Action Alert: Impending California Execution

Impending California Execution Jan. 29
ACTION ALERT - IMPENDING CALIFORNIA EXECUTION - JANUARY 29, 2002

BACKGROUND

Stephen Wayne Anderson, 48, is scheduled to be executed at San Quentin State Prison on January 29, 2002 at 12:01am for the 1980 murder of Elizabeth Lyman. Anderson is one of 606 people on California's death row.

The work of Anderson's court-appointed trial lawyer, Don Ames, was previously ruled so deficient that two other men he represented who were sent to death row had their sentences voided by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.

On December 21, 2001, the 9th Circuit denied Anderson's request for a rehearing of his appeal, with a dissent from six of the judges in which they said, "… [Anderson's] death sentence may well have been imposed, not because of the crime that he committed, but because of the incompetence of an attorney with little integrity and a pattern of ineffective performance in capital cases."

There is also strong evidence of police misconduct, which has been a consistent problem in San Bernadino County. Members of the victim's family strongly oppose the execution.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

PLEASE CONTACT:

Write and call these officials to demand an end to state-sanctioned killing in California:

Governor Gray Davis
State Capitol
Sacramento, CA 95814-4991
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax: 916-445-4633
Email: governor [at] governor.ca.gov

Pardon and Parole Board
Board of Prison Terms
1515 K St. Suite 600
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-4071
Fax: 916-445-5242

WRITE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

Los Angeles Times
202 W 1st St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 213-237-4511
Fax: 213-237-7679
Email: letters [at] latimes.com

San Francisco Chronicle
901 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: 415-777-7183
Fax: 415-543-7708
Email: letters [at] sfchronicle.com

ATTEND THE CLEMENCY HEARING:

January 18, 2002 at 1:00pm
State Personnel Board Auditorium
801 Capitol Mall
Sacramento, California
Contact: David McAuley, 916-322-9469

WALK FOR LIFE:

A group will depart from San Francisco's Palace of the Legion of Honor on Monday, January 28, 2002 at 7:00AM and walk to arrive at the gates of San Quentin by 6:00pm. Please contact Rev. Lyle Grosjean for more information at 831-420-0330 or grosjean [at] cruzio.com. On the day of the walk, you can call Rev. Grosjean's cell phone at 831-334-5615. Support drivers are also needed.

ATTEND VIGILS:

BAY AREA:

San Quentin Vigil

The execution of Stephen Wayne Anderson is scheduled for 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday January 29. There will be a vigil at the East Gates of San Quentin from 8:00 p.m. to the time of execution on Monday, January 28.

The ACLU of Northern California is sponsoring a bus to San Quentin on Monday evening January 28. The bus will pick up participants at the ACLU Office and bring them back to SF after the vigil. Please contact Lisa or Gigi if you would like to reserve a spot on the bus or would like more info: lisam [at] aclunc.org or gpandian [at] aclunc.org or 415-621-2493.

If you are interested in volunteering or planning the vigil, please call Death Penalty Focus at 415-243-0143 or email info [at] deathpenalty.org. We are especially looking for musicians, poets, and performance artists.

San Quentin is located in Marin County. Directions are:

From the South:
101 North
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge
Exit on Francisco Blvd.
Right on East Francisco Blvd.
(The highway patrol blocks off the frontage road going toward the prison. There will be a ten to fifteen minute walk to the East Gates. There will also be a shuttle van taking those who need assistance from the parking area on Francisco Blvd. to the gates.)

From the North:
101 South
Exit on Francisco Blvd.
Right on East Francisco Blvd.
(The highway patrol blocks off the frontage road going toward the prison. There will be a ten to fifteen minute walk to the East Gates. There will also be a shuttle van taking those who need assistance from the parking area on Francisco Blvd. to the gates.)

From the East
Cross the Richmond Bridge to 101 North
Exit Francisco Blvd
R. on Bellam Blvd.
Right on East Francisco Blvd.
(The highway patrol blocks off the frontage road going toward the prison. There will be a ten to fifteen minute walk to the East Gates. There will also be a shuttle van taking those who need assistance from the parking area on Francisco Blvd. to the gates.)

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA:

Monday, January 28, 2002:
- Noon mass at St. Camillus Chapel, 1911 Zonal Ave., LA, CA 90033, in memory of Elizabeth Lyman. Call Father Chris at (213) 225-4461.
- Vigil at the Criminal Courts building, the corner of Temple and Spring Streets in downtown LA, from 4-6pm, sponsored by the LA Catholic Worker. (323) 267-8789.
- Rally against the Death Penalty from 8-10pm at the Westwood Federal Building, followed by a vigil until two minutes after midnight at a location to be announced. Call Eric (213) 637-7402. - Vigil at All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N Euclid, Pasadena, CA 91101, 8pm-10pm. Call Abel at (626)796-1176.
- Vigil in Santa Maria, time TBA. Call Dennis at (805) 343-6322.
- Prayer Vigil in Valyermo at a chapel near the High Desert Catholic Worker, 10:30pm-11:30pm in memory of Elizabeth Lyman, from 11:30pm-12:30am for Stephen Anderson. For directions and more info call Toni at (661) 944-2655.
- Vigil in Santa Ana, time TBA. Contact Jan at (714) 879-7663
- Vigil in San Diego, time TBA. Contact Kent at (858) 490-8323.
- Vigil in Ventura, time TBA Contact Margaret Oberon at (805) 988-0903.

Tuesday, January 29, 2002:
Noon Mass at St. Camillus Chapel, 1911 Zonal Ave., LA, CA 90033, in memory of Stephen Anderson, if he is executed. Call Father Chris at (213) 225-4461.

SACRAMENTO:

Candlelight vigil at the Capitol on January 28, 11:00pm to 12:30am.

FRESNO:

Vigil at St. John's Cathedral (corner of Mariposa and R Street) on Monday, January 28, 2002 at 4:30pm. Call 559-255-9492 for more information.

GET INVOLVED WITH CALIFORNIANS FOR A MORATORIUM ON EXECUTIONS:

Join the ongoing, statewide effort to suspend executions in California. Visit http://www.californiamoratorium.org to download the petition, print a sample resolution that your organization or congregation can adopt, and learn more. Plan to join us on May 1, 2002 in Sacramento where we hope to present 100,000 signatures to Governor Davis in support of the moratorium. Sign up for email alerts by sending your email address to CAmoratorium-subscribe [at] topica.com.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact Death Penalty Focus by visiting http://www.deathpenalty.org, email info [at] deathpenalty.org, or call 415-243-0143.