DPF Upcoming Events and Resources

Death Penalty Focus
870 Market St. Ste. 859 San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. 415-243-0143 - Fax 415-243-0994 - http://www.deathpenalty.org

Resources

Faces of Wrongful Conviction Speaker Tour
Twenty-two men and one woman, all of them wrongfully convicted of crimes they did not commit, gathered in Los Angeles to tell their stories on April 7-9 of this year at the Faces of Wrongful Conviction Conference. Some of them had been wrongfully sentenced to death for another man’s crime; several had narrowly escaped the death penalty only to spend decades behind bars for crimes they did not commit. These wrongfully convicted people were joined by murder victim family members, former prosecutors, and legal experts to discuss the failings of California’s criminal justice system generally, and the failure of California’s death penalty specifically. Exonerees told of their struggle for freedom; murder victims’ family members shared how they found a path to healing and away from vengeance; one former prosecutor said for the first time in public that he was responsible for the execution of an innocent man.

Now, we invite you to bring these incredible stories to your community.

The Faces of Wrongful Conviction Speakers Series is intended to bring these powerful voices to churches, synagogues, schools, and community centers across California. We will provide you a “tool kit” with everything you need to put on a small, medium, or large event including such things as a flier, press release, sign-in sheets, and discussion questions. We will arrange the speakers and provide you with multimedia elements such as films and a power point presentation. You will have many elements to choose from, to make the event just right for you and your audience.

If you are interested in hosting a speaker, please send a completed Speaker Request Form to: stefanie [at] deathpenalty.org. Print a speaker request form!

View the Faces of Wrongful Conviction Speaking Tour Resource Kit


Upcoming Events

August 10, 2006 - Oakland, CA
Hear Death Row Exoneree Juan Melendez Tell His Story
On January 3, 2002, Juan Roberto Melendez, an innocent man, was released from Florida's death row, after seventeen years, eight months and one day. Unfortunately, although his case is unique on its facts, the circumstance of being innocent and on death row is, shamefully, anything but unique. Upon his release, Juan became the ninety-ninth death row inmate in the country to be exonerated and released because of innocence since 1973. The number currently stands at one hundred and twenty three.

7pm - 9pm
Location: TBA
Oakland, CA

Donations will be requested to help support Juan's organization Voice United for Justice. The organization provides educational services throughout the country directly addressing the controversial and divisive issue of the death penalty. Our mission is to abolish the death penalty in the United States and to plant seeds for its abolition throughout the entire world. Through comprehensive and compelling grassroots education, primarily from the uniquely powerful perspective of a remarkably resilient man, Juan Melendez, we seek to inspire people to activism. Juan,who languished on Florida ’s death row for almost eighteen years as an innocent man, is a “living testament to the injustice of capital punishment.” He is bilingual and media interest in his story, both English and Spanish-language, is always intense. The director of our Project, Judi Caruso, originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, is an attorney and human rights activist.

For more information: http://www.voicesunited4justice.com/juan.htm


August 12, 2006 - San Francisco, CA
NoCal Regional DPF Chapter Meeting
9am - 4:30pm
If you are already a member of one of Death Penalty Focus' Chapters or if you have a serious interest in joining one of our Chapters, we invite you to attend one of our Regional Chapter Meetings. (California People of Faith Chapter Members are also encouraged to attend)

At the Regional Chapter Meeting you will have the opportunity to:

-> Meet Chapter members from across the region to share resources and lessons learned

-> Access the latest materials and resources for Chapters

-> Attend workshops on: framing your message and successfully working with the media, capacity building, fundraising, speaker training, utilizing available technology, and setting measurable goals

-> Get organized, reenergized and ready to win!

To attend, please RSVP by August 1st to 415-243-0143 or stefanie [at] deathpenalty.org. Please include your name, chapter, city, phone and email address.

See a list of DPF Chapters


August 18 - 24, 2006 - Los Angeles, CA
Film Premiere: The Trials of Darryl Hunt
Save the date for the LOS ANGELES premiere of The Trials of Darryl Hunt...

Friday August 18, 4:40pm **
Saturday August 19, 6:20pm **
Sunday August 20, 9:30pm
Monday August 21, 10:00am
Tuesday August 22, 12:15
Wednesday August 23, 2:00pm
Thursday August 24, 4:15pm

** Includes Q&A with Darryl Hunt, Mark Rabil, Larry Little and the film makers.

ArcLight Hollywood Cinemas
6360 W Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
http://www.arclightcinemas.com

Tickets go on Sale July 28, 2006!

More info: info [at] thetrialsofdarrylhunt.com or http://www.breakthrufilms.org/


August 19, 2006 - Los Angeles, CA
SoCal Regional DPF Chapter Meeting
9am - 4:30pm
If you are already a member of one of Death Penalty Focus' Chapters or if you have a serious interest in joining one of our Chapters, we invite you to attend one of our Regional Chapter Meetings. (California People of Faith Chapter Members are also encouraged to attend)

At the Regional Chapter Meeting you will have the opportunity to:

-> Meet Chapter members from across the region to share resources and lessons learned

-> Access the latest materials and resources for Chapters

-> Attend workshops on: framing your message and successfully working with the media, capacity building, fundraising, speaker training, utilizing available technology, and setting measurable goals

-> Get organized, reenergized and ready to win!

To attend, please RSVP by August 8th to 415-243-0143 or stefanie [at] deathpenalty.org. Please include your name, chapter, city, phone and email address.

See a list of DPF Chapters


August 15 - September 12, 2006 - San Francisco, CA
Art Exhibit by Death Row Prisoner Damien Echols
West Memphis Three Art Exhibit by Damien Echols: SKELETON KEY
WHEN: August 15th - September 12th
WHERE: Space Gallery
1141 Polk Street 94109
415-377-3325

Special Guest Speakers:

August 25th - 7pm - Death Row Survivor Chol Soo Lee
August 26th - 7pm -Lance Lindsey, Executive Director of DPF
Sept. 1st -TBA
Sept. 2nd - TBA
Sept. 9th - TBA

Gallery Hours:
Wed: 12 - 6PM
Tues - Sat: 7PM

All guests at all of our events must be 21 years or older. Unfortunately, that includes children and toddlers.

There will be live entertainment on Fri/Sat nights for this month long exhibit. To see a list of performers, please visit: http://www.spacegallerysf.com

For more info on artist Damien Echols visit: http://www.wm3.org/splash.php


September 6-10, 2006 - Oakland, CA
Theatrical Premiere: Color Struck
Limited Engagement of the riveting one-man show "Color Struck."
Performance begins nightly at 8:00pm.
General Admission $15.00; Students $7.00; Seniors $5.00

Thursday, September 7, 2006 is a Benefit Gala for the LoveLife Foundation. A reception and discussion will follow the performance. Refreshments will be served. Tickets for the gala are $50.00

Laney College Theater
900 Fallon St.
Oakland, CA

Written and performed by Donald E. Lacy
Directed by Michael Torres
Soundscape and music by Tommy Sheperd

For tickets and information: 510-663-5683

COLOR STRUCK is a hilarious play, that examines racism and our intolerance toward people of other races. Color Struck examines the ideology of White Male Supremacy, and the system of injustice that has executed disproportionate numbers of black men and woman. Color Struck also analyzes racism as it manifests itself in all levels of American society. It also looks at inner racial racism between African Americans of different shades and colors. COLOR STRUCK is hard hitting and controversial, and is guaranteed to spark dialog with audiences long after they have left the theater.


September 19, 2006 - San Jose, CA
Public Hearing on Lethal Injection
A public hearing has been scheduled in front of Federal District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel on the issue of lethal injection.

Please check back for additional information on this hearing.


September 20, 2006 - Redwood City, CA
CCFAJ Public Hearing on the use of Jailhouse Informants
On Wednesday, September 20th, the California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice (CCFAJ) will hold a public hearing on the topic of Jailhouse Snitch/Informant testimony from 9:30am to 12:30pm. San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson invited the Commission to hold its hearing at the County Board Chambers, located in the Hall of Justice at 400 County Center in Redwood City, CA.

Tentative recommendations on Jailhouse Snitch/Informant testimony will be available after August 9th at: http://www.ccfaj.org/reports.html


October 6-7, 2006 - Albany, NY
The Next Generation of Death Penalty Research: Priorities, Strategies, and an Agenda
Social science and legal scholars will explore contemporary death-penalty laws and practices with an eye toward the role of empirical research evidence in contributing to changing capital-punishment policies. Held 30 years after the Supreme Court's decisions in Gregg v. Georgia and four other cases that marked the dawning of this country's "modern era" of capital punishment, this Symposium comes after a generation of experience with modern death-penalty laws. With the increasing calls for study commissions to examine the administration of capital punishment, this forum will address public policy issues that need systematic scholarly examination. A concluding roundtable discussion involving Symposium participants will seek to develop a research agenda that may serve state and national Death Penalty Study Commissions.

Among the Featured Presenters:

David C. Baldus , Joseph B. Tye Professor, University of Iowa College of Law
Hugo Adam Bedau , Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Tufts University
William J. Bowers , Capital Punishment Research Initiative, University at Albany
Richard Dieter , Executive Director, Death Penalty Information Center
Deborah W. Denno , Arthur A. McGivney Professor of Law, Fordham Law School
David R. Dow , University Distinguished Professor, University of Houston Law Center
Jeffrey A. Fagan , Professor, Center for Crime, Community & Law, Columbia University
Deborah Fleischaker , Director ABA Death Penalty Moratorium Implementation Project
Eric M. Freedman , Professor , Hofstra Law School
David W. Garland , Arthur T. Vanderbilt Professor of Law, Dept. of Sociology , New York University
Craig W. Haney , Professor, Psychology Department, University of California at Santa Cruz
Robert Johnson , Professor, Department of Justice, Law & Society, American University
Peter Loge , Senior Vice President, M & R Strategic Services
Michael L. Radelet , Professor of Sociology, University of Colorado at Boulder
Austin Sarat , William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Jurisprudence & Political Science, Amherst College
Ronald Tabak , Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Margaret Vandiver , Professor, Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Memphis
Robert Warden, Exec. Director, Ctr. on Wrongful Convictions, Northwestern University School of Law

For additional information please contact Dr. Charles S. Lanier, Capital Punishment Research Initiative at http://www.albany.edu/scj/cpri.htm


October 10, 2006 - Events Held Worldwide
4th Annual World Day Against the Death Penalty
The 4th World Day Against the Death Penalty, officially supported by the European Union and the Council of Europe, will be held on October 10, 2006. The 2005 edition of the world day, the theme of which was “Africa – towards abolition” was celebrated in 46 countries including Morocco, Burundi, the Republic of the Congo and not only Rwanda and Togo but also the United States, Brazil, Japan, India, the Philippines, New Zealand and of course France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland…..In total, 263 events were organized throughout the world. An international petition asking African heads of State to abolish the death penalty received 42300 signatures. In order to help make the 2006 edition a success, reserve your dates now!

http://www.worldcoalition.org/


October 13-29, 2006 - Virginia
The Journey of Hope 2006
The Journey of Hope is lead by murder victim family members, joined by family members of those now on death row and of those already executed by our country. Other abolitionists who support our message join us from around the world.

Preferably in teams of two and three speakers travel throughout Virginia, speaking in High Schools, Colleges, Churches, rallies, and various other formats. Last year in Texas Journey speakers spoke at over 150 events. Sister Helen Prejean will once again join the Journey for a few days Oct. 21,22 and leave the 23rd.

The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty will hold its annual conference in Northern Virginia and coincides with the Virginia Journeys conclusion. The NCADP is working to host their best conference yet and are supporting a successful Journey so we can better prepare the way once again to another great conference.

We are actively raising funds to pay for the transportation, lodging and meals for the Journey speakers, so if you can’t come please consider a donation for the Virginia Journey. Participants will be flying in and out of the Northern Virginia-DC area. Please contact us about being part of this years Journey, spending a little time with Sister Helen and attending the NCADP conference.

For more information please contact Bill Pelke at:

Journey of Hope…From Violence to Healing
PO Box 210390
Anchorage, AK 99521
877-9-24GIVE (4483)
Cell 305-775-5823
Bill [at] Journeyofhope.org

http://www.journeyofhope.org/pages/index.htm


October 20-22, 2006 - Events Held Nationwide
National Weekend of Faith in Action on the Death Penalty
The National Weekend of Faith in Action (NWFA) is an opportunity for faith communities, interfaith groups, human rights activists, and others to examine the death penalty from a faith-based or values-based perspective. Set aside some time during the weekend of October 20-22 for an activity or event that focuses on the death penalty issue, using the ideas and resources provided by Amnesty International USA as your guide.

How to get started...

->Read more about the NWFA and check out some of the activities that took place last year
->Register as a participant, using a quick and easy online form
->Start planning your activity or event for October (the NWFA Organizing Packet will be available in July; it contains a wealth of ideas and resources)
->For additional information, please contact NWFA Coordinator Kristin Houlé at khoule [at] aiusa.org or 202-544-0200, ext. 496.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/faithinaction/faq.html


October 27-30, 2006 - Fair Lakes, VA
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty Annual Conference
SAVE THE DATE!!
2006 NCADP Annual Conference
October 27-29, 2006
Hyatt Fair Lakes
Fair Lakes, Virginia
** Note: Council of Affiliates meeting October 26th

http://www.ncadp.org/


November 1, 2006 - Garden Grove, CA
Freedom Forum of Orange County hosts a discussion on the death penalty with Mike Farrell
Women's Civic Club
9501 Chapman Ave.
Garden Grove, CA

Time: TBA
Suggested Donation: $5


February 1-3, 2007 - Paris, France
3rd World Congress Against the Death Penalty
The 3rd World Congress Against the Death Penalty will take place in Paris from February 1-3, 2007. After Strasbourg and Montréal, Paris will welcome hundreds of abolitionists from all over the world: citizens, politicos, actors of civilian society, legal specialists to discuss worldwide abolition of the death penalty. Paris 2007 will specifically concentrate on the Maghreb and the Middle East so as to forward the cause of abolition in an area where no country has as yet dispensed with capital punishment. We hope to see an abolitionist Arab world emerge!

http://www.ecpm-us.org/getinvolved_world_congress_paris2007.shtml


April 12, 2006 - Sacramento, CA
Capitol Awards Banquet with Sister Helen Prejean hosted by the Sacramento Chapter of DPF

SAVE-THE DATE!

Check http://www.deathpenalty.org/index.php?pid=events&menu=1" for more information.



Stefanie L. Faucher
Program Director

Death Penalty Focus
870 Market St. Ste. 859
San Francisco, CA 94102
Tel. 415-243-0143
Fax 415-243-0994
mailto:stefanie [at] deathpenalty.org
http://www.deathpenalty.org
http://www.californiamoratorium.org