Call Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey — “Stop the Killing!” (and more)

4 min readFeb 10, 2021

Help stop the execution planned for Thursday evening in Alabama, plus several important save the dates. But first….

These are exciting times for our movement! On Friday, the state of Virginia’s Senate voted to join its House of Delegates to pass legislation that abolishes the death penalty. This is huge! When Governor Northam signs that bill, Virginia will become the 23rd state without the death penalty, and the first southern state to legislatively abolish the death penalty. It’s not too late to sign our “thank you” letter to Virginia’s abolitionist leaders.

Our movement is on a roll. I share the news about Virginia because it is so important, and it also sends a strong signal to anyone watching this issue. Change is possible and it is coming. Another good sign: our work was highlighted in this Associated Press news item over the weekend.

Join Us In This Work!

CALL ALABAMA GOVERNOR KAY IVEY

Governor Kay Ivey of Alabama has the sole power to grant clemency to Willie Smith, who has an intellectual disability. One reason he is being killed? When told he had to make a choice of how he would be killed, he refused. Had he picked the still-undeveloped method of nitrogen hypoxia (gas chamber), he would not be facing execution on Thursday evening.

Yesterday, we faxed 329 pages with over 11,000 signatures demanding that the execution be stopped. The time for petitions and letters is over — it is time to overwhelm the phones at Gov. Kay Ivey’s office. Get someone on the phone and say “Tell Gov. Ivey not to kill Willie Smith!” Here’s the number: 334–242–7100.

SAVE THE DATES

5pm to 7pm CST, Thursday, February 11, 2021: Execution Protest Virtual Vigil for Willie Smith in Alabama

Join Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty, Death Penalty Action and friends as we stand together in a virtual vigil to witness in opposition to the scheduled execution of Willie Smith in Alabama. Please note: This event will take place even if a stay of execution is announced.

Speakers Include:

* Esther Brown, Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty

* Judy Collins

* Christine Freeman, Founder and Executive Director of the Alabama Post-Conviction Relief Project. Christine has served as the Executive Director of the Middle District of Alabama Federal Defender Program, Inc.

* Rick Halperin, Alabama native & Professor of Human Rights and History

* Charles Keith, Impacted Communities Liaison, Death Penalty Action

* Rev. Brandi Slaughter, Deputy Director, Death Penalty Action

* Others TBA

* Technology permitting, LIVE connection with in-person vigil in Birmingham, AL

Register to join the Zoom audience here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_V-dK4xHnQtGOX3-6BK3FQg. OR, watch LIVE via Facebook on the Death Penalty Action Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/deathpenaltyaction

6pm to 7pm PST (9pm to 10 EST), Thursday, Feb 11, 2021: 29th Annual Death Penalty Focus Awards Event (Sponsorships and various ticket price levels, including FREE tickets are still available.) Learn more and register here.

7pm EST, Thursday, February 18, 2021:

Death Penalty Action’s monthly webinar series starts on February 18 at 7 p.m. This month we’ll discuss our country’s history of lynching and how it’s echoed in the modern death penalty. The panel features Ngozi Ndulue from the Death Penalty Information Center discussing their report Enduring Injustice, Joia Thornton from the Southern Center for Human Rights, as well as reflections from Rev. Bill Breeden on witnessing the execution of Corey Johnson and the role racial injustice played in Corey’s life. Save the date!