CAMPAIGN TO END THE DEATH PENALTY Update

CAMPAIGN TO END THE DEATH PENALTY CIRCULAR
Campaign chapters, please distribute to all members and post on local
Campaign list serves.

CONTENTS:

-- New York Remains a Death Penalty-Free Zone
-- Darby Tillis Performs in New York
-- Stop Stalling! Release the Chicago Police Torture Report
-- Setback in the Rodney Reed Case--But We Will Keep Fighting
-- Show the Documentary "Reed vs. State"
-- July 2 Event in Washington, D.C.
-- Socialism 2006 Conference Report
-- Lethal Injection Ruling: Putting Many Executions on Hold
-- California Lethal Injection Petition
-- Expanded Board Retreat
-- Summertime Fundraising
-- Death Row Art on Postcards for Sale
-- New Abolitionist Deadline
-- Save the Date! CEDP Convention on November 11-12

NEW YORK REMAINS A DEATH PENALTY FREE ZONE

By a vote of 13-5, members of the New York Assembly's Code Committee
recently voted down a bill to reinstate the death penalty in New York!

DARBY TILLIS PERFORMS IN NEW YORK

The New York Hunter chapter of the CEDP featured Darby Tillis in his one-man
play-musical "Death Row Blues." Other chapters or organizations that might
be interested in hosting this event should contact Julien at
julien [at] nodeathpenalty.org or call the CEDP office at 773-235-0778.

Here is a report from NY CEDPer Ben Davis:
Ever since he became one of the first exonerated death row prisoners,
Darby Tillis has been telling the story of his courageous fight and
crusading against the criminal injustice system. Now, he has a new tool in
his battle: song.
On July 1, 2006, the Hunter College chapter of the Campaign to End the
Death Penalty in New York hosted Tillis' musical "Death Row Blues," to a
rapt audience. The Campaign at Hunter worked a month in advance to promote
the event as a way to raise the profile of the branch in New York,
advertising tickets as $15 at the door and $10 in advance, and bringing in
some 30 activists and community members for the special performance.
Tillis' hour-long activist musical is designed to travel to churches,
community centers and theaters alike. At Hunter, he performed on a stage set
up in the Campaign's club room, transforming it through stage lights into a
facsimile of the prison cell where he spent eight years of his life. Dressed
in an orange jumpsuit and with only a narrow bed for prop, Tillis stalked
the stage, alternating heart-rending monologues with blues and gospel-tinged
songs. His words gave account of the crushing experience of a death row
inmate, coming to terms with being railroaded by racist courts, facing the
prospect of his own murder by the state, and finding religion behind bars.
At each step of the way, Tillis brought the audience into his struggle using
his music, with the expert support of guitarist Davy DeLaFuente, and his own
deft blues harmonica.
Hearing the audience clap along with the music was enough to prove that
Tillis has found a powerful weapon to bring people together for a collective
fight, using creativity to push against the dehumanization of all prisoners.
A question-and-answer session after the show brought a spirited
discussion of different strategies in the anti-death-penalty movement, from
members of the Campaign, the New York Green Party and young activists not
yet involved in the struggle, serving as a way to promote an upcoming CEDP
organizing meeting in Harlem--and giving people inspiration for the fight
ahead.
At one point, Tillis was asked whether he was afraid that the government
would try to silence him: "They can kill me," he replied, "but they'll never
silence me."

STOP STALLING! RELEASE THE CHICAGO POLICE TORTURE REPORT

The CEDP chapter members in Chicago recently held yet another fiesty picket
outside the Cook County Courthouse and later went inside to pack the
courtroom and hear whether or not the four-year investigative report on
police torture would be made public.
The judge said nothing is now barring the report from coming out. But Edward
Egan, the special prosecutor who conducted the investigation and wrote the
report, said it "won't be ready" for another couple weeks.
Members of the CEDP have been busy organizing in anticipation of the
report's release. For example, a CEDP forum at DePaul University on July 11
drew 70 people. Titled "Tortured by Chicago's Finest," it featured radio
talk show host Cliff Kelly, a call-in from Death Row Ten torture victim
Victor Safford, attorney Lawrence Kennon, mother of torture victim Caroline
Johnson, and CEDP member Greta Holmes.
The room was filled to capacity with family members, activists and newer
people coming to check out the issue for the first time. The sprit was that
we need to keep up the pressure and be quick to react with action when the
report is finally released.

SETBACK IN THE RODNEY REED CASE -- BUT WE WILL KEEP FIGHTING

Here is a report from Jonathan Hunter of the Austin chapter:
As many of you are likely aware, state District Judge Reva Towslee
Corbett, the daughter of the judge who presided over the trial that sent
Rodney Reed to death row, has recommended that the Texas Court of Appeals
not grant Rodney a new trial. The case will now go before the Texas Court of
Appeals, which can agree or disagree with Corbett's decision and determine
if Rodney deserves a new trial.
While this was not a surprise to any of us who attended the hearing, as
Corbett had a clear pro-prosecution bias, it is nonetheless a sad and
frustrating setback. However, the fight to save Rodney's life is by no means
over. This unjust decision demands that we move quickly to mobilize and act.

Jonathan also wrote this note about a screening of the documentary about
Rodney Reed's case held in Austin July 11:
The screening went very well. We had, I think, about 30 people there.
We've planned a press conference and demonstration for Saturday, July 29,
for Rodney. We're trying to get the whole city out!!

SHOW THE DOCUMENTARY "REED VS. STATE"

As suggested in the last circular, all chapters should consider showing
"State vs. Reed," a documentary about Rodney's case on DVD. This short film,
which won the South by Southwest film festival 2006 jury award, gives a
great overview of Rodney's case. Using the film and coupling it with the
most recent issue of New Abolitionist (issue #39), which includes a story
about Rodney's case and an interview with Rodney's mother, Sandra, would
make for a great meeting.
Rodney's case yet again goes to the heart of what is wrong with the
death penalty. And as Frank Bustoz, one of the filmmakers said, "If we don't
ruffle feathers, they're not going to admit fault." We cannot let the recent
court setback dampen our determination to win justice for Rodney.
The filmmakers have generously given us several copies of the DVD to
show in our chapters. If your chapter still does not have a copy, please
contact at marlene [at] nodeathpenalty.org to obtain one.
Write to Rodney directly at: Rodney Reed #999271, 3872 FM 350, South
Livingston, TX 77351.
Show the DVD, get petitions signed, spread the word.

JULY 2 EVENT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Mike Stark from the CEDP in D.C.-Maryland reports:
Abolitionists from across the country gathered in front of the U.S.
Supreme Court to mark the 30th anniversary of the infamous Gregg v. Georgia
decision that reinstated the use of the death penalty in the United States.
The event was titled "Starving for Justice 2006" and marked the 13th year in
a row that abolitionists have fasted, vigiled and protested outside the
Supreme Court in the lead up to the July 2 anniversary to demonstrate
opposition to the death penalty.
This year brought together an impressive lineup of exonerated death row
prisoners, murder victim's families, many prominent anti-death penalty
activists and national anti-death penalty organizations, including Citizens
United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP), the Journey of Hope,
Amnesty International, Campaign to End the Death Penalty (CEDP), Witness for
Innocence, the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP), and
others. Among the exonerated were Gary Beeman, Darby Tillis, Shujaa Graham,
Ron Keine, Ray Krone, Larry Peterson and George White.
The four-day fast and vigil event lasted from June 29 and ended on
midnight on July 2. The four days witnessed dozens of abolitionists bearing
witness to the barbarism of the death penalty, but also featured a Friday
press conference, nightly teach-ins and a Sunday rally that drew near 100
people. Finally, the event was capped off with a wedding ceremony of
abolitionists Abe Bonowitz and Elizabeth Wood.
Highlights included moving presentations by Christina Lawson and George
White, who have each lived on both sides of the death penalty debate, both
as family members of victims and as the spouse of one sentenced to death and
as a one wrongfully sentenced for murder respectively.
In addition, CEDP members and exonerated prisoners Darby Tillis and
Shujaa Graham told their remarkable stories as men who endured death row but
who have since dedicated their lives to the abolition of the death penalty.
Also, CEDP D.C. chapter members attended events throughout the weekend.
This remarkable and moving event suffered only one draw back--not enough
people were there to experience its power. But since a dedicated core of
abolitionists that have been putting this together for 13 years--we have 12
months to help make next year's such a success that it will be one of the
last.

SOCIALISM 2006 CONFERENCE REPORT

The four-day Socialism 2006 conference, sponsored by the Center for Economic
Research and Social Change, was held in New York City at the end of June. In
attendance were a wide range of activists from a myriad of struggles,
including immigrant rights, antiwar, environmentalists, anti-death penalty
and many other social justice activists.
CEDPers attended from New York, Chicago, Texas and the Maryland-D.C.
area. Over the span of four days, we went to a variety of meetings that
discussed both historical and theoretical issues as well as questions
activists face in building current struggles. I think I can speak for all of
us who attended that the four days were filled with interesting debates and
discussions, with an enthusiasm in building "our fight" for social justice.
The CEDP held two important panel events at the conference. One on
"George Jackson and the Attica Rebellion" featured Shujaa Graham, Phyllis
Prentice and Alice Kim. Another panel discussion entitled "Race, Class and
the Criminal Injustice System" was chaired by Greta Holmes and featured
Darby Tillis, Madison Hobley, Yusef Salaam, Lawrence Hayes and Shujaa
Graham. Both panels were incredibly moving and shed light on the real
workings of our criminal justice system.
At the end of the discussion in the criminal justice panel meeting, an
African American college-aged man stood up to thank the speakers for their
courage to speak out and for taking a stand against injustice. He then
explained that he had been afraid to speak out himself, but having heard the
speakers said he wanted to change that.
Shujaa was also part of a Saturday evening rally attended by more than
1,000 people. He spoke of the need to be committed to the fight for social
justice. Alongside Shujaa was Nativo Lopez from the immigrants rights
struggle; Lynne Stewart, a well-known criminal defense lawyer who is facing
persecution by the federal government; and Ahmed Shawki, editor of the
International Socialist Review.
Throughout the weekend, we held a CEDP table and sold quite a few of our
new CEDP fundraising "postcards" (see below), as well as books and copies of
our newsletter.

LETHAL INJECTION RULING: PUTTING MANY EXECUTIONS ON HOLD

The U.S. Supreme Court voted unanimously to grant death row prisoners a last
appeal, after all others are exhausted, allowing them to appeal their
execution method (lethal injection) as cruel and unusual. In many states,
this has put the death penalty on hold.
Few states are rushing to put together any new procedures to "fix" the
current lethal injection protocol--except for Ohio, which said it would look
into changing its lethal injection methods after a botched execution in May.
Joe Clark was being put to death by lethal injection, and after the death
drugs were running through his veins, he sat up and said, "It don't work."
In the midst of the fight around lethal injection, we must remember to
point out that even if they devise some method that is painless to kill a
human being, they will NEVER devise a method that is RACE-less or
CLASS-less. Thirty years ago, when the death penalty was reinstated in this
country, we were told that its problems were fixed. Instead, the 30 years
since show that the death penalty is even more discriminatory and is almost
exclusively carried out against the poor.
We shouldn't waste our time figuring out a painless way to kill someone
but get rid of the capital punishment altogether.

CALIFORNIA LETHAL INJECTION PETITION

The Bay Area CEDPers have come up with a petition to circulate to California
health care professional to take a stand against participating in the
machinery of death. Federal judges in California and Arkansas have scheduled
evidence hearings over the issue, so California is reaching out to doctors,
nurses and other health care professionals to sign on to this petition. It
is attached to this circular.

EXPANDED BOARD RETREAT

The CEDP board discussed and decided to hold an expanded board retreat in
Chicago on the weekend of July 22-23. Attending will be members of the CEDP
board and guests--including Barbara Becnel from California, Randi Jones from
Texas, Devin O'Leary from California, Billy Moore from Georgia, and Liliana
Segura from New York, all of whom have played important roles in leading the
work of the CEDP nationally.
We aim to discuss a range of challenging questions facing abolitionists
today. We also consider the challenges we face building a grassroots fight
back, how to better involve family members and prisoners in our work, and
how to build allies in the struggle. We will also discuss questions facing
our organization--how can be most effective, how can we grow our group and
our influence.
We're able to fund this retreat through the Ford Foundation Leadership
for a Changing World award, a two-year grant awarded to the CEDP in 2004.

SUMMERTIME FUNDRAISING

>From Alice Kim:
The summer is a great time to fundraise. Start planning now to raise
funds to pay chapter dues AND travel to Chicago to come to our annual
convention in November. Don't wait until the fall when things will get busy
very quickly. Organize a yard sale, a backyard BBQ or a house party. In
Chicago, four teachers are co-hosting a house party, an informal gathering
for co-workers, friends and family to learn more about the CEDP. At the
house party, former death row prisoner, Madison Hobley, will say a few words
to guests about his experience on death row and his work with the CEDP. So
far, a mix of teachers, CEDP members and friends have RSVP'd. Be
creative--think of fun ways that you can raise money--and make sure to take
advantage of the summer to do some fundraising!

DEATH ROW ART ON POSTCARDS FOR SALE

Thanks to Illinois prisoner Renaldo Hudson, who spent many years on death
row before his sentence was commuted to life in prison, and California death
row prisoner Kevin Cooper, the CEDP has postcards for sale displaying
beautiful images of their artwork. We are selling sets of 9 postcards for $6
or a $10 solidarity rate. We will soon have the images available on our
website along with an order form. If your chapter would like to help sell
postcards, e-mail Alice at akim007 [at] speakeasy.net for more information.

NEW ABOLITIONIST DEADLINE

The deadline for submissions to the next issue of the New Abolitionist is
August 20. Unfortunately, this issue is already tight on space due to the
fact that we highlighting our upcoming convention. But if you have something
you are interested in writing, let me know. For the rest of you who are
writing chapter reports or have a story assignment, be sure to mark done the
deadline: August 20th.

SAVE THE DATE! CEDP CONVENTION ON NOVEMBER 11-12

Be sure to make plans to attend our sixth annual Campaign to End the Death
Penalty convention in Chicago. This year's convention theme is "Thirty Years
is Enough: End the Death Penalty!" Exonerated, family members and activists,
including Barbara Becnel as our keynote speaker, will be attending. Please
consider coming--we welcome new and seasoned activists!
For more information about the convention and how to register, contact
CEDP office administrator Julien Ball at Julien [at] nodeathpenalty.org or call
773-955-4841.