Press Release

14 November 2000

PRESS RELEASE

ACTIVISTS TO COMPLETE MARCH AGAINST FEDERAL DEATH PENALTY

CALL FOR NATIONAL DAY OF APPEAL TO PRES. CLINTON

CONDUCT SOLIDARITY ACTIONS NATIONWIDE


National Day of Appeal:  14 November 2000
Visit <http://www.abolition.org/march.html>


PRESS CONFERENCE #1:  FEDERAL BUILDING IN TERRE HAUTE, IN
14 November 2000 at 1pm.  CONTACT:  Abe Bonowitz: 561-371-5204

PRESS CONFERENCE #2:  NATIONAL PRESS CLUB: 14 November 2000
CONTACT:   Eliane Drakopoulos:  Tel: 202-544-0200 x302
INCLUDING: Ajamu Baraka, Amnesty International, Bud Welch, who lost his daughter in the Oklahoma City Bombing; Bianca Jagger, human rights activist; and others.


ANTI-DEATH PENALTY ACTIVISTS TO HIGHLIGHT HISTORICAL MOMENTS

The Abolitionist Action Committee, an ad-hoc group of individuals and organizations committed to highly visible and effective public education for alternatives to the death penalty, today will complete an 80 mile march from the Federal Courthouse in Indianapolis to the federal prison housing federal death row inmates, located at Terre haute, Indiana.  The march, which started last Friday, highlights the call for a federal moratorium on executions being made today in a National Day of Appeal to President Clinton.

Activists across the United States are today holding press conferences, marches and rallies in solidarity with an 80 mile march from the federal courthouse in Indianapolis to the federal death row at Terre Haute.  Events include:

There will be an action in Jackson, MS
contact ken mcgill <mcgillken@yahoo.com>
Mississipians for Alternatives to the DP

There will be actions in several cities in KY
see http://www.kcadp.org/vigils.htm

There will be a demonstration at 4pm at the Federal Bldg. in Chicago

There will be a witness/presence at 5 PM at the Old Federal Bldg. in Cleveland.

There will be a demonstration front of the Federal Building in downtown Des Moines, Iowa at 3pm.


The "March to Stop Executions," which began on Friday, November 10 and ends on Today, November 14, is timed to appeal to President Clinton to take positive actions on the death penalty once the elections are no longer a factor.  The march also bridges a number of other key moments in the ongoing debate about the death penalty, including:

* Upcoming first federal execution in 37 years.  David Hammer is still scheduled to be killed on November 15, however he has resumed his appeals and that date will likely be stayed.  Juan Garza, however, is scheduled to be killed on December 12, 2000.  The March will take place regardless of the status of David Hammer's execution date.

* The United States is on trial at the International Tribunal at the Hague.  Germany has brought a legal action against the United States for its failure to adhere to obligations mandated by the Vienna Convention on Consular Affairs.  Arguments are scheduled for November 13 and 17, 2000.

* Miguel Flores was scheduled Texecuted on November 9, despite the fact that Texas authorities did not inform Mr. Flores of his right to contact a representative of Mexico as called for under international law by the Vienna Convention on Consular Affairs.  Officials of the Mexican government have taken a public stand, calling Mr. Flores' trial defense "woefully inadequate."

* Resumption of fast-paced execution schedule in Texas.  The pace of executions in Texas slowed considerably in the months leading up to the presidential election.  Regardless of who is elected, George W. Bush has a lot of executions to catch up on.  Also, across the country there is a noticeable jump in scheduled executions in the days and weeks following the elections.

* Final week of the "Candle of Hope" march from San Diego to San Francisco, California.  That march leads into:

* The Committing to Conscience conference in San Francisco, a first-ever gathering of anti-death penalty activists and organization to take stock and set direction for invigorated campaigns to stop state killing.

* And more.... Including Thursday's scheduled execution of John Penry, a man with an IQ of 56.

Please visit http://www.abolition.org for more details on the March to Stop Executions and related events.


The Abolitionist
        Action
     Committee
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.

800-973-6548   <aac@abolition.org>  <http://www.abolition.org>


*****

The following "call to action" has been e-mailed widely

*****

NATIONAL SOLIDARITY ACTIONS
related to the first federal execution.

MOVEMENT LEADERS - JOIN US!
(See below for up-to-date sponsor list)

Even though he has now agreed to resume his appeals, David Paul Hammer is STILL scheduled to be the first person executed under federal law in 37 years.  Even if the November 15th killing does not take place, NOW is the time for action to stop executions in ALL cases!  The Abolitionist Action Committee (AAC) has established a web page upon which you will find links to a letter-writing action as well as information about the "National March to STOP Executions" and related actions that will take place in Indiana leading up to the killing at the federal prison at Terre Haute, Indiana.  Please visit <http://www.abolition.org> and click on "Stop the first federal execution!"

GET INVOLVED!!!

NATIONAL PRESS CONFERENCE:  WASHINGTON, DC, 14 November 2000
There will be a major press conference at 10am at the National Press Club.  Amnesty International will issue a new report on the U.S. Death Penalty in the form of a letter to the President.  Other headliners include Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP) and the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (NCADP).  EVERYONE who can is urged to attend.  Organizational leaders will be recognized and introduced.  If you can participate, please e-mail <abe@cuadp.org>.  The purpose of the press conference is to announce the "Day of Appeal" and the "Day of Witness" which are designed to highlight key developments at this moment in our nations' sordid history of killing:


THE DAY OF APPEAL:  TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2000
This is THE day to call, e-mail, write or fax President Clinton and OTHER politicians and LEADERS. Ask President Clinton to grant CLEMENCY to David Paul Hammer and all other federal and military prisoners under sentence of death by commuting their sentences to life without the possibility of parole (the only option available to him).  ALSO, ask President Clinton to issue a national MORATORIUM on executions pending a full and impartial review of all aspects of the federal death penalty.  Ask your state and national politicians to become LEADERS in the call for a Moratorium, unless, of course, they have the strength and moral character to call for outright abolition!  Please visit <http://www.abolition.org/action_write.html> for address and background information and a direct link to the president's e-mail.  Use our model letter, or draft your own!


***Support this effort - Get a free T-Shirt!  See Below!***

In solidarity with the "March to Stop Executions," activists are urged to organize a "Witness Against Executions" at their nearby Federal Building.  Visit <http://www.abolition.org/march.html> and click on "National Solidarity Actions" for ideas and resources, including a sample press release you can adapt to your own event.  TELL US WHAT YOU ARE DOING!  Solidarity events are already in the works in Illinois, Mississippi, Kentucky, and others - If YOU know of an event being planned, please send the basic details and contact information asap to <aac@abolition.org> so that we may include that is national press materials.


CO-SPONSORS TO-DATE
Individuals and organizations are urged to co-sponsor these actions.  To be listed as a co-sponsor, send an e-mail to <aac@abolition.org>, or better, please click on "Call for Sponsorship" when you visit <http://www.abolition.org/march.html>.
 
***Amnesty International USA's Special Initiatives Fund***

Amnesty International Group #133, Somerville/Arlington, MA
Amnesty International Group #317
Amnesty International, Columbus (IN) Student Chapter
Amnesty International Program To Abolish the Death Penalty
Bloomington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Carol and William Burke
Campaign to End the Death Penalty
Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis
The Church of St Timothy, Trenton, MI
Citizens Protecting Ohio
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Engaged Zen Foundation
Carolyn Baldas Gray
Linda Greene & Paul Smith
Susan Gries
Indiana Citizens to Abolish Capital Punishment
Indiana Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE)
Journey of Hope ...From Violence to Healing, Inc.
Mirror Image Screen Printing and T-Shirts
Moratorium 2000
National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Aaron Patterson Defense Committee
Quixote Center/Equal Justice USA
Sally Peck
Bill Polansky
Sisters of the Holy Cross of Notre Dame, Indiana
Sisters of St. Francis: Oldenburg, IN
The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP)
Unitarian Universalists for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Unitarian Universalists for Alternatives to the Death Penalty--Terre Haute Chapter
United Campus Ministries, Terre Haute
United Methodist Church of Roberts Park, Indianapolis
War Resister's League


SUPPORT THE AAC - Get a free t-shirt or sweatshirt!
Visit <http://www.abolition.org/march.html> for more information about co-sponsorship, and to see the spiffy NEW, LIMITED EDITION t-shirt/sweatshirt you can get with your minimum contribution!  While supplies last!


For questions, e-mail <aac@abolition.org> or call 800-973-6548.

POSTED BY:

****************************************************************
        The Abolitionist Action Committee is an ad-hoc group of individuals committed to highly visible and effective public education for alternatives to the death penalty through nonviolent direct action.

AAC c/o CUADP
PMB 335
177 U.S. Hwy #1
Tequesta, FL  33469
800-973-6548
<aac@abolition.org>
http://www.abolition.org
****************************************************************
For financial & legal purposes only, the AAC is a project of CUADP

CONTRIBUTIONS TO CUADP ARE NOT TAX DEDUCTIBLE

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE [FL] DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE 800-435-7352 (FL only) OR 850-413-0840.  REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

POSTED BY:

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Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director
Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (CUADP)