National Death Penalty Developments June 2, 2005 From:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Friends, This is from the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty concerning recent developments effecting abolition work. T J Geiger-NCADP Board of Director, TCADP Board of Directors NCADP Death Penalty Update - June 2005 Issue
NEWS Unprecedented Ohio study finds disparities with death penalty An in-depth, investigative report in Ohio has found that capital punishment there has been applied in an uneven, discriminatory and often arbitrary fashion. The Associated Press examined 1,936 indictments reported to the Ohio Supreme Court by Ohio counties with capital cases from October 1981 through 2002. The comprehensive review by the Associated Press study found: " Capital punishment is applied unequally in Ohio, with race-of-victim, geography, and plea-bargains affecting death sentencing. " Capital cases are expensive and are squeezing budgets in smaller counties; and " Disparities exist in the resolution of death penalty cases in Ohio, when three-judge panels spare the life of only one of two defendants convicted of strikingly similar crimes. To read more about the study's findings, go here: http://www.otse.org/THE%20DIFFERENCE%20BETWEEN%20LIFE%20AND%20DEATH.pdf To see the reaction of NCADP's affiliate, Ohioans to Stop Executions, go here and click on "OTSE Press release:" http://www.quixote.org/ej/ Texas passes life without parole legislation The Texas Legislature has approved legislation offering jurors the option of life in prison without parole. The legislation, which now goes to Gov. Rick Perry for his approval or veto, also includes a provision to abolish the juvenile death penalty. To read more about Texas' life without parole bill, please visit Steve Hall's blog here: http://www.standdown.org/blog/index.php?p=35 At the same time, however, Texas legislators again failed to pass legislation to bring the state into compliance with the 2002 ruling in Atkins v. Virginia. That ruling outlawed the execution of people with severe mental retardation. The Legislature's inaction means that courts will continue to decide how the Atkins ruling should be applied to death penalty cases and pending executions in Texas. In addition, legislators failed, once again, to provide adequate resources for defendants facing capital murder charges. To read more about these issues, go here: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/053105 dntexdeathpenalty.fd5b072e.html North Carolina legislative committee approves moratorium North Carolina's House Judiciary Committee has approved a two-year moratorium on executions. The measure now goes to the full House for its consideration. A vote is expected in mid-June. Congratulations to North Carolina-based People of Faith Against the Death Penalty! NCADP ACTION CENTER As of this writing, four executions are scheduled in the month of June. Go here to protest these executions: http://www.ncadp.org/execution_alerts.html JOIN NCADP AND TELL A FRIEND! NCADP depends on supporters like you to lead the fight for abolition. We've had some tremendous victories lately - abolition of the juvenile death penalty, defeating a abolition of the death penalty in New York and legislative advances in states as diverse as Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina and Connecticut. But it takes money to sustain a movement! Won't you pitch in? If you believe that the death penalty violates the most basic principle of human rights, AND you believe we can win this struggle, please consider an online gift! https://secure.democracyinaction.org/dia/shop/ncadp/custom.jsp SUPREME COURT WATCH The U.S. Supreme Court on May 31 announced it will review the constitutionality of Kansas' death penalty statute. Oral arguments are expected in November or December, with a ruling expected in 2006. To read more about this issue, go here: http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-scotus/2005/may/31/053103895.html The next day for Supreme Court opinions to be released is Monday, June 6. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on four death penalty cases out of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas. To see descriptions of the pending cases, go here: http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/article.php?did=248&scid=38#0405pend RESOURCES Billy Neal Moore, who spent 16 years on death row, came within days of execution, and was subsequently freed due to exemplary behavior, has written I Shall Not Die: Seventy-two hours on Death Watch. Only 22 years old when he committed murder, Moore confessed and was sentenced to death. While in prison, a minister baptized him, and he was so overcome with remorse for the murder that he wrote a letter to the victim's family. They were so moved by his sorrow that they forgave him. In turn, Moore vowed to transform the lives of anyone he could by showing them what Christ had done for him. He studiously pored over the Bible and began writing religious articles for the outside world. Soon he was writing about 300 letters a week to lost souls around the country, from fellow inmates to teens in crisis. As his death date edged closer, Moore lost a series of three appeals. His fate seemed to be sealed until the victim's family vehemently opposed his execution, and a last-minute request by Mother Theresa helped grant him a life sentence. Because of exceptional behavior, Moore was released a year later. His breathtaking and awe-inspiring ordeal not only speaks of the power of forgiveness and compassion, but also of people's ability to stare evil in the face and fight for goodness. It is proof that each human being is capable of redemption. I Shall Not Die adds a compelling case study to the raging controversy over the death penalty, the judicial system and punitive culture that exist in America. To read more or to purchase the book, go here: http://www.Ishallnotdie.com SAVE THE DATES! It's that time of year again - time for the Fast and Vigil Against the Death Penalty! The fast and vigil will take place June 29-July 2 on the sidewalk in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. Go here for more information: _www.abolition.org_ (javascript:ol('http://www.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=17924320&url_num=1&url=http://www.abolition.org');) Meanwhile, planning continues for NCADP 2005: Turning Wins into Winning, NCADP's annual conference. The conference will be in Austin, Texas Oct. 27-30. This year's conference will emphasize grassroots mobilization and training like never before! Please keep an eye on our web site at www.ncadp.org for details as they emerge. The conference will be at the Hyatt Regency on Town Lake. For reservations, call 512-477-1234. Tell them you're with NCADP to get the special conference rate! FEATURED EVENTS Have an anti-death penalty event you'd like to publicize? Or do you just want to find out what's going on in the abolition movement? Visit here: http://www.cuadp.org/upevents.html ====================================================== ActionLA Action for World Liberation Everyday! Tel: (213)403-0131 URL: http://www.ActionLA.org e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please Donate to ActionLA! Send check pay to: ActionLA/SEE 1013 Mission St. #6 South Pasadena CA 91030 (All donations are tax deductible) Please join our ActionLA Listserv go to: http://lists.riseup.net/www/subscribe/actionla or send e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- LAAMN: Los Angeles Alternative Media Network --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Unsubscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Digest: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Help: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Post: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive1: <http://www.egroups.com/messages/laamn> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archive2: <http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]> --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/laamn/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
