Post by sclcookie on May 17, 2006 3:30:26 GMT -5
Sent to All Abolitionists
Please excuse cross-posts
Please Forward
Greetings All,
Below find the latest updates of speakers and sponsors of the 13th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty. These updates will soon be reflected at www.abolition.org
BUT FIRST, good news and bad news...
First the good news. In the past few weeks, no fewer than four different states had executions stayed pending the SCOTUS decision in the Hill case, which once procedural issues are dealt with *may* present a real challenge to lethal injection as a means of execution. The Tennesee stay was overturned by a higher court, but Sedley Alley won a reprieve this evening from the TN Governor just eight hours before he was scheduled to be killed. One of those stays was in Texas. We are looking at a very real, if only temporary, slowdown in exterminations.
Now the bad news, which may eventually be good news, but for now it is a disappointment that the legislature in Wisconsin this evening approved a non-binding referendum on the state-wide ballot in November. It's a ploy to draw out conservative voters to try to win statewide offices, and it is a distraction that we all must respond to. Here's the announcement from the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty:
From: "David Elliot" <delliot@ncadp.org>
Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 18:33:01 -0400
Subject: Final Wisconsin vote
Colleagues:
Please excuse cross-posts.
After a quickly assembled, hard-fought campaign, we lost the Wisconsin Senate vote 18 to 15. We managed to flip two Republican senators from the earlier 20 to 13 vote, but in a highly charged partisan environment we simply could not find the other two votes we needed. A nonbinding referendum on the death penalty will now appear on Wisconsin's November election ballot.
So many people came together to help out. ACLU of Wisconsin, national ACLU, and ACLU of Northern California all came together. So did Amnesty International USA, Equal Justice USA and dozens of allies on the ground in Wisconsin. Both Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation and Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights provided tangible, on-the-ground assistance. NCADP state affiliates from as far away as California, New Jersey and Oklahoma offered help with phone banking. Earl Bender and Lori Baux, serving as NCADP consultants, helped lead the charge (and now, finally, Earl gets to come home!)
Although there is no denying that this vote was a disappointment, the news is not all bad. The outcome of the November ballot notwithstanding, we believe Wisconsin will remain death penalty free when legislators convene in 2007.
Thanks to all who joined this effort.
David Elliot
NCADP Communications
******************
AND NOW, the FAST & VIGIL UPDATE
UPDATING & INVITING YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN
The ABOLITIONIST ACTION COMMITTEE'S
STARVIN ' FOR JUSTICE 2006
13th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the U.S. Supreme Court
June 29 - July 2, 2006
Read the who, what, when, where, why and how of this important annual abolitionist event by visiting www.abolition.org
CONTENTS
Housing
New Speakers
New Sponsors
30th Anniversary of Gregg Resource Guide
HOUSING
We're scrambling, because the low cost activist housing we have used for years is suddenly unavailable to us due to unanticipated renovations. We are looking at a number of housing options, including home hospitality. If YOU are an abolitionist in the DC area and would welcome a few Fast & Vigil participants into your home, please e-mail <aac@abolition.org>. Thanks!
DON'T LET THIS DISSUADE YOU FROM COMING - WE WILL HAVE LOW COST HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.
***
NEWLY CONFIRMED SPEAKERS!
Joining the speakers list for our series of evening teach-ins are murder victim family member/family member of the executed CHRISTINA LAWSON, coordinator of "Victims of Texas: Supporting the Forgotten Survivors" and New Mexico death row survivor RON KEINE! See the (still in development) list of confirmed evening speakers at www.abolition.org/starvin13.html
***
NEW SPONSORS!
See the full list of F&V Co-Sponsors to-date (May 16) and get co-sponsorship information at www.abolition.org/starvin13.sponsors06.html
Since the last update the following groups and individuals have become co-sponsors of the 13th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty:
Catholics Against Capital Punishment
Lifespark (A swedish death row support group)
Maryland Citizens Against State Executions
Pax Christi USA
Amy Jo Smith
Unitarian Universalists for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
***
30TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREGG RESOURCE GUIDE!
Stand by for the announcement that the 30th Anniversary of the Gregg Decision Resource Guide is ready. Coordinated by Amnesty International USA, this guide collects input from DPIC, CEDP, EJUSA, CUADP, the AAC, AIUSA and others to create all the info and tools you need to take action around this important anniversary.....
*************
The Fast & Vigil takes place on the sidewalk in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, considered by many to be the heart of the legalized killing machines in this country. In addition to the strong public witness, this is an excellent opportunity to meet other abolitionists and to "recharge your batteries" while engaging in public outreach and maintaining a physical presence at the Court. ***FASTING IS OPTIONAL***
BOTTOM LINE, this is a great experience and training ground for people who want to learn more about this issue and to become very adept at talking about the dp.
Prisoners, activists from other countries, and abolitionists who are unable to come to Washington, D.C. have fasted or held events in solidarity with the action at the Court. This tradition continues to grow as well - those who participate in solidarity are asked to communicate details of their actions and contact information to the Fast & Vigil organizers. E-mail aac@abolition.org or write to the address below.
TO BECOME A CO-SPONSOR, please visit: www.abolition.org/starvin13.sponsors06.html
The Abolitionist Actionn Committee (AAC) is an ad-hoc group of individuals committed to highly visible and effective public education for alternatives to the death penalty through non-violent direct action.
Learn more at www.abolition.org/starvin13.html or by calling 800-973-6548
************
SENT BY:
The Abolitionist Action Committee
www.abolition.org
800-973-6548
Please excuse cross-posts
Please Forward
Greetings All,
Below find the latest updates of speakers and sponsors of the 13th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty. These updates will soon be reflected at www.abolition.org
BUT FIRST, good news and bad news...
First the good news. In the past few weeks, no fewer than four different states had executions stayed pending the SCOTUS decision in the Hill case, which once procedural issues are dealt with *may* present a real challenge to lethal injection as a means of execution. The Tennesee stay was overturned by a higher court, but Sedley Alley won a reprieve this evening from the TN Governor just eight hours before he was scheduled to be killed. One of those stays was in Texas. We are looking at a very real, if only temporary, slowdown in exterminations.
Now the bad news, which may eventually be good news, but for now it is a disappointment that the legislature in Wisconsin this evening approved a non-binding referendum on the state-wide ballot in November. It's a ploy to draw out conservative voters to try to win statewide offices, and it is a distraction that we all must respond to. Here's the announcement from the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty:
From: "David Elliot" <delliot@ncadp.org>
Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 18:33:01 -0400
Subject: Final Wisconsin vote
Colleagues:
Please excuse cross-posts.
After a quickly assembled, hard-fought campaign, we lost the Wisconsin Senate vote 18 to 15. We managed to flip two Republican senators from the earlier 20 to 13 vote, but in a highly charged partisan environment we simply could not find the other two votes we needed. A nonbinding referendum on the death penalty will now appear on Wisconsin's November election ballot.
So many people came together to help out. ACLU of Wisconsin, national ACLU, and ACLU of Northern California all came together. So did Amnesty International USA, Equal Justice USA and dozens of allies on the ground in Wisconsin. Both Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation and Murder Victims' Families for Human Rights provided tangible, on-the-ground assistance. NCADP state affiliates from as far away as California, New Jersey and Oklahoma offered help with phone banking. Earl Bender and Lori Baux, serving as NCADP consultants, helped lead the charge (and now, finally, Earl gets to come home!)
Although there is no denying that this vote was a disappointment, the news is not all bad. The outcome of the November ballot notwithstanding, we believe Wisconsin will remain death penalty free when legislators convene in 2007.
Thanks to all who joined this effort.
David Elliot
NCADP Communications
******************
AND NOW, the FAST & VIGIL UPDATE
UPDATING & INVITING YOU TO PARTICIPATE IN
The ABOLITIONIST ACTION COMMITTEE'S
STARVIN ' FOR JUSTICE 2006
13th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty at the U.S. Supreme Court
June 29 - July 2, 2006
Read the who, what, when, where, why and how of this important annual abolitionist event by visiting www.abolition.org
CONTENTS
Housing
New Speakers
New Sponsors
30th Anniversary of Gregg Resource Guide
HOUSING
We're scrambling, because the low cost activist housing we have used for years is suddenly unavailable to us due to unanticipated renovations. We are looking at a number of housing options, including home hospitality. If YOU are an abolitionist in the DC area and would welcome a few Fast & Vigil participants into your home, please e-mail <aac@abolition.org>. Thanks!
DON'T LET THIS DISSUADE YOU FROM COMING - WE WILL HAVE LOW COST HOUSING FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.
***
NEWLY CONFIRMED SPEAKERS!
Joining the speakers list for our series of evening teach-ins are murder victim family member/family member of the executed CHRISTINA LAWSON, coordinator of "Victims of Texas: Supporting the Forgotten Survivors" and New Mexico death row survivor RON KEINE! See the (still in development) list of confirmed evening speakers at www.abolition.org/starvin13.html
***
NEW SPONSORS!
See the full list of F&V Co-Sponsors to-date (May 16) and get co-sponsorship information at www.abolition.org/starvin13.sponsors06.html
Since the last update the following groups and individuals have become co-sponsors of the 13th Annual Fast & Vigil to Abolish the Death Penalty:
Catholics Against Capital Punishment
Lifespark (A swedish death row support group)
Maryland Citizens Against State Executions
Pax Christi USA
Amy Jo Smith
Unitarian Universalists for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
***
30TH ANNIVERSARY OF GREGG RESOURCE GUIDE!
Stand by for the announcement that the 30th Anniversary of the Gregg Decision Resource Guide is ready. Coordinated by Amnesty International USA, this guide collects input from DPIC, CEDP, EJUSA, CUADP, the AAC, AIUSA and others to create all the info and tools you need to take action around this important anniversary.....
*************
The Fast & Vigil takes place on the sidewalk in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, considered by many to be the heart of the legalized killing machines in this country. In addition to the strong public witness, this is an excellent opportunity to meet other abolitionists and to "recharge your batteries" while engaging in public outreach and maintaining a physical presence at the Court. ***FASTING IS OPTIONAL***
BOTTOM LINE, this is a great experience and training ground for people who want to learn more about this issue and to become very adept at talking about the dp.
Prisoners, activists from other countries, and abolitionists who are unable to come to Washington, D.C. have fasted or held events in solidarity with the action at the Court. This tradition continues to grow as well - those who participate in solidarity are asked to communicate details of their actions and contact information to the Fast & Vigil organizers. E-mail aac@abolition.org or write to the address below.
TO BECOME A CO-SPONSOR, please visit: www.abolition.org/starvin13.sponsors06.html
The Abolitionist Actionn Committee (AAC) is an ad-hoc group of individuals committed to highly visible and effective public education for alternatives to the death penalty through non-violent direct action.
Learn more at www.abolition.org/starvin13.html or by calling 800-973-6548
************
SENT BY:
The Abolitionist Action Committee
www.abolition.org
800-973-6548