" /></a>For Immediate Release Contact: Gilbert Gallegos<br />March 18, 2009 505.476.2217<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Governor Bill Richardson Signs Repeal of the Death Penalty</span></span><br /></div><br />SANTA FE – Governor Bill Richardson today signed House Bill 285, Repeal of the Death<br />Penalty. The Governor’s remarks follow:<br /><br />Today marks the end of a long, personal journey for me and the issue of the death penalty.<br /><br />Throughout my adult life, I have been a firm believer in the death penalty as a just<br />punishment – in very rare instances, and only for the most heinous crimes. I still believe that.<br />But six years ago, when I took office as Governor of the State of New Mexico, I started to<br />challenge my own thinking on the death penalty.<br /><br />The issue became more real to me because I knew the day would come when one of two<br />things might happen: I would either have to take action on legislation to repeal the death<br />penalty, or more daunting, I might have to sign someone’s death warrant.<br /><br />I’ll be honest. The prospect of either decision was extremely troubling. But I was elected by<br />the people of New Mexico to make just this type of decision.<br /><br />So, like many of the supporters who took the time to meet with me this week, I have believed<br />the death penalty can serve as a deterrent to some who might consider murdering a law<br />enforcement officer, a corrections officer, a witness to a crime or kidnapping and murdering<br />a child. However, people continue to commit terrible crimes even in the face of the death<br />penalty and responsible people on both sides of the debate disagree – strongly – on this issue.<br /><br />But what we cannot disagree on is the finality of this ultimate punishment. Once a conclusive<br />decision has been made and executed, it cannot be reversed. And it is in consideration of this,<br />that I have made my decision.<br /><br />I have decided to sign legislation that repeals the death penalty in the state of New Mexico.<br />Regardless of my personal opinion about the death penalty, I do not have confidence in the<br />criminal justice system as it currently operates to be the final arbiter when it comes to who<br />lives and who dies for their crime. If the State is going to undertake this awesome<br />responsibility, the system to impose this ultimate penalty must be perfect and can never be<br />wrong.<br /><br />But the reality is the system is not perfect – far from it. The system is inherently defective.<br />DNA testing has proven that. Innocent people have been put on death row all across the<br />country.<br /><br />Even with advances in DNA and other forensic evidence technologies, we can’t be 100-<br />percent sure that only the truly guilty are convicted of capital crimes. Evidence, including<br />DNA evidence, can be manipulated. Prosecutors can still abuse their powers. We cannot<br />ensure competent defense counsel for all defendants. The sad truth is the wrong person can<br />still be convicted in this day and age, and in cases where that conviction carries with it the<br />ultimate sanction, we must have ultimate confidence – I would say certitude – that the system<br />is without flaw or prejudice. Unfortunately, this is demonstrably not the case.<br /><br />And it bothers me greatly that minorities are overrepresented in the prison population and on<br />death row.<br /><br />I have to say that all of the law enforcement officers, and especially the parents and spouses<br />of murder victims, made compelling arguments to keep the death penalty. I respect their<br />opinions and have taken their experiences to heart -- which is why I struggled – even today –<br />before making my final decision.<br /><br />Yes, the death penalty is a tool for law enforcement. But it’s not the only tool. For some<br />would-be criminals, the death penalty may be a deterrent. But it’s not, and never will be, for<br />many, many others.<br /><br />While today’s focus will be on the repeal of the death penalty, I want to make clear that this<br />bill I’m signing actually makes New Mexico safer. With my signature, we now have the<br />option of sentencing the worst criminals to life in prison without the possibility of parole.<br />They will never get out of prison.<br /><br />Faced with the reality that our system for imposing the death penalty can never be perfect,<br />my conscience compels me to replace the death penalty with a solution that keeps society<br />safe.<br /><br />The bill I am signing today, which was courageously carried for so many years by<br />Representative Gail Chasey, replaces the death penalty with true life without the possibility<br />of parole – a sentence that ensures violent criminals are locked away from society forever,<br />yet can be undone if an innocent person is wrongfully convicted. More than 130 death row<br />inmates have been exonerated in the past 10 years in this country, including four New<br />Mexicans – a fact I cannot ignore.<br /><br />From an international human rights perspective, there is no reason the United States should<br />be behind the rest of the world on this issue. Many of the countries that continue to support<br />and use the death penalty are also the most repressive nations in the world. That’s not<br />something to be proud of.<br /><br />In a society which values individual life and liberty above all else, where justice and not<br />vengeance is the singular guiding principle of our system of criminal law, the potential for<br />wrongful conviction and, God forbid, execution of an innocent person stands as anathema to<br />our very sensibilities as human beings. That is why I’m signing this bill into law.<br /><br />#30#abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-30136003694149474652009-03-18T09:49:00.007-04:002009-03-18T10:46:44.052-04:00Albuquerque Journal On-Line Poll Says REPEAL!<span style="font-size:130%;">
<br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The </span><a style="font-family: times new roman;" href="http://www.abqjournal.com/">Albuquerque Journal </a><span style="font-family:times new roman;">started this poll sometime before midnight on the evening of March 16, 2009. On-line polls are notoriously unscientific - a measure of people who happen upon them and care to express their opinion. To its credit, the Journal put in a place a protection that allows only one vote per computer. There appears to be strong interest in the poll, and the percentages have been pretty steady since about 5pm on March 17. This snapshot of the poll results was grabbed at about 10:40am on March 18. </span></span>
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<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/ScEHwuTUunI/AAAAAAAAAWM/Tdhyb_8t4RU/s1600-h/nmpoll2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 196px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/ScEHwuTUunI/AAAAAAAAAWM/Tdhyb_8t4RU/s400/nmpoll2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314537568918092402" border="0" /></a>
<br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Amazingly, the above unscientific poll results mirror somewhat those of a scientific poll of likely New Mexico voters conducted by the New Mexico firm, </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >Research & Polling, INC.</span><span style="font-size:100%;">, completed in December, 2008. The 1st question below includes the concept of restitution combined with life in prison, and the 2nd shows simple preferences for life imprisonment without the concept of a restitution program.</span>
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<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CABONOW%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C02%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:3560141; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-1999709204 -1577175462 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.5in; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-font-weight:bold; mso-ansi-font-style:normal;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><b style=""><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style=""> <span style=";font-family:";font-size:7;" > </span></span></span></b><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"> And would you support or oppose replacing the death penalty with a sentence of life without possibility of parole for people convicted of murder, plus restitution to the victim's family, meaning the prisoner would work in prison to pay compensation to the family of the murder victim?<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Arial;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Arial;" >Random Sample<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >64%<span style=""> </span>Support*<span style=""> </span><i style=""><span style=""> </span></i><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >29%<span style=""> </span>Oppose<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>6%<span style=""> </span>Don’t know/won’t say<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;">
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<br /></span><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CABONOW%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C03%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:3560141; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:-1999709204 -1577175462 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715 67698703 67698713 67698715;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.5in; mso-ansi-font-size:10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-font-weight:bold; mso-ansi-font-style:normal;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.5in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style=""> <span style=";font-family:";" > </span></span></span></b><b style=""><span style="font-family:Arial;">Would you support or oppose replacing the death penalty with a sentence of life without possibility of parole for people convicted of murder, meaning the person convicted would never be released from prison for the rest of his or her life? <o:p></o:p></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Arial;" >Statewide Random Sample </span></b></span><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><b style=""><span style=""> </span></b><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >53%<span style=""> </span>Support<span style=""> </span><i style=""><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></i><i style=""><span style=""></span></i><span style=""></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in; line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><i style=""><span style=""></span><span style=""></span></i>37%<span style=""> </span>Oppose<span style=""> </span><span style=""></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style=""> </span>10%<span style=""> </span>Don’t know/won’t say<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<br />abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-44262165755505290902009-03-18T09:11:00.005-04:002009-03-18T09:28:33.080-04:00In New Mexico, The People Speak!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/ScDz3dkErJI/AAAAAAAAAV8/UghIUh-x3kw/s1600-h/NMgovletterhead.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 516px; height: 110px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/ScDz3dkErJI/AAAAAAAAAV8/UghIUh-x3kw/s400/NMgovletterhead.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314515694451469458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:85%;" >For Immediate Release Contact: Caitlin Kelleher</span> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:85%;" >March 17, 2009 505.476.2299</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;"> </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Governor Bill Richardson Continues to Hear from New Mexicans Today on HB 285</span></span></b></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;"> </span></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >SANTA FE</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> – Governor Bill Richardson continues to hear from New Mexicans about a bill to repeal the death penalty and today released details on the more than 9,400 calls, emails and walk-ins he’s received on the issue. The Governor has heard from a total of 9,413 constituents who voiced their opinion on House Bill 285. Of those, 7169 were FOR the repeal of the death penalty and 2244 were AGAINST. </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-size:12;"> </span></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >After lawmakers passed the bill on Friday, the Governor urged New Mexicans to call and email him on their thoughts of the bill. The Governor then met with more than 100 New Mexicans at his office on Monday, many of which had concerns either pro or con, the repeal of the death penalty. </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" > The Governor has until midnight on Wednesday, March 18<sup>th</sup> to take action on HB 285.</span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" >##</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style=";font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></span></p> <p><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:Arial;"> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><b><span style=";font-family:Bodoni MT;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:'Bodoni MT';color:black;" >Caitlin Kelleher</span></span></b></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><b><span style=";font-family:Bodoni MT;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:'Bodoni MT';color:black;" >Media Coordinator for Governor Richardson</span></span></b></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><b><span style=";font-family:Bodoni MT;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:'Bodoni MT';color:black;" >Office of the Governor</span></span></b></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><b><span style=";font-family:Bodoni MT;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:'Bodoni MT';color:black;" >State Capitol, Suite 400</span></span></b></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><b><span style=";font-family:Bodoni MT;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:'Bodoni MT';color:black;" >Santa Fe</span></span></b></strong><strong><b><span style=";font-family:Bodoni MT;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:'Bodoni MT';color:black;" >, NM</span></span></b></strong></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><b><span style=";font-family:Bodoni MT;color:black;" ><span style=";font-family:'Bodoni MT';color:black;" >office 505.476.2299| cell 505.795.2480</span></span></b></strong></span></p>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-90797624106264583712009-03-13T21:40:00.005-04:002009-03-13T22:01:53.519-04:00New Mexico Senate Approves Abolition Bill<span style="font-size:85%;">Earlier today, Friday, March 13, 2009, The New Mexico Senate voted 24-18 to repeal the death penalty in New Mexico and replace it with a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole. House Bill 285 now goes to Gov. Bill Richardson for his signature.<br /><br />Governor Richardson's office has set up a hotline to receive the opinions of New Mexicans (and anyone else!) on the issue. That number is 505-476-2225. Those wishing to weigh in via e-mail can do so through the governor's web site at: </span><a href="http://www.governor.state.nm.us/"><span style="font-size:85%;">www.governor.state.nm.us</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> and clicking on "Contact the Governor."<br /><br />"This is an extremely difficult issue that deserved the serious and thoughtful debate it received in the Legislature," Richardson said in a prepared statement. "I have met with many people and will continue to consider all sides of the issue before making a decision."<br /><br />Please take action RIGHT NOW to urge Governor Richardson to sign the Death Penalty Repeal bill whether you live in New Mexico, or anywhere else! IF you know people who live in New Mexico, please forward this and urge them to take this action immediately.<br /><br />Thanks!</span><br /><br />A few faces in the crowd....<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SbsNgvDfYdI/AAAAAAAAAV0/T1X0A3RM_lo/s1600-h/NewMexicoMarch13+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SbsNgvDfYdI/AAAAAAAAAV0/T1X0A3RM_lo/s400/NewMexicoMarch13+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312855041451712978" border="0" /></a>Michelle Giger of <a href="http://www.mvfr.org/wp-content/uploads/mvfr-nion-new-mex3.pdf">Murder Victim's Families for Reconciliation</a> speaks with the Associated Press immediately following the historic vote.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SbsMtHdaM6I/AAAAAAAAAVM/rMxjj2FE7FI/s1600-h/NewMexicoMarch13+043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SbsMtHdaM6I/AAAAAAAAAVM/rMxjj2FE7FI/s400/NewMexicoMarch13+043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312854154649678754" border="0" /></a>Allen Sanchez, Executive Director of the <a href="http://www.archdiocesesantafe.org/ABSheehan/Bishops/AboutConf.html">New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops</a> with Viki Elkey, Executive Director of the <a href="http://www.nmrepeal.org">New Mexico Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty</a>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SbsMs3rRLyI/AAAAAAAAAVE/q1uTsQoY_54/s1600-h/NewMexicoMarch13+034.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SbsMs3rRLyI/AAAAAAAAAVE/q1uTsQoY_54/s400/NewMexicoMarch13+034.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312854150412840738" border="0" /></a>Very happy key players....<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SbsMtwgAHlI/AAAAAAAAAVk/xM4UL6psRdo/s1600-h/NewMexicoMarch13+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SbsMtwgAHlI/AAAAAAAAAVk/xM4UL6psRdo/s400/NewMexicoMarch13+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312854165666405970" border="0" /></a>Michelle Giger and Cathy Ansheles of <a href="http://www.mvfr.org">Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation</a>, after a bite to eat and a bit of celebration, on their way to deliver hand written thank you notes to the NM State Senators who voted to repeal New Mexico's death penalty.abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-4856593626818407752009-02-28T13:43:00.004-05:002009-03-13T21:40:06.050-04:00March 1st: Michigan Death Penalty Abolition Day<span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">March 1, Michigan Death Penalty Abolition Day, marks the anniversary of the date in 1847 in which the State of Michigan officially became the first English-speaking territory in the world to abolish capital punishment. It is a day to remember the victims of violent crime and their survivors; it is a day to remember those killed by state sanctioned violence - guilty or not- and their survivors; and it is a day for intensified education and action for alternatives to the death penalty. <a href="http://www.cuadp.org/abolitionday.html">More info and background is here</a>.</span></span>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-84977268841337004692009-02-25T15:14:00.006-05:002009-02-25T15:36:17.218-05:00MD Governor O'Malley Leads March for AbolitionWhen is the last time a sitting governor led a march to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty? It's never happened before today. Bravo, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaWpIHLA6gI/AAAAAAAAAU8/jNYqQJDX39o/s1600-h/mdmarchomalley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaWpIHLA6gI/AAAAAAAAAU8/jNYqQJDX39o/s400/mdmarchomalley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306833692755290626" border="0" /></a>From the Baltimore Sun:<br /> <br />Gov. Martin O'Malley led a march down a major street in Maryland's capital city to urge lawmakers to repeal the death penalty in what could be a close vote.<br /><div id="story-body-parent"><p id="story-body" style="clear: left;"> O'Malley this year created his own bill to repeal capital punishment after legislation stalled in a Senate committee for two consecutive years.<br /><br />If the bill gets out of the committee, where it failed on a 5-5 vote two years ago, O'Malley will need 24 votes in the full Senate to pass the bill.<br /><br />O'Malley, who is Roman Catholic, told an audience at a prayer breakfast before the march that he has only 22 votes, "but the Holy Spirit might have 24, so let's give it a shot."<br /></p><p id="story-body" style="clear: left;">O'Malley says the money spent on executions could be put to better use. He says Maryland should "not waste one instant, one day, one cent, one dime, serving death."</p> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaWntv8sRTI/AAAAAAAAAUs/YsmOj_fWFHg/s1600-h/mdomalley.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaWntv8sRTI/AAAAAAAAAUs/YsmOj_fWFHg/s400/mdomalley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306832140332975410" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaWoDEGfglI/AAAAAAAAAU0/vc4Pfr9nMw8/s1600-h/mdomalley2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaWoDEGfglI/AAAAAAAAAU0/vc4Pfr9nMw8/s400/mdomalley2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306832506520044114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaWntGv0M6I/AAAAAAAAAUM/P9OWDkmaymU/s1600-h/mdcaseleaders.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaWntGv0M6I/AAAAAAAAAUM/P9OWDkmaymU/s400/mdcaseleaders.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306832129273115554" border="0" /></a>"It's a Beautiful thing...." Maryland organizers (l to r) Bonnita Spikes, Amy Fusting and Jane Henderson. Get involved with the Maryland campaign at <a href="http://www.mdcase.org">www.mdcase.org</a><br /><br />All photos by abe@ncadp.orgabe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-28426776781103509542009-02-23T12:01:00.005-05:002009-02-23T12:21:18.617-05:00Sara Hickman Way<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaLWrP198fI/AAAAAAAAATs/I-66PyDgGF4/s1600-h/txsarahickmanway.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaLWrP198fI/AAAAAAAAATs/I-66PyDgGF4/s400/txsarahickmanway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306039349471474162" border="0" /></a><br />The street outside the First United Methodist Church in Austin, just a block up from the TX capitol bldg and location of the TCADP annual conference, has been re-named for the weekend in honor of death penalty abolitionist and <a href="http://www.sarahickman.com/">musician Sara Hickman</a>, who is being honored today by the <a href="http://www.tcadp.org/">Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty</a>. The mayor has also declared today Sara Hickman day in Austin. All of this in recognition of Sara's efforts in support of TCADP's work to abolish the death penalty.<br /><br />Here are a few other photos from the weekend:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaLZgBupPiI/AAAAAAAAAT0/Wie5lMTdzmI/s1600-h/txvictimsbanner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaLZgBupPiI/AAAAAAAAAT0/Wie5lMTdzmI/s400/txvictimsbanner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306042455238983202" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaLZgNeWp2I/AAAAAAAAAT8/Zk3XJO-hr5o/s1600-h/txpickett.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaLZgNeWp2I/AAAAAAAAAT8/Zk3XJO-hr5o/s400/txpickett.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306042458391881570" border="0" /></a>Rev. Carroll Pickett accepting an award of appreciation from TCADP on behalf of Steve James and Peter Gilbert, directors of the film featuring Pickett, "<a href="http://www.ifc.com/atthedeathhousedoor/">At the Death House Door</a>"<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaLZgRXo0MI/AAAAAAAAAUE/HrqZoa0Wllg/s1600-h/txabespeaking.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SaLZgRXo0MI/AAAAAAAAAUE/HrqZoa0Wllg/s400/txabespeaking.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306042459437453506" border="0" /></a>Abe Bonowitz, Director of Affiliate Support for the <a href="http://www.ncadp.org">National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty</a>, updating the conference on happenings around the country and sharing perspective about why what happens in Texas is important to the work of our movement.abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-36799049196431316332009-02-21T08:13:00.005-05:002009-02-21T08:22:50.171-05:00MD Governor O'Malley Speaks to His BillAt a hearing before Maryland's Senate Judicial Practices Committee on February 18, 2009, Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley testified in support of the bill he sponsored to repeal that state's death penalty. It was a standing room only crowd, overflowing into the corridors. <a href="http://www.governor.maryland.gov/speeches/090218c.asp">Read O'Malley's testimony here</a>. If you live in Maryland, <a href="http://www.mdcase.org">get involved here</a>. If you know someone who lives in Maryland, ask them to get involved!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZ_-7f_C2GI/AAAAAAAAATU/KvDs2m_WcIA/s1600-h/mdomalleyspeaks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZ_-7f_C2GI/AAAAAAAAATU/KvDs2m_WcIA/s400/mdomalleyspeaks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305239184217397346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZ_-7aE0KpI/AAAAAAAAATc/jW_Qk2ltnt4/s1600-h/mdpackedhouse.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZ_-7aE0KpI/AAAAAAAAATc/jW_Qk2ltnt4/s400/mdpackedhouse.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305239182630988434" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZ_-7GNi1aI/AAAAAAAAATM/I9zH78Akr9s/s1600-h/mdcivilleti.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZ_-7GNi1aI/AAAAAAAAATM/I9zH78Akr9s/s400/mdcivilleti.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305239177298892194" border="0" /></a>Former MD Attorney General and Chairman of MD's Death Penalty<br />Study Commission Benjamin Civiletti<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZ_-7usXfmI/AAAAAAAAATk/eoyNvxr0sHU/s1600-h/mdraskin.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 303px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZ_-7usXfmI/AAAAAAAAATk/eoyNvxr0sHU/s400/mdraskin.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305239188165590626" border="0" /></a>MD Senator and Abolitionist Leader the Honorable Jamie Raskin<br /></div>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-65785922389386541222009-02-15T14:59:00.005-05:002009-02-15T15:17:23.255-05:00Montana Senate Hearing Report<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZh0R0yX5jI/AAAAAAAAAS4/h_Y67bbx3Mk/s1600-h/MTSenate+Hearing+crew.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 196px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZh0R0yX5jI/AAAAAAAAAS4/h_Y67bbx3Mk/s320/MTSenate+Hearing+crew.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303116410805282354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Marietta Jeager-Lane Reports:</span><br /><span style=";font-family:Lucida Calligraphy;font-size:85%;" >As you may already know, MT's Senate Judiciary Committee passed our abolition bill, SB236, on to the Senate Floor, 7-5. The bill will be debated Monday afternoon, 2/16 starting at 1pm Mountain Time. <a href="http://www.leg.mt.gov/css/default.asp">Click here to listen live!</a></span><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" > In the above photo are the main speakers at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, left to right:</span> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><a href="http://www.ronmcandrew.com/">Ron McAndrew</a>, ex-FL warden, who oversaw 3 electric chair executions -- one of which men he felt was innocent and one whose execution was botched, literally cooking the poor guy to death for 1/2 hour.</span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><a href="http://www.journeyofhope.org/pages/marietta_jaeger-lane.htm">Marietta Jaeger-Lane</a>, whose daughter Suzie was a kidnap-murder victim in a well known Montana case.</span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />Senator Dave Wanzenreid, (D), sponsor of our bill.<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a href="http://us.macmillan.com/author/jenniferthompsoncannino">Jennifer Thompson-Cannino</a>, from North Carolina; You all may have heard about her before, but I never had. In the thirty-plus years I've been speaking on this issue, she brought a very important perspective I not only had not ever even considered but had not ever heard! Twenty years ago (to the day before testifying), she was raped by an intruder she woke to find in her bed in the middle of the night. Because he held a knife against her throat, she had no choice but to submit without struggle. However, as terrified as she was, she managed to remain calm and had the presence of mind to make a concerted effort to remember all the details of his face and body that she could discern in the dark, hoping that the time and occasion would come when she could properly identify him. That time did come and she was able to positively identify her rapist not once but twice in a lineup. Although insisting on his innocence, the man was charged, sentenced and was serving his eleventh year in prison when he realized that another inmate in prison with him, had actually been the rapist. DNA evidence proved that to be the case and finally the man Jennifer had so positively identified was released. Jennifer was in anguish that, as certain as she had been that he was the "right" man, he had in fact been cheated out of 11 years of his life because of her testimony. However, she was also fearful that he would come looking for her now for "payback time". While struggling with what she should do, the man's pastor contacted her about meeting with him at the church rectory. With strong mixed emotions of repentance and fear, she did go. To her amazement, the man told her that he held nothing against her, he didn't blame her for her mistake, was not out to get even, and finally said, "I forgive you!" They have become good friends, keep in touch at least once a week and sometimes even speak together. The man's last name is Cotton and Jennifer's book about the whole experience is coming out in March. It's called "Picking Cotton" -- such a clever title! She's a very special woman, very articulate, attractive and wondrously humble to be willing to stand up before everyone and admit what her mistake cost a good man. We often hear about jail house snitches and dishonest folks who are willing to say anything for a buck, but Jennifer's honest, sincere misidentification is another facet of the possibility of putting innocent people on death row.<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:85%;">And lastly, to the far right, is Ray Krone, exonerated from Arizona's death row and now serving as Director of Communications for <a href="http://www.witnesstoinnocence.org/">Witness to Innocence</a>.</span></div>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-67774243518829042962009-02-11T16:01:00.018-05:002009-02-13T12:09:44.400-05:00New Mexico Repeal Day A Huge Success!<div>The <a href="http://www.nmrepeal.org/">NM Coalition to Repeal the Death Penalty's Lobby Day</a> was Monday (Feb. 9) at the Roundhouse (NM's Capitol Building). More than 225 people from around the state came to Santa Fe for a press conference at noon, followed by visits with their Legislators. Those who had <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZM_rhoMbzI/AAAAAAAAASA/ExdvkHzOeCs/s1600-h/nm3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 239px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZM_rhoMbzI/AAAAAAAAASA/ExdvkHzOeCs/s320/nm3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301651203339087666" border="0" /></a>pre-registered received packets with individualized information on their legislators, while all others received help identifying their Legislators if they didn't know them. Death row exonerees and murder victim family members also met with selected legislators.</div> <div><br />Everyone who came received a yellow NM repeal t-shirt and button and the halls were packed all day with our nice red logo and the word REPEAL. We heard from people who have worked in the Capitol for 20+ years who said this was the single biggest presence they had ever seen on any issue in one day. There were at least 4 times as <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZM_rfy7KjI/AAAAAAAAARw/QtDcjOWKXBU/s1600-h/nm1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 239px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZM_rfy7KjI/AAAAAAAAARw/QtDcjOWKXBU/s320/nm1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301651202847222322" border="0" /></a>many people there this year than had ever been there for NM Repeal's lobby day in past years. <br /><br />Murder Victims Families for Reconciliation (MVFR) released its new booklet, "Not in our Name - New Mexico" which was distributed to every legislator and which you may see for yourself at <a href="http://www.mvfr.org/?page_id=7">MVFR.org</a>.<br /><br />And <a href="http://witnesstoinnocence.org/">Witness to Innocence</a> was out in force with Executive Director Kurt Rosenberg, communications Director and exoneree Ray Krone, and also Juan Melendez and Randy Steidl.<br /><br />There was some good media coverage, but most reporters are working on a larger story that will run once the bills pass out of the House and then the Senate Judiciary. Once we get to the Senate floor, its much more real.</div> <div> </div> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZM_rTxWC_I/AAAAAAAAAR4/4b3mAZ6EgFQ/s1600-h/nm2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZM_rTxWC_I/AAAAAAAAAR4/4b3mAZ6EgFQ/s320/nm2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301651199619369970" border="0" /></a><br />The press conference lineup was as follows:</div><div> </div> <div> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >1.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Viki – welcome and introduce Representative Gail Chasey<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >2.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Representative Gail Chasey</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZNCe-_RO0I/AAAAAAAAASg/b7pjjgr5pIA/s1600-h/nm7.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZNCe-_RO0I/AAAAAAAAASg/b7pjjgr5pIA/s320/nm7.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301654286417083202" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >3.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Michelle Giger – MVFR member</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >4.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Juan Melendez – exoneree</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZM_rga_I6I/AAAAAAAAASI/BKuPXWmQ_is/s1600-h/nm4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZM_rga_I6I/AAAAAAAAASI/BKuPXWmQ_is/s320/nm4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301651203015254946" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >5.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Andrea Vigil – MVFR member</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >6.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Representative Moe Maestas</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >7.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Randy Steidl – exoneree</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >9.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Cathy Ansheles - MVFR</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >10.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Ray Krone – exoneree</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZM_rhUEHqI/AAAAAAAAASQ/9-ZA9yH8gwI/s1600-h/nm5.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZM_rhUEHqI/AAAAAAAAASQ/9-ZA9yH8gwI/s320/nm5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301651203254656674" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >11.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Allen Sanchez – Catholic Bishops</span></p> <p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style=""><span style=""><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >12.</span><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:7;" > </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;" >Viki wrap up</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">PHOTOS: After the 3 crowd shots, we have Ray Krone and Holly Beaumont of the New Mexico Council of Churches. Next is Alexandria (wearing a button!), an assistance dog belonging to Bree Songer, a member of MVFR whose brother Jeffrey Songer was murdered in 1983. Next are MVFR-NM members Michelle Giger, Andrea Vigil, and Cathy Ansheles. And finally, Kurt, Kim and Viki evaluate the<br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZNCe9upe1I/AAAAAAAAASY/6uAFhmMcspI/s1600-h/nm6.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZNCe9upe1I/AAAAAAAAASY/6uAFhmMcspI/s320/nm6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301654286078933842" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"> day.... Photos by Jane Davis and Abe Bonowitz.<br /></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZNCe9upe1I/AAAAAAAAASY/6uAFhmMcspI/s1600-h/nm6.jpg"><br /></a></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SZNCe9upe1I/AAAAAAAAASY/6uAFhmMcspI/s1600-h/nm6.jpg"><br /></a></p></div>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-55146587341163450842009-02-07T03:24:00.006-05:002009-02-13T12:08:10.780-05:00New Mexico One Step Closer to REPEAL!I took the following images with my phone on Friday, February 6 at the New Mexico State Capitol, which incidentally is a very cool building with a <a href="http://www.collectorsguide.com/sf/sffa10.shtml">fabulous display of all kinds of art - everywhere!</a> This was a meeting of the House Judiciary Committee, which ultimately passed the bill and sent it to the floor with an 8 to 5 vote. Monday is Lobby Day - <a href="http://www.nmrepeal.org/">visit the NM Repeal web site</a> for details!<br /><br /><br />The posted schedule...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SY1F0rwsxMI/AAAAAAAAAQw/gY2sH-8_cJ4/s1600-h/nm1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 234px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SY1F0rwsxMI/AAAAAAAAAQw/gY2sH-8_cJ4/s320/nm1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299969107887441090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Following testimony of the bill sponsor Gail Chasey and <a href="http://www.mvfr.org/wp-content/uploads/mvfr-nion-new-mex1.pdf">murder victim family member Michelle Geiger</a>, the chair asked for a show hands of those here in support of the bill. All but two DA's present raised their hands....</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SY1F0hl8bsI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/Yg9UwvWpWRM/s1600-h/nm2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SY1F0hl8bsI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/Yg9UwvWpWRM/s320/nm2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299969105157975746" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Head of the state League of Women Voters weighing in....</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SY1F1OJquJI/AAAAAAAAARA/BWlDOWd5N9Y/s1600-h/nm3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 236px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SY1F1OJquJI/AAAAAAAAARA/BWlDOWd5N9Y/s320/nm3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299969117118970002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">After extensive debate, the NM House Judiciary Committee just voted 8 to 5 to send the bill to abolish the death penalty to the house floor. Below photo is <a href="http://www.mvfr.org/">MVFR</a> member Michelle Giger immediately following the vote.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SY1F1KHn-XI/AAAAAAAAARI/qAnDn6mdv4g/s1600-h/nm4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SY1F1KHn-XI/AAAAAAAAARI/qAnDn6mdv4g/s320/nm4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299969116036659570" border="0" /></a>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-31283189447290305312008-11-11T15:49:00.002-05:002008-11-11T15:53:03.136-05:00On the new administration<p style="text-align: justify;">I’m sure I’m not the only one wondering what to expect from the next administration following what is expected from the Democratic electoral victory. Speaking strictly for me, and letting others speak to <a href="http://www.capitaldefenseweekly.com/?p=3839">what type of judges President-elect Obama will appoint</a>, here is what I think we’ll see.</p> <p style="text-align: left;">A criminal law fact sheet of campaign promises<a href="http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/Fact_Sheet_Civil_Rights_and_Criminal_Justice_FINAL.pdf"> is here</a>.</p> <p>A quick primer on Obama and the death penalty that appeared some time ago in the Washington Post. As David note here sometime ago, “<a href="http://deathpenaltyusa.blogspot.com/2007/02/barack-obama-and-death-penalty.html">in a nutshell</a>: He’s pro-death penalty but he is also pro-let’s not execute the wrong guy”</p> <div style="text-align: left;"> <blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><p>Five years later, Obama waded into a complex capital-punishment debate after a number of exonerations persuaded then-Gov. George Ryan (R) to empty death row.</p> <p>Obama wrote in his recent memoir that he thinks the death penalty “does little to deter crime.” But he supports capital punishment in cases “so heinous, so beyond the pale, that the community is justified in expressing the full measure of its outrage by meting out the ultimate punishment.”</p> <p>In proposing changes, Obama met repeatedly with officials and advocates on all sides. He nudged and cajoled colleagues fearful of being branded soft on crime, as well as death-penalty opponents worried that any reform would weaken efforts to abolish capital punishment.</p> <p>Obama’s signature effort was a push for mandatory taping of interrogations and confessions. It was opposed by prosecutors, police organizations and Ryan’s successor, Democrat Rod Blagojevich, who said it would impede investigators.</p> <p>Working under the belief that no innocent defendant should end up on death row an no guilty one should go free, Obama helped get the bill approved by the Senate on a 58 to 0 vote. When Blagojevich reversed his position and signed it, Illinois became the first state to require taping by statute.</p> <p>“Obviously, we didn’t agree all the time, but he would always take suggestions when they were logical, and he was willing to listen to our point of view. And he offered his opinions in a lawyerly way,” said Carl Hawkinson, the retired Republican chairman o the Judiciary Committee. “When he spoke on the floor of the Senate, he spoke out of conviction. You knew that, whether you agreed with him or disagreed with him.”</p></blockquote> </div> <p style="text-align: justify;">As to the narrow issue of this blog, following the elections the death penalty will likely continue to <a href="http://www.capitaldefenseweekly.com/?p=3727">wither on the vine</a>. Sen. Obama is a death penalty reformer, not an abolitionist. One of the rarely spoken accomplishments of Sen. Obama is his voice in reforming the death penalty and criminal justice system in Illinois. Invariably both would have been reformed without him in some shape and form, however, the scars of the fight to get the broad based reforms that ultimately passed he still bares.</p> <p style="text-align: justify;">As the campaign noted:</p> <blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;">As a member of the Illinois state senate, Barack Obama led efforts to reform a broken death penalty system that sent 13 innocent people to death row because it was filled with error, questionable police tactics, racial bias, and shoddy legal work. Obama drafted and passed a law requiring videotaping of interrogations and confessions in capital cases to ensure that prosecutions are fair. As president, Obama will encourage the states to adopt similar reforms.</p> </blockquote> <p style="text-align: justify;">For the federal death penalty what is clear is the Bush administration’s capital prosecution practices are coming to an end. The <a href="http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/changes-federal-death-penalty-statistics">last eight years</a> saw a marked decline in new state death sentences but the federal system saw a huge uptick in federal death sentences. The disparity will likely draw to a rapid close. Although many cases where death is now authorized may continue to go forward new authorizations will likely be fewer and farther between. Where capital prosecutions are sought anticipate the authorization process to be much more rigorous. Similarly, the campaign had stated early on that if elected they would seek to bring many of the Illinois style reforms to the rest of the nation, however what shape those will take remains to be seen.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">[adopted from a post at <a href="http://www.capitaldefenseweekly.com/blog/?p=3766">CDW</a>]<br /></p>karlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12691100235928826547noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-50230452276041281672008-10-07T09:02:00.002-04:002008-10-07T09:11:18.230-04:00More Montana HeadlinesOnce again, top of the front page....<br /><br />Montana Standard - <a href="http://www.mtstandard.com/articles/2008/10/05/area/hjjbijjejjhdih.txt">Death Penalty Opponents Speak from Experiences</a>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-73502891344336939232008-10-07T08:42:00.002-04:002008-10-07T09:01:57.510-04:00MT Journey Touching Hearts and MindsThe Montana Journey continues to touch hearts and minds throughout the state. On Sunday evening I moderated an event at the University of Montana - Western featuring Murder Victim Family Members Eve Malo and Bill Pelke, and Leslie Lytle, author of the new book, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Executions-Doorstep-Stories-Innocent-Damned/dp/1555536786">Execution's Doorstep</a>." Here are a few photos....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SOtdhurdBUI/AAAAAAAAANM/jFoXPeWr50A/s1600-h/journeyeve.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SOtdhurdBUI/AAAAAAAAANM/jFoXPeWr50A/s400/journeyeve.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254396224305169730" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SOtdh24yooI/AAAAAAAAANU/hOxWvpDZVrM/s1600-h/journeyleslie.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SOtdh24yooI/AAAAAAAAANU/hOxWvpDZVrM/s400/journeyleslie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254396226508595842" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SOtdh9-nNMI/AAAAAAAAANc/jgELHouIIZ0/s1600-h/journeybill.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SOtdh9-nNMI/AAAAAAAAANc/jgELHouIIZ0/s400/journeybill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254396228412060866" border="0" /></a>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-37881837211010518982008-10-03T17:19:00.004-04:002008-10-03T18:09:05.945-04:00Montana Journey - Top of the Fold!The <a href="http://www.mtabolitionco.org/">Montana Abolition Coalition</a> is hosting the Montana Journey of Hope ...From Violence to Healing, starting yesterday with an event at Carroll College in Helena. Today we got up and drove to Bozeman for encounters with students at Montana State University, and we were welcomed by a top of the front page (above the vp debate coverage!) article in the <a href="http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2008/10/03/news/000death.txt">Bozeman Daily Chronicle featuring Journey co-founder Marietta Jaeger Lane</a> and David Kaczynski, brother of Ted Kaczynski, AKA the Unabomber, who was apprehended in Montana.<br /><br />I'll post more on this blog when I can, but check the <a href="http://www.thejourneyofhope.blogspot.com/">Journey of Hope blog</a>, and while I am at it, I'll also plug the brand spankin' new web page of <a href="http://www.mvfr.org/">Murder Victim's Families for Reconciliation</a>.<br /><span style=""><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><br /></st1:place></st1:city></span>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-50101883201823348752008-08-27T19:07:00.006-04:002008-08-27T19:56:15.497-04:00Rachel King: Thank You, and rest in peace....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SLXhWQecGeI/AAAAAAAAAL8/4X7z5YNmjJs/s1600-h/king-peru150.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SLXhWQecGeI/AAAAAAAAAL8/4X7z5YNmjJs/s200/king-peru150.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239341514011449826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Rachel King:<span style=""> </span>1963 - 2008</span></div> </div><p style="text-align: left;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It is with sadness that we report the passing of our friend and colleague, Rachel King, on August 25, 2008 after a long and valiant struggle with cancer.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><span style="font-size:100%;">Rachel was first a daughter, friend, wife and step-mother, but her personal and professional lives merged in her advocacy and efforts to make our world a better place.<span style=""> </span>She did so in volunteer and staff capacities with various organizations, including Alaskans Against the Death Penalty, the ACLU Capital Punishment Project and the</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, where she served on the board of directors and as its chairperson.<span style=""> </span>Rachel is the <a href="http://www.rachelkingbooks.com/">author of three books</a>, two of which explore capital punishment from the perspective of the families who suffer the most as a result of the death penalty system.</span><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Read more about Rachel’s history of successful advocacy <a href="http://mvfhr.blogspot.com/2008/08/in-memoriam-rachel-king.html">here</a> and <a href="http://blog.aclu.org/2008/08/27/in-memory-of-rachel-king-july-2-1963-august-25-2008/">here</a>.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Rachel passed away in <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Wayne</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">Maine</st1:state></st1:place>, where she was raised and later she and her husband, Richard McAlee, built a home together. Her last moments were spent surrounded by family and friends. Those who wish may reach the family by email through her step-daughter Lauren at<span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="mailto:lmcalee@gmail.com" target="_blank">lmcalee@gmail.com</a></span><span style="font-size:100%;">, or by mail through her mother Jill Howes at <st1:address st="on"><st1:street st="on">282 Narrows Pond Rd.</st1:street>, <st1:city st="on">Winthrop</st1:city>, <st1:state st="on">ME</st1:state> <st1:postalcode st="on">04364</st1:postalcode></st1:address>. <span style=""> </span>Rachel’s family asks those wishing to send a memorial to <a href="https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/206/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=12">send donations to the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty</a> in lieu of flowers.</span></p>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7187822.post-15076381197884311922008-08-10T10:42:00.002-04:002008-08-10T10:43:16.253-04:00NCADP's 1st Annual Death Penalty Abolitionist Leadership Institute<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SJ7-c-Aj_UI/AAAAAAAAALk/sE9Ot3XO7ZA/s1600-h/altigroup1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_uPlhz0RgJgc/SJ7-c-Aj_UI/AAAAAAAAALk/sE9Ot3XO7ZA/s400/altigroup1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232899590686244162" border="0" /></a>abe@abolition.orghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17673303302445527734noreply@blogger.com0